Calgary Historical Sites
9 Avenue SE, Inglewood
Before downtown grew up west of the Elbow River, Calgary's first commercial street was Atlantic Avenue, today's 9 Avenue SE. Shops opened here in the early 1880s, close to the railway, in what is now Inglewood, the city's oldest neighbourhood. Many of those early buildings still house local businesses. Locals once called the area Brewery Flats because of the Calgary Brewing and Malting Company, and it officially became Inglewood in 1911.
- Once called
- Atlantic Avenue
- Community
- Inglewood
- Today
- Shops, restaurants and community spaces
Two Buildings I Always Point Out
The Alexandra Centre, at 922 9 Avenue SE, started as a sandstone school in 1902, designed by William Dodd. It became Alexandra School in 1907, closed in 1962 and reopened as a community centre in 1976.
One block north, at 1423 8 Avenue SE, St. John the Evangelist Church was built in 1911 in red brick, in the Arts and Crafts style. Its bell was cast at the Alberta Iron Works nearby and is thought to be the first church bell cast in Western Canada.
The Avenue Today
You'll find independent stores, restaurants, cafés and live music. In summer, Inglewood Sunfest takes over 9 Avenue SE from 11 to 14 Street, with more than 200 vendors and free admission.
Bookends
- The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland at 750 9 Avenue SE, with the Hunt House and Deane House, sits at the west end where the Bow meets the Elbow.
- The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, 36 hectares at 2425 9 Avenue SE, sits at the east end.
Living Here
Inglewood and Ramsay both treat 9 Avenue as their main street. You'll see older character homes alongside infills and newer condos. Downtown is just over the Elbow River, and Blackfoot Trail and Deerfoot Trail are close for getting across the city.
9 Avenue SE, Inglewood in pictures
Photographed on the ground by Kelly Baker.
