After four years of construction, the City of Calgary cut the ribbon on the new Eau Claire Plaza.

On July 2, Calgarians enjoyed live music and food truck meals in celebrating the opening of the public space located downtown, just off Barclay Parade SW and slightly north of the Sheraton Suites hotel.

Including a $12 million contribution from the province, the project has amounted to $47 million in upgrading costs, adding to the total sum of $86 million, which assisted in redeveloping the Downtown Flood Barrier, Centre Street Pedestrian Ramps, and Jaipur Bridge. 

The city’s Infrastructure Services general manager, Michael Thompson, said that the new plaza was planned as part of the Eau Claire Area Improvements program. He said that the initiative sought to better the places lining Calgary’s Bow River following the 2013 flood. 

“The Eau Claire Area Improvement upgrades have focused not only on flood mitigation and resilience, but also on enhancing our pathways and public spaces to bring more visitors to the area,” said Thompson.

Conceived with leisure and safety at top priority, the plaza is set to claim the title as one of the most accessible in downtown Calgary. Thompson said that the curbless entrances are just one example, but that while sketching a modern version of the plaza, the city made an effort to preserve the area’s rich history.

Keeping the old while making the new

Newly featuring an urban podium, green space, and underground water misters, the plaza is situated to host upwards of 4,000 people. Additionally, later this summer, the construction of public washrooms and a children’s play zone is slated to be complete. 

Mayor Jyoti Gondek said that the first time she came to Eau Claire was in the 1990s, and that to see the amenities it offers now, she expects the renovated area to bolster tourism and the economy. 

“Eau Claire Plaza has been redesigned to become a world-class destination,” she said. 

“It’s a place where festivals, performances, and everyday moments will come together.”

Thompson said that the plaza was designed as a seamless transition from nature to cement, and that regardless of it being home to casual hangouts or formal events, it will serve as a physical reminder of Calgary’s past. 

“In our delivery of this space, we made sure to honour the places in the area’s history,” he said. 

The Eau Claire and Bow River Lumber Co. building sits just off Barclay Parade SW. Originally constructed in the early 1900s, its founders shaped industrial growth in Calgary until the sawmill closed in 1945, according to the city. 

When the plaza renovations started in 2021, Thompson said that the city moved the building to a secure and out-of-the-way location. In the meantime, the city partnered with cSPACE in 2022 to host art programs on-site before relocating it back to its inaugural plot. 

Being the sole inspiration for the neighbourhood’s name, Thompson said that the preserved building represents where the community started, and that even new additions to the plaza aim to commemorate this. 

“The use of timbers and wood throughout this period, throughout the space, are another nod to the sawmill history of the area,” he said. 

Aside from log-shaped keepsakes, the city also preserved the Olympic Arch, which was installed almost 30 years ago at the entrance of Market Street for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. 

“In the future, this is a place of not just gathering, it’s a place of telling stories — historical stories, family stories, cultural stories,” said Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong.