Here’s a fabulous Calgary Urban Trek with lots of variety, taking in Bridgeland, Crescent Heights and Renfrew, plus a bit of Tuxedo Park. Ahead it’s much history and character. A fair sized loop with a short steep push early on, it’s otherwise pretty easy going. There’s busy commercial strips, quiet residential lanes, peaceful sections of pathway by the Bow and lots of coffee/munchie stops along the way* Our route is nothing more than a suggestion, so freestyle it and make it your own.
We started at 12th Street (NE) just south of Centre Avenue. There’s not much free public parking in the area, but there is some here (our cheapskate ways are showing). Head north to 1st Avenue and turn left. Block after block, it’s trendy boutiques and cafes (meaning we can’t afford). There’s modern condos and old buildings dating back to the early days of the community. Founded about 1910, Bridgeland sometimes feels like a small town unto itself. Near Langevin School look to the north and see a prominent church, its golden dome shining in the sun. You’ll get to see it up close and personal soon enough.
Urban Trek: Bridgeland-Crescent Heights-Renfrew – another long winded Calgary City Walk trip report. A Chris & Connie adventure.
At Edmonton Trail, take a left, then soon after go right at Meredith Road, then right again on 4th Street. Look for the 1910 Reliance Block along here, with some vintage signage. Then look down and see some ancient sidewalk stamps equally as old. How the world has changed since them. Left on 1st Avenue then right on 3rd Street and head up. Pass a street on your left so steep it’s now blocked to traffic. Suspect it was a terror in winter.
Scroll down for photos and to comment.
On levelling out meet up with Edmonton Trail and continue to 8th Avenue where you go left. Boogies Burgers over there…mmmm…Fat Elvis. Heading west, it’s tree-lined streets and fine old homes. You’re in Crescent Heights now, a community just a little younger than Bridgeland. Turn right at Centre Street and enter the bustling northern reaches of Chinatown. If you’re in the mood for Asian eats you’ll satisfy it here. The old Tigerstedt Block sign is super cool.
Coming to 16th Avenue, we make a Pho place our lunch stop – and there’s a bunch of them nearby and everyone we’ve tried exceptional. For inner city hikes in winter we often eat out, as there is not always suitable places to picnic, which we’d prefer to do if we could. Cross 16th Avenue and head left. At 1st Street NW turn right. Across the road – just what is a Unitarian? Hey Google! This is a lesser-known branch of Christendom and it seems this might be the only such church in the city.
In behind and from the early 1910s, it’s Balmoral, one of Calgary’s iconic sandstone schools from the era. Your author went to Sunlata, another in this style. The tower clock is a unique feature, even if it’s never functioned (nor does it even have a mechanism). Continuing and on the same property it’s smaller Balmoral Bungalow School to your left. It’s was a temporary faculty put in place while the other was built, that later due to higher than expected enrolment continued to see use for some time after. It’s now an adult continuing education centre.
You’re now in the community of Tuxedo Park with most development happening in the late 1920s. Go right at 18th Avenue NW, cross Centre Street then continue east (now on 18th Avenue NE). Here it’s a mixed of older homes with newer infills. Turn right on Edmonton Trail and after crossing busy 16th Avenue you’re now in the community if Renfrew. Dating from the late 1940s, it was earlier the site of Calgary’s Airport (during WW2 also a military air base).
Left on 15th Avenue, it’s row after row of charming little bungalows, then right on 6th Street. At the Boys & Girls Club, look for the hangar, a last remnant from the old airport. Continue on, pass Stanley Jones School, another sandstone beauty and across the road a little corner store of the same name. Lotto stop! Not many independents like it are left, especially one going back over a century. Head south some more to take in Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church – we pointed it out earlier. And now at the edge of the escarpment look out over the city.
Double back to 7th Avenue and head right. A vintage VW Van captures our attention. Known by many names – Microbus, Minibus, Hippie Wagon, VeeDub Transporter, Kombi and officially as a Volkswagen Type 2 (boring) – these are highly sought after by collectors. Left at 8th Street, pass All Saints Russian Orthodox Church and on coming to 8th Avenue turn right. Eastbound, turn right on 10th Street and immediately after left on Child Avenue. Just past a park turn left then, quickly zigzag right on Phair Avenue (no sidewalk, but there’s no traffic). Heading down, it’s a hard left on 13a Street. That place looks like stacked containers. On hitting the pathway, turn right and drop down further. On coming to the Nose Creek Pathway, go right once more.
Pass behind the Telus Science Centre – that scary Dino! The CPR tracks are just across the creek and maybe with some luck a train will show for you, as it did for us. Two locomotive and a single car – not much of one but no complaints. In behind the zoo come to the Bow River. Friends and I would play on that big bridge over there as a kid. We were invincible don’t you know and smarter than anyone. What if a train came? What about falling from the bridge and the weir just downstream? People drowned in that death trap all the time (it’s gone now). How the hell did we survive adulthood?
The path bends west and well away from any road, here down by the river and backing on the zoo, it’s a peaceful section of the route. At the CTrain Station, cross over into the community of Bridgeland. North on 9th Street and on coming to the Soccer Field, take the path heading left and gradually up, then come to a nice old church. Want to know more about it? Of course you do, here: Calgary then and now – St Matthew Lutheran Church.
Head north on 7th Street, make a quick left on Centre Avenue then it’s right on 6a Street. Pass an old fire hall (built 1909), now someone’s home. How cool. Firepole to the kitchen! Go right on 1st Avenue then left on 7th Street then right on 2nd Avenue. For the next while it’s an wonderful parade of fine old homes. It seems the gentrification monster is giving residential areas of this well kept community a pass for now.
At 11a Street, turn south. But not before checking out Bridgeland School (kitty-corner) from 1921, now a private learning facility. On our visit, kids could be seen tobogganing on the hill in behind. We were fearless like them…once. Come to 1st Avenue and turn right on 12th Street and in a moment or two, you’re done and back at your car. This was about sixteen clicks and for us some welcome exercise during a time where there’s been some physical struggles. It was nice to get and if you duplicate our route (does anyone even do that?) we hope it’s as much fun for you as it was for us. We’re easily amused.
*That’s if there’s not a pandemic lockdown in place – there wasn’t when we did this adventure late last year, but as we type there sure is. Damn ‘Rona ruins everything.
Stay tuned for more fun – there’s lots of new content coming.
They’re saying…
”I love the beautiful pictures that are shared in Facebook. I highly recommend this site to anyone who feels like they can enjoy new adventures through Chris and Connie.”Lori Miller.
If you wish more information about this route, by all means contact us!
Date of adventure: November, 2019. Location: Calgary, AB. Distance: 16km loop. Height gain maximum: 50m. Height gain cumulative: 70m NOTE: all distances and heights are approximate and may differ slightly from other trip reports. Technical stuff: If done in winter, ice!
Thank you for the update. This trip happened a year or so back, so this must be a new happening. It looked used then. Here’s hoping the incorporate it into a complex and not tear it down.
In the early 80s I worked for Eastside Dodge delivering parts to body shops and mechanics all over town. On hot summer afternoons coming back north from Manchester and Ogden, traffic was always clogged. My co-workers thought I was nuts, but I always got off Blackfoot trail and went thru Inglewood to take the bridge that went through St. Georges Island and the zoo, rather than staying on Blackfoot Trail to get back. I figured if I was going to be stuck in traffic the same amount of time either way, the zoo with its big shade trees and the Bow River was a far more appealing choice than the stinky old stockyards … especially on pig days.
I (Chris) always used it a short cut too when I was a delivery driver in the 1990s. Hauled out of an Alyth Lumber Yard (small stuff). That bridge was a tight squeeze for sure! Thanks for commenting!
Shouldice Bridge was the worst. The sides of the road were hilariously sparkly with all the bits of busted mirrors. Never hit that one myself, but I once ran right into a dumpster at the RCMP post garage and was applauded by a bunch of Mounties.
It was amazingly hard to get fired for wrecking company trucks back in the day. It was also ridiculously easy to get hired just for being a warm body with a valid license, and they didn’t even always check for that either. Boom town days in Calgary were just crazy.
(A long read) After twelve years it's time to put a face to the name and come clean on something. That's rarely-seen Chris in the photo, one half of Team BIGDoer, my best friend for almost thirty years and orchestrator of everything you see here. For his entire adult life, he's battled a deep depression.
Mostly it's manageable, but there are extended bouts where it's crippling and his life comes to a grinding halt. Sometimes there are days or weeks where he's lost. Sleep does not come easy at this time and further aggravates the issue. As he ages, it's worsening and seems intent on destroying him from the inside.
If you see a lack of posts here, or ones poorly worded, confusing or simply off, it's from one of these periods.
Through all this, he remains as kind, thoughtful and loving as ever, but is somewhere else. To the family, it's just Chris and accepted as it should be. The kids and grandkids adore him no less. Until today, however, this has been hidden from the outside world, although closer friends and some readers were probably already suspect of his condition. I hope admitting this does not break the site.
He finds clarity when we're out and doing things, hiking or documenting something historic and it's only THE reason this page and our website exists. It's therapy. Then he's a new and passionate person, but the monster as he calls it always returns. The Beer Parlour Project has brought out a side I've never seen and when out in the field he's never been so on point and confident.
This post is not for sympathy but to inform. Just so you know where he is and here's what you can do to help (a last ditch request)...
If you see a missed comma or oddly worded sentence in a post, please be kind. You'll probably see his uncertainty when he's off and be nice there too. But if you like what you see, even if the write up could be presented better, post your encouragement. Say something and say it loud...it's important and will keep him sharing. Help Chris get better by cheering him on.
Other than some photos that are mine, everything else comes from him. All the tiring research and the writing (he admits he's NOT a writer), are his.
Chris puts every dollar he makes into this "project of a lifetime", and it's supplemented by donations from readers who enjoy the content. If you want to help...
Admittedly he was not thrilled with the idea of posting this but agrees it probably should be said, even if it makes him uneasy. He doesn't like appearing in photos either. He's so shy, thinks he looks goofy and hates his husky eyes. I love them and they're windows into a wonderful, complex and quiet, but tortured soul. It breaks my heart when he's in a bad space.
This image comes thanks to photographer Arturo Pianzola and was captured while exploring the historic Riverview Mental Hospital in Coquitlam BC. Chris thought since he was in the area last year, he'd stop by to visit with a grandfather he never really knew, who spent his last years at the facility and is buried on the grounds.
Thanks for listening and your understanding. Hopefully we'll see you next week. Johanna (Connie).
Journey of Natty Gann (Disney 1985) and the same location in the Crowsnest Pass 2014. We're visiting the Pass over the new year, as we often do, and this time we'll be staying at a house that appears (briefly) in the film. How cool, eh? Chris has decided it's time on this visit to reshoot this and other Natty Gann comparison shots we did from ten years ago. Stay tuned!
This scene was shot in historic downtown Coleman and shows the former Holyk's Grocery. It was built in the early 1900s and the store closed in the '60s. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
From 2015. Rob Pohl and his strange old-style view camera joined us in documenting the Laing House (with permission). Head down to the comments to see an amazing coincidence with something I found inside.
From the Crossley slides, it's an undated view of Towers School, out near Cluny Alberta. It was originally called Swastika School but that's before the word and symbol were ruined by negative connotations. Built 1922. Gone? _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
The same alley in downtown Calgary's west end, in the 1970s & today. You have to look hard to see the connection! The area was quite run down back then and is in stark contrast to all the shiny condo towers seen present day. Calgary Place West, an apartment block, appears in both images although it's barely a sliver in ours. Check the comments for more info.
Photo credit: James Tworow collection. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Lost highways (2022): a section of old #93 in Southeastern BC. That BIGDoer-mobile is gone now but quite famous and had a following of its own. Old mine roads, cow paths, 4x4ing across fields - no problem and people would recognize us out in remote areas just by this car. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Interesting!
Thanks for taking the time.
Nice looking churches.
We passed a few nice ones along the way.
I remember that day well!
Always a good day with you.
(Bridgeland School ) It’s for sale currently and the property has been re zoned for development.
Thank you for the update. This trip happened a year or so back, so this must be a new happening. It looked used then. Here’s hoping the incorporate it into a complex and not tear it down.
Beautiful!!
Thanks, it was a fun historic tour.
In the early 80s I worked for Eastside Dodge delivering parts to body shops and mechanics all over town. On hot summer afternoons coming back north from Manchester and Ogden, traffic was always clogged. My co-workers thought I was nuts, but I always got off Blackfoot trail and went thru Inglewood to take the bridge that went through St. Georges Island and the zoo, rather than staying on Blackfoot Trail to get back. I figured if I was going to be stuck in traffic the same amount of time either way, the zoo with its big shade trees and the Bow River was a far more appealing choice than the stinky old stockyards … especially on pig days.
I (Chris) always used it a short cut too when I was a delivery driver in the 1990s. Hauled out of an Alyth Lumber Yard (small stuff). That bridge was a tight squeeze for sure! Thanks for commenting!
Shouldice Bridge was the worst. The sides of the road were hilariously sparkly with all the bits of busted mirrors. Never hit that one myself, but I once ran right into a dumpster at the RCMP post garage and was applauded by a bunch of Mounties.
It was amazingly hard to get fired for wrecking company trucks back in the day. It was also ridiculously easy to get hired just for being a warm body with a valid license, and they didn’t even always check for that either. Boom town days in Calgary were just crazy.
Never lost a mirror on that bridge but had many close calls. Thanks for sharing these awesome memories!