Signal Hill

Sarcee Camp

Grant, A. and D. Soldiers at Sarcee Army Camp, Calgary, Alberta. 1915. Source: Glenbow Museum, PA-2527-4. Used with Permission.

Introduction

The geoglyphs on Signal Hill are Calgary’s largest military memorial. These stones arranged in the form of numbers are difficult to miss from any nearby perspective. And yet, most Calgarians have only a vague notion of their meaning. The geoglyphs were a originally creations of local battalions that were in training in preparation for overseas service in the Great War. They are part of the history of Sarcee Camp, once Alberta’s largest military training base. The site of Sarcee Camp was always a place of great importance, whether to the local indigenous people or the soldiers training within. Although Sarcee Camp was closed in 1982, the geoglyphs have remained. Despite years of neglect, they still exist as a reminder of both positive and negative aspects of our history

Sarcee Nation

The land that became Sarcee Camp was originally part of Sarcee Nation, now known as Tsuu T’ina Nation. Under the harsh provisions of Treaty 7, the Tsuu T’ina were assigned to a plot of land, jointly shared with the Siksika, about 50km east of Calgary.[1] Both groups were unhappy with the arrangement, and the Tsuu T’ina faced starvation due to a dwindling bison population, as well as significant conflict with the Siksika.[2] In 1879, two years after the initial move, the Tsuu T’ina packed up and moved to Fort Calgary for the summer, despite pressure from officials to return to the reserve.[3] The Tsuu T’ina chief, Bull Head, attempted to broker an agreement, requesting a reserve on the Tsuu T’ina’s traditional land, just Southwest of Calgary.[4]

However, the pressure of starvation proved overwhelming, and an incident occurred in which members of Tsuu T’ina Nation stormed the storerooms of a Hudson’s Bay store and then a I.G. Baker’s store.[5] Mounties were called in from Fort MacLeod to deal with what locals had called the ‘Sarcee War.’[6] Despite the dramatic title, the Tsuu T’ina refrained from any more violent incidents and, instead, simply refused to return to the Blackfoot reserve. This policy of resistance eventually proved successful; in the summer of 1881, Edgar Dewdney, Indian Commissioner for the Northwest Territories, arrived at Fort Macleod to hear Bull Head's argument and agreed.[7] The Tsuu T’ina went to work establishing their villages on the new reserve.

Above: Pictured is a T’suu T’ina camp with Calgary, Alberta, in the background. By 1890, the T’suu T’ina held legal ownership over the land that would eventually become Sarcee Camp, and a were living south of the Signal Hill area. Cockburn, J.A. Sarcee Camp with Calgary, Alberta in the Background. Ca. 1890s. Source: Glenbow Museum, NA-395-15. Used with Permission.

The Origins of Sarcee Camp

Tsuu T’ina involvement with the military began even before the advent of the Great War. By 1910, the Department of National Defense (DND) had leased specific areas of Tsuu T’ina Nation. These areas served as a militia training base for the local reservists. However, the land used was far and too small to function as a fully fledged military training camp.[8] Therefore, the Canadian Forces began looking for a suitable place to train its military personnel.

In 1914, Lieutenant Colonel Lowe was tasked with finding an appropriate site, and he came up with a proposal that suggested the Sarcee site in Calgary because it was large enough to house a potential training camp. The proposal reflected his grandiose plans; In his recommendation to the government, he wrote that “the big military camp at Sarcee would boast the largest rifle range in the middle west.”[9] He added that the land was massive to the extent that it would allow the entire battalion to exercise effectively.[10] For a considerable time, the Tsuu T’ina leaders, who held legal ownership of the land, were not informed of Lowe’s proposition. In fact, they only became aware of the proposal when it appeared in the Calgary Herald. The Tsuu T’ina leaders were shocked, and one of them, T. J. Fleetham, immediately contacted the Department of Indian Affairs (DIA) in Ottawa to investigate the report.[11]

However, Fleetham found that the DIA had no information about Lowe’s proposition. His first contact, J. D. Mclean, assistant secretary of Indian Affairs, was also unaware of the military’s plan.[12] Mclean wrote to the Military Council to investigate the report. He wrote that he wanted to know who had given the Canadian Forces the consent to allow them to use the Sarcee site because neither he nor the Tsuu T’ina leaders had received any information on the matter.[13] He also informed the Department of National Defense that any plan to use the land must be done after payment and with the consent of the Sarcee.[14]

After the renter agreement had been finalized, the Tsuu T’ina did not receive proper, market value compensation from the DND. The Tsuu T’ina leaders expected to get $260,000 per month, but the DND refused to meet their price.[15] Instead, the DND undervalued the property and only agreed to an initial payment of $225 000, meant to compensate band members, councilors, and the principal chief for the use of their properties.[16] Nonetheless, on May 11, 1915, Sarcee leaders agreed to lease their lands to the military so long as the military activities did not affect their crops and fences.[17] But the lease required periodic renewal, and the Sarcee leaders were already displeased with the DND.[18] In the decades to come, this tense relationship would eventually lead to the destruction of Sarcee Camp.

Sarcee Camp was located along the Elbow River. Machair Survey Ltd. The City of Calgary, 1949 (aerial). 1949. Source: Digital Historical Maps, University of Calgary.

Sarcee Camp During the Great War

Nonetheless, beginning in the summer of 1914, the Canadian Forces began structuring the zone to use as a military training camp and the area was henceforth given the title Sarcee Camp. Once the Canadian Forces had successfully leased the field, the site was designed as the primary military base in Alberta and provided training to the local Canadian Forces that were sent to fight overseas during the First World War.[19] Throughout its use, from 1914 to 1982, Sarcee Camp was used to train roughly 45,000 Canadian soldiers.[20] During it’s years of activity, Sarcee Camp was the largest military training camp in Alberta.[21]

The military engineering unit mapped the field after its establishment.[22] They distributed the camp to various military battalions and, as each battalion took their space, they created their identity within its boundary. Among these units was the four battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, which included soldiers predominately from Calgary, Edmonton, and Lethbridge.[23] During the war, military leaders formulated a unique training exercise that both worked to differentiate battalions and exercise troops.

Above: A 1916 postcard view of Camp Sarcee, taken two years after the camp was created. Grant A. and D. Sarcee Army Camp, Calgary Alberta. 1916. Source: Glenbow Museum, NA-1617-1. Used with Permission.

Soldiers collected stones from the Elbow River and carried them back to the campsite. The battalions would then whitewash the stones and use them to mark the borders of the camp and create geoglyphs that formed their battalion numbers.[24] It was both a useful training exercise due to the immense physical exertion, and a method of precisely marking area boundaries.[25] Every force participated in this training exercise, and, during the Great War, dozens of geoglyphs marked the area.

Above: In 1916, soldiers prepared the ground for the white washed stones that formed the battalion geoglyphs. Preparing ground for 137th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force floral emblem, Sarcee Camp, Calgary, Alberta. 1916. Source: Glenbow Museum, PA-3476-33. Used with Permission.

After the Great War

After the end of the Great War, Sarcee Camp continued to be used as the main military training camp in Alberta. From 1920 to 1945, the DND utilised the camp each summer in order to train artillery, cavalry, infantry, and service units from throughout Western Canada.[26] During this period, the geoglyphs were largely ignored. The whitewash on the stones gradually washed away, and the geoglyphs were eventually overgrown by bushes and grass.[27] Beginning in 1920, numerous geoglyphs were removed, and, by 1924, only 20 remained.[28] In 1950, General W.A. Griesbach, who was stationed at Camp Sarcee, made the first attempt to preserve the geoglyphs.[29] He stated that the land desired to have the markers encased in concrete, to memorialise forever those who had gone overseas in the Great War.[30] Griesbach’s idea of concrete was never actualised, but a local garrison did refresh the whitewash on the stones, making them far more visible.[31]

Sarcee Camp continued to be used in a limited capacity for training local troops after 1945. However, the residential and commercial development also increased in the surrounding area, and, as a result, most of the geoglyphs were removed.[32] By 1960, only four remained: the markers of the 51^st, 137^th, 113^th, and 151^st battalions.[33] In 1964, the site received refurbishment from some of the veterans of the 137^th battalion.[34] The veterans pulled weeds, refaced the numbers, and used over 10 gallons of water to clean each of the stones. This effort was in response the 48th anniversary of the formation of the battalion.

Above: This detail from a 1949 aerial photograph shows the 113th Battalion geoglyph at Cairn Hill, now known as Signal Hill. The numbers are visible near the top of the photograph just above the farm fields in the center of the image. The geoglyph shown here is located north and west of Rifle Range "A" indicated on the the aerial photograph shown above on this blog post. The name Cairn Hill may date to the World War I period, when soldiers created multiple geoglyphs on the south face of the hill. Source: Machair Survey Ltd. The City of Calgary, 1949 (aerial). Source: Digital Historical Maps, University of Calgary.

Destruction of Sarcee Camp

During the early 1980s, the relationship between the Tsuu T’ina Nation and the Department of National Defense became tense and eventually completely broke down. The point of contention was over an agreement made with the Crown in 1913: that the land that constituted Sarcee Camp would be rented at fair market value.[35] The Tsuu T’ina claimed that the Department of National Defense had continually deflated the property value, and therefore rendered the transaction illegal.[36] The Department of National Defense denied this accusation and insisted on their legal ownership. The disagreement quickly became malicious, with the military barricading the Tsuu T’ina’s main road into the city, and access to the road was only reinstated after Tsuu T’ina protests and widespread public disapproval.[37] In1981, the current lease ended, and the two sides failed to reach a mutually beneficial agreement to renew the contract.[38] As such, most of the property was returned in 1981, although some small areas would only be returned after a litigation suit in 1982.[39] The Tsuu T’ina had eagerly awaited the expiration of the lease, and the band leaders were enthusiastic at the return of the land.[40] To the dismay of local troops, the DND relocated trainees throughout the province.[41] However, the legacy of Sarcee Camp would continue to haunt Tsuu T’ina Nation. In 1998, members of Tsuu T’ina nation moved into vacant PMQs (located Northeast of Lincoln Park) due to a housing shortage.[42] By 2006, a controversy had erupted over the discovery of asbestos.[43] Most residents immediately relocated, although some stayed until a formal eviction notice was issued.[44] In 2009, the PMQs were demolished, officially destroying the last remnants of the Sarcee barracks.[45]

Battalion Park: Building a Commemorative Landscape

The deconstruction of Sarcee Camp in the 1980s coincided with a major construction project. The developer, Stewart Green Properties Ltd., began working in the Signal Hill area in 1988 with a plan for a $150-million shopping centre and 23 acres of housing west of Sarcee Trail and north of Richmond Road S.W.[46] The planned retail complex would become the West Hills Shopping Center, the largest of its kind in the Signal Hill area. The housing project included 98 single family homes, as well as a planned sewer line and roadway that would cut through six-acre site that held the remaining geoglyphs.[47]

Above: A 1993 aerial view of Signal Hill looking southeast towards the Elbow River and Glenmore Reservoir. Sarcee Camp was located along the banks of the Elbow River in the area just above the center of the photo. This photo was taken just two years after the creation of Battalion Park and shows the site of the West Hills and Signal Hill Centre developments. Jim Hall. Aerial View of Signal Hill Area, Southwest Calgary, Alberta. 1993. Source: Glenbow Museum, NA-5654-723f. Used with Permission.

By this time, the site was largely in disrepair. The geoglyphs were still intact, but covered in grass and not visible from any distant perspective.[48] Nonetheless, a widespread public consensus agreed that the geoglyphs should be preserved. The developer eventually agreed, donating the land that held the 113^th marker to the City of Calgary. The City declared the area a provincial historic site and renamed it Battalion Park.[49] The 113th marker was left in place, whereas the others, the 51st, 137th, and 151st, were reconstructed and refurbished on the side of Signal Hill.[50] The park was officially opened in 1991, complete with a series of interpretive stations, plaques, a bicycle trail, and an opening ceremony.[51]

The site has continued to be a place of remembrance. Ceremonies have been held every Remembrance Day, and, in 2015, as a response to Signal Hill’s 100th anniversary, Councillor Richard Pootmans began the process of getting the geoglyphs a historic designation.[52] In Pootmans’ words, the historic designation would help ensure that history would never be forgotten.[53] Furthermore, a historic designation would help Battalion Park continue to serve as an important site for those Calgarians who had friends, parents, or grandparents who served.[54] It is this emotional connection that makes the geoglyphs of Battalion Park an essential part of Calgary’s landscape.

Above: View from the 113th Battaion geoglyph at Battalion Park toward the Elbow River and Tsuu T'ina Reserve. Source: Joe Anderson. Used with Permission.

For most Calgarians, however, Battalion Park is known more for its scenic walkways than its military history. Battalion Park is popular among the local neighbourhood for dog walking and jogging with a beautiful view of the Rockies in the distance. Several sets of interpretive panels discuss Calgary's involvement in the Great War providing context for a remarkable landmark in Calgary's southwest.

Conclusion

From their creation in 1914 to the present, the geoglyphs on Signal Hill have been a central memorial for those Calgarians who wish to honour local veterans. Although many Calgarians don't know the significance behind the geoglyphs, those who seek it out will find the complex history of the Canadian military, and with it both heroic sacrifice and the continuous exploitation of the local Sarcee. These two elements exist in unison, and locals seeking out this history can embrace both the positive and negative aspects of their heritage.

Contributors: Jillian Rieger, Kuot Akec, Tracy Clearsky, and Yichen Liu

Above: Battaltion Park signage, 2018. Source: Joe Anderson. Used with permission.

Above: Chuck Szmurlo. Battalion Park in Calgary Alberta. 2007. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Used under the Creative Commons Attributions License.

References

[1] Patricia K. Wood, “The ‘Sarcee War’: Fragmented Citizenship and the City,” Space and Polity, 10, no. 3 (2006): 1356-2576, Taylor and Francis Library (accessed February 15, 2018), pp. 10.

[2] Ibid, pp. 10.

[3] Ibid, pp. 10.

[4] Ibid, pp. 10.

[5] Ibid, pp. 10.

[6] Ibid, pp. 11.

[7] Ibid, pp. 11.

[8] Canada’s Historic Places. Battalion Numbers. 2006/08/31. http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=5724

[9] P. Whitney Lackenbauer, Battle Grounds: The Canadian Military and Aboriginal Lands (Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia Press, 2006), 39.

[10] Ibid, pp. 39.

[11] Ibid, pp. 39.

[12] Ibid, pp. 39.

[13] Ibid, pp. 39.

[14] Ibid, pp. 39.

[15] Ibid, pp. 52.

[16] Ibid, pp. 52.

[17] Ibid, pp. 53.

[18] Ibid, pp. 53.

[19] Canada’s Historic Places, Battalion Numbers.

[20] Ibid.

[21] Ibid.

[22] Ibid.

[23] Ibid.

[24] Ibid.

[25] Ibid.

[26] James L. Demsey, "Monuments on the Hills: World War I emblems in Calgary," Alberta History 57, no. 2 (2009): 15+, World History in Context, pp. 25.

[27] Ibid, pp. 27.

[28] Ibid, pp. 28.

[29] Ibid, pp. 28.

[30] Ibid, pp. 28.

[31] Ibid, pp. 30.

[32] Ibid, pp. 31.

[33] Ibid, pp. 31.

[34] Ibid, pp. 31.

[35] Lackenbaur, Battle Grounds, pp. 196.

[36] Ibid, pp. 197.

[37] Ibid, pp. 198.

[38] Ibid, pp. 200.

[39] Ibid, pp. 200.

[40] Ibid, pp. 201.

[41] Ibid, pp. 201.

[42] Bruce Forsyth, “Harvey Barracks, Canadian Forces Base Calgary,” Canadian Military History, Retrieved from: http://militarybruce.com/abandoned-canadian-military-bases/abandoned-bases/alberta/.

[43] Ibid.

[44] Ibid.

[45] Ibid

[46] M. Hope, “Homes Being Added Near Westhills Project,” Calgary Herald (Calgary, AB), April 5, 1990.

[47] Ibid.

[48] Demsey, “Monuments on the Hills,” pp. 33.

[49] M. Hope, “Homes Being Added Near Westhills Project.”

[50] M. Duvall, “Park Preserves Stone History of Battalions,” Calgary Herald (Calgary, AB), Oct. 31, 1991.

[51] Ibid.

[52] D. Robertson, “Councillor, Artist to Mark Signal Hill's 100th Anniversary; First World War Camp Stones Could Get Historic Designation,” Calgary Herald (Calgary, AB), July 14, 2015.

[53] Ibid.

[54] Ibid.

For Further Reading

Canada’s Historic Places. Battalion Numbers. 2006/08/31. http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep- reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=5724

Dempsey, L. James. "Monuments on the Hills: World War I Emblems in Calgary." Alberta History 57, no. 2 (2009): 15+. World History in Context (accessed February 15, 2018).

Duvall, M. “Park Preserves Stone History of Battalions.” Calgary Herald (Calgary, AB). Oct. 31, 1991.

Forsyth, Bruce. “Harvey Barracks, Canadian Forces Base Calgary.” Canadian Military History. Retrieved from: http://militarybruce.com/abandoned-canadian-military- bases/abandoned-bases/alberta/.

Hope, M. “Homes Being Added Near Westhills Project.” Calgary Herald (Calgary, AB), April 5, 1990.

Lackenbauer, P. Whitney. Battle Grounds: The Canadian Military and Aboriginal Lands. Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia Press, 2006.

Robertson, D. “Councillor, Artist to Mark Signal Hill's 100th Anniversary; First World War Camp Stones Could Get Historic Designation.” Calgary Herald (Calgary, AB). July 14, 2015.

Wood, Patricia K. “The ‘Sarcee War’: Fragmented Citizenship and the City.” Space and Polity 10, no. 3 (2006): 1356-2576. Taylor and Francis Library (accessed February 15, 2018).

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