“A gloomy end to a Stampeding week of hot weather.”
Author: Ara (Page 39 of 41)
Cyclepalooza kicks off with the annual Bike Prom at the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Centre! 10 days of bike fun in Calgary. Visit cyclepalooza.ca for more information!
Patrick Burns (July 6, 1856 – February 24, 1937) was a businessman and philanthropist during the founding of Calgary. Having made his fortune in the cattle industry he came to be known as one of the “Big Four” Calgarians.
During the landslide that destroyed the town of Frank in Crows Nest Pass, Burns was the first to send aid, dedicating everything he could in his power to help the victims of the Frank Slide.
When Guy Weadick was developing the idea of the Calgary Stampede, Burns donated $100000.00 of his personal wealth to help the Stampede get on it’s feet – adjusted for inflation, it calculates to over $2 million in money today.
Patrick Burns died in 1937. Shortly after his death, his mansion was torn down to make space for the expanding Colonel Belcher Hospital.
The Senator Patrick Burns Memorial Rock garden was built using over 20000 stones from his demolished mansion.”
“He had the expression of a cherub and the muscle of a stonemason. He could ride from Cochrane to the U.S. border without ever leaving his property.”
“He had the three criteria of what makes a great man — he was a risk taker, he was a hard worker and he gave back generously to his community.”
“He celebrated his 75th birthday by giving a roast to every single family where the household head was unemployed. Then he gave any single unemployed person a ticket for a meal at any restaurant in the city.”
The building at 1126 Kensington Road was constructed in 1926 to be the home of Calgary’s Freemason Lodge (to be fully established in 1927).
The cornerstone (which was placed in 1926) was later relocated in the more recently built Masonic lodge on 12th avenue SW. The site was decommissioned as a meeting hall when the new meeting hall was built in 1984. The building was renovated extensively for retail use in 1995.
These days, the address is home to one of the neighbourhood’s favourite coffee shops, Higher Ground. Naked Leaf Tea Shop has their establishment and small patio (best kept secret!) around the west side.
Next time you’re in the vicinity, see if you can find the 3, 5, and 7 steps of King Solomon which are common in many Masonic structures!
“Tempestuous clouds makes for taciturn commuters.” 10th Street and Memorial Drive NW.
“I’m leaving for Montreal today. I’m riding the bike there. Maybe I’ll stop in Chicago. I’m at the Roasterie almost every – I’ll miss the people there. See you in a couple weeks.”
“What you’re seeing here is the people of this neighbourhood empowering each other – the last generation, the next – to create community. This city may only be 100 years old, but it’s got a good soul.” – Harold at the annual Marty Party in Sunnyside.
From the planters in the plaza at 314 10th Street NW:
“The lilies (like most of Calgarians) don’t acclimatize to the cold very well, but still, they seem to thrive here. I think a steady diet of pizza crusts from the place next door and crumbs of cinnamon twist buns from Amandine Bakery gives them the boost they need.”
“All of our teas are great when iced. I recommend the fruity rooibos teas – they steep longer and don’t carry a bitter taste.” – Oolong Teahouse.