This year marks a major milestone for Calgary, namely the creation of Fort Calgary by the North West Mounted Police at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers in 1875.

Some 150 years later, Calgarians will likely have a different take on the paramilitary force that was formed in 1873 during the government of Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A Macdonald.

Ostensibly to patrol and secure the North West Territories—which at the time included the land which would become Calgary—from the looming threat of American annexation, to criminal unrest.

Wrapped up in that political motivation though, is one where the NWMP was used to control and ultimately denigrate Indigenous people and aid in the settlement of Western Canada.

The Confluence is set to mark the anniversary of Fort Calgary with a series of community conversations with experts, historians, and artists, with a goal of encouraging thoughtful discussions about Canadian history that recognizes the impacts of historical and contemporary impacts on Calgarians.

“I think no matter what, Calgarians want to know the truth, and they want to be engaged in a conversation. They don’t want anybody to take away the opportunity to have that conversation,” said Jennifer Thompson, President of The Confluence.

“They want to be connected with the identity of this land, and how Calgary developed in all of the different ways that it developed. I think, on behalf of our organization, that we owe it to the community to have that really important conversation.”

Part of that conversation will be about unpacking the history of the NWMP, from the paramilitary force that was criticized in the late 19th Century, to the romantic myth making and myth building that occurred in the early- to mid-20th Century.

“Throughout 2025 we will be exploring history of the North West Mounted Police and all the other diverse perspectives of the establishment of the fort. The commemoration of the fort has taken place from the perspective of the glory of the North West Mounted Police. However, colonization has had a lot of impact on Indigenous people, on women, on our systems and so we’re trying to look at things from a different perspective,” said Thompson.

“That’s sort of the metaphor of The Confluence is really bringing these unique, diverse perspectives together and being able to create space to examine history and other topics related.”

She said that on the one hand the NWMP were only present in Calgary for 39 years, and that there is lot of other history that has occurred in the city. But on the other, the impacts of colonization can’t be denied.

“The North West Mounted Police who came here, they had a significant impact on the community, the Indigenous communities that were already here. So, to not talk about that, and to not talk about what happened before and after they came, you’re really doing a disservice to the community,” Thompson said.

“What I’ve heard is people really do want to have that conversation. They want to know what happened, and I think we’re at a good place now to look backwards. We know more than we have, certainly, when the 100th anniversary took place—we are all looking at history differently.”

Less glorification, more conversation about NWMP history and impact in Calgary

In August 1975, a re-enactment of the ride across the river to where Fort Calgary would be formed, was held by members of Lord Strathcona’s Horse, dressed partially due to some mishaps in the uniforms of F Troop of the NWMP.

Writing at the time, staff reporter Carol Conway for the Calgary Herald talked about how Calgarians lined the banks of the Bow River to cheer on the crossing, before the crossing troops were met by priests from the Catholic and United Churches.

The crossing was also marked by an interdenominational religious service, which saw Alderman John Ayer—who had led the committee to set aside the land where Fort Calgary had sat as a park instead of being turned into a freeway—receive cheques from the Calgary Chapter of the Alberta Association of Architects, Amoco Oil, and Junior League of Calgary for a new commemorative site.

Stewart McRae, then Minister Without Portfolio for Calgary Affairs, was quoted by Conway as saying “I think it’s marvellous that Ald. John Ayer was able to repeat this today.”

Tsuut’ina Chief Gordon Crowchild was quoted as saying “we want all Calgarians to remember that we want to part of this great Calgary, this province and this country.”

His was the only Indigenous voice included in the story.

During the centennial celebrations that went on throughout 1975, Colonel James Walker, who joined the NWMP as a sub-inspector, was voted by AGT and the Junior Chamber of Commerce, man of the century.

The events set to be held at the Confluence, said Thompson, were to be better reflective of the history of 1875.

“We have more tools and resources, and different diverse voices that have come to the table to help have an honest conversation,” Thompson said.

Kicking off those discussions is something the Confluence is calling Hotdogs and Hot Takes on History, which is planned to be a low pressure and entertaining way to debunk historical myths, debate opinions, and share a few hot takes over a meal.

Confluence Historian in Residence Kay Burns launches that series—albeit already sold out—with How the Whisky Trade Came and Went at Mohkinstsis.

“She’s gone through a lot of records, she’s talked to many historians, and she’s coming at it from a different lens. This is looking at it from the context of today, and from someone who isn’t trying to glorify what actually happened, and lean into some of the myths that may have been associated with this site and the march west,” Thompson said.

“In that first session of Hot Dogs and Hot Takes on History, there will be a lot of dialogue, we hope, with the audience to ask questions and to think of things differently. So that’s really what we’re trying to do—have a bit more of a contemporary look, but but still a look that is rooted in in the truth, and the resources that that we can have available to us.”

In February, Métis historian, interpreter and artist Matt Hiltermann, is set to present What is a Settler, Anyway?

That discussion aims to uncover the history of the Métis in the region, before the arrival of the NWMP, and how the word settler has changed since that time to mean different things throughout different time periods.

Thompson said that planning is also underway for August, to hold a symposium on the anniversary, a production by Quest Theatre and Making Treaty 7 Cultural Society, an artist response exhibit by Indigenous artists to existing archival photos of Fort Calgary, a NWMP temporary exhibit, and an outdoor light art projection project in partnership with the Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth.

“We are still actively applying for grants and exploring partnerships. We certainly are always looking for volunteers, and we have started conversations with many different partners in the community about developing more detailed programming when it comes to the symposium and topics. But our door is always open for a conversation,” Thompson said.

For more details, and to purchase tickets to the anniversary events, see www.theconfluence.ca.