South African War Monument & Central Memorial Park

Above: Central Memorial Park Second Boer War Memorial. Source: Jax Stumpes, (2015), from Blog Spot, http://jaxstumpes.blogspot.ca/2015/06/2015-canada-west-calgary-1-6192015.html. Public Domain.

Calgary's Central Memorial Park is home to the Horseman of the Plains, the affectionate nickname Calgarians use to describe the dignified equestrian figure on the South African War Memorial. It is often mistakenly referred to as the Horse, the Cowboy, or the Mountie. [1] Few people realize that this magnificent bronze equestrian statue is dedicated to the memory of the Canadians who died in the South African War. The eight other historic sites and monuments that surround it that commemorate other aspects of Alberta and Canadian history, further obscure the historic significance of the equestrian statue. Many people have forgotten that the South African War Memorial was the catalyst for the creation of these other monuments which initiated the transformation of the park into a National Historic Site.

Less than a decade ago, Calgarians viewed Central Memorial Park as a blighted inner-city place associated with vandalism, homelessness, prostitution, and drug use. Most Calgarians avoided the area and the enormous equestrian statue located at the centre of the park was forgotten and fell into disrepair. Even after an $11.5 million dollar restoration project returned the early nineteenth century Edwardian park to its former glory, few Calgarians know anything about the war commemorated by the equestrian statue. The statue’s message no longer resonates with Canadians because the South African War has been eclipsed by the devastating, global conflicts that shaped the twentieth century.

Building the South African War Memorial: 1914

The South African War, sometimes called the Boer War, was a colonial conflict that took place between 1899 and 1902. South African colonists refused to submit to British authority, outraging Britain and triggering the mobilization and deployment of troops from every corner of the British Empire, including Canada. Many English-speaking Canadians maintained close ties to Britain and these ties inspired over seven thousand Canadian men and twelve nurses to volunteer for active service in South Africa. The fierce conflict between Britain and the South African Republics of Transvaal and the Orange Free State lasted three years. Two hundred and sixty-seven Canadian volunteers died in the conflict. Those who survived were celebrated as heroes after the British finally achieved a decisive victory in 1902. [2]

Despite the warm welcome received by South African veterans upon their return home, many had a difficult time re-adjusting to life in Western Canada. Between 1909 and 1914 Albertan newspapers regularly reported accounts of veterans suffering from social isolation, mental illness, and unemployment. [3] As the Canadian government quibbled over its responsibility towards those volunteers who had enlisted in a British conflict as volunteers, veterans and members of the public took it upon themselves to honour the men who did not return from South Africa and to celebrate the glory of the British Empire.

Above: Wreaths On the Base Of the South African War Memorial, Calgary, Alberta, n.d. Source: Glenbow Archives, NA-3965-75. Used with Permission.

Above: Central Park [Memorial Park], Calgary, Alberta, c. 1914-1919. Source: Glenbow Archives, NA-1604-111. Used with Permission.

A memorial equestrian statue was formally commissioned in the winter of 1911 when members of the Calgary Canadian Club and the Alberta South African Veterans Association met with renowned French-Canadian sculptor Louis Philippe Hébert. Hébert suggested that the memorial be placed in Calgary’s Central Park, a beautiful Edwardian-era park destined to become a popular leisure destination that allowed Calgarians to escape the frenzied pace of city life. [4] Central Park had already emerged as an important community centre following the construction of Alberta’s first public library in 1912. [5] The library was designed to serve all Calgarians, not just elites. Calgary women were the driving force behind the project and helped to change Calgary’s rough, Wild West identity by increasing literacy rates and fostering the development of a more educated, civically engaged populace. [6]

Women were also responsible for making the proposed South African War Memorial into a reality. After the Calgary Canadian Club and the South African War veterans were denied city funds, they asked the public to help raise the $25,000 necessary to construct the statue. The Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire was among the first to respond and enlisted Boy Scouts and Cadets to help them raise the sum by through fundraisers and donations. [7] The Daughters of the Empire was a women’s patriotic association that focused on educating young Canadians about the South African War and the heroic sacrifices of Canadian veterans while instilling British patriotic values. [8] The organization's educational mission profoundly shaped the South African War Memorial’s patriotic message and encouraged Calgarians to remember that they were a part of the British Empire. [9]

Above: St. Stephen's Cadet Corps in front of the South African War Memorial, Calgary, Alberta, c. 1914. Source: Glenbow Archives, PB-500-3. Used with Permission.

Above: Unveiling the South African War Monument, Central Park [Memorial Park], Calgary, Alberta, 20 June 1914. Source: Glenbow Archives, NA-2354-9. Used with Permission.

After three years of planning and fundraising, the South African War Memorial was finally unveiled on June 20, 1914. Thousands of Calgarians waving the Union Jack filled Central Park and spilled onto the surrounding streets. Many hoped to catch a glimpse of the uniformed South African veterans. The dedication speech delivered by the Right Honourable R. B. Bennett, an influential local politician and a well-respected Member of Parliament, expressed the organizers’ hope that the memorial statue would inspire future acts of British patriotism and civic engagement:

“Here in this beautiful park, the centre of the activities of this proud city, the product of our twentieth century civilization, in which materialism plays so large a part, this monument will stand ever as a visible reminder of other than material things: of heroic self-sacrifice; indomitable courage; loft patriotism; devotion to duty and of service to the cause of liberty... It will serve as an incentive to the youth of our city to emulate the efforts of those who are no more. It will stimulate their ambition; it will fill their minds with high and lofty conceptions of patriotism, and with a desire to live lives of usefulness and service.” [10]

The outbreak of the First World War later that summer provided Calgary’s youth with an opportunity to emulate the patriotic sacrifices of South African veterans.

Finding a Memorial Purpose for Central Park: 1915-1970

The devastation and scale of the First and Second World Wars eclipsed that of the South African War. Although South African war veterans continued to gather around the monument and held an annual banquet to reminisce about their experiences and celebrate the glory of the British Empire, during the 1920s and the 1930s most Canadians were focused on commemorating the Great War. [11] The construction of additional memorials in Central Park further overshadowed the South African War Monument’s significance and its patriotic message. Central Memorial Park is now home to several other monuments that contest the South African War Memorial’s imperial message by focusing on the experiences and sacrifices of ordinary Canadians and by celebrating a distinctly Canadian narrative.

Above: Calgary Central Memorial Park. Source: Jessica Purvis. Used with Permission

The South African War Monument was the catalyst responsible for transforming Central Park into a site of public remembrance. In 1928 a Cenotaph—an empty tomb dedicated to the memory of those who did not return from the Great War—was erected a short distance from the South African War Monument. Its construction prompted developers to adjust the park’s name to Central Memorial Park so that it reflected the park’s privileged commemorative status. Developers also removed the park’s music pavilion, which had been used to host public readings and music performances, in order to focus on remembering the men and women who died in the war. [12] These decisions deprived the park of its leisure function and transformed Central Memorial Park into a strictly memorial space that was used to host the City’s official Remembrance Day ceremony between 1928 and 1970 [13].

Today, the Cenotaph is still the most significant monument in Central Memorial Park. It now commemorates all of the significant battles Canadians have fought in since World War I and is dedicated to those who fought in the Second World War, the Korean War, UN Peacekeeping missions, and the war in Afghanistan. [14] The Cenotaph is one of the places where Calgarians go to reflect on Canadian military history and to remember Canada’s soldiers. Calgarians gather at the Cenotaph every Remembrance Day to honour the sacrifices made to protect Canadian values. The Cenotaph challenges the South African War Memorial by obscuring the importance of Canada’s historic ties to Great Britain.

Above: Calgary Central Memorial Park Cenotaph. Source: Jessica Purvis. Used with Permission.

Calgarians continued to develop the park’s privileged memorial status with the construction of additional memorials between 1930 and 1967. In 1930 a water fountain was built to commemorate the 50^th Battalion’s role in the Battle of Vimy Ridge. The Canadians in the 50^th Battalion were known by the French and British in the First World War as worthy allies. Their heroic efforts became a source of national pride that helped build a distinctly Canadian identity. [15]

The R.B Bennett Memorial, erected in 1953, also pays tribute to a distinctly Canadian national identity. After launching his political career in Calgary and becoming the eleventh Prime Minister of Canada, Bennett rejected the imperial rhetoric that informed his dedication of the South African War Memorial. Bennett's accomplishments profoundly shaped Calgarian, Albertan, and Canadian heritage. Some of his significant accomplishments include the 1932 Statute of Westminster, which recognized Canada as a sovereign nation, and the 1932 Relief Act, which established a welfare system in Canada. [16] The Statute of Westminster created a distinct Canadian identity and challenged the colonial values commemorated by the South African War monument. Bennett’s policies reminded Canadians that while they should remember Canada’s historic ties to Great Britain it was important to put “Canada first.” [17] The erection of a statue to R.B. Bennett helped transform the park into a site that reflects a Canadian rather than an imperial identity.

Above: Calgary Central Memorial Park R.B. Bennett Memorial. Source: Jessica Purvis. Used with Permission.

Deterioration, Neglect, & Recovering Memory, 1970-2000

Despite the significant memorial and heritage functions the park played in the first half of the twentieth century, by 1980 it was in decay. Even the creation of an Eternal Flame monument in 1967 that embodied the park’s theme of remembrance by recognizing those who have fought and died for Canada could not halt the park’s decay. [18] In 1970, city officials decided to move Calgary’s main Remembrance Day ceremony to another location. This move deprived the park of its main memorial significance and gave Calgarians little reason to visit the park. Few people even remembered the meaning of the deteriorating and frequently vandalized equestrian statue. [19] The park was overgrown by large trees and hedges. The park’s deterioration made the space favourable for drug and sexual activity and the park gained notoriety as a cruising site for Calgary’s LGBTQ+ community. [20] It also became a focal point for Calgary’s homeless population who could often be found sleeping in the park. [21]

The park’s changing condition did not, however, prevent it from continuing to function as a memorial space. In the 1990s, three additional military monuments were placed in Central Park. In 1994 the Royal Canadian Legion Medallion was placed at the park’s entrance to recognize the 117,000 men and women who died in service to Canada. The Medallion also represents the men and women currently serving in the Canadian Armed Forces. [22] The Medallion reinforced Central Memorial Park’s commemorative purpose by reminding Calgarians that our troops and those who fought to defend Canadian values should never be forgotten.

The other two monuments erected in the 1990s recall the imperial message of the South African War Memorial by drawing attention to Canada’s historic ties to the British Empire. The Burma Star Monument, constructed in 1996 to honour the Commonwealth soldiers who fought in World War II, highlights Canada’s ties to the British Empire by referring to Canadian soldiers as “Commonwealth Soldiers.” [23] The British Commonwealth Air Training Program (BCATP) memorial commemorates the airmen Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force who trained in Canada and those who died in service during World War II. [24] The memorial, dedicated in 2004, recognizes Canada's special relationship with other Commonwealth nations. The Burma Star Monument and the BCATP Memorial reinforce the South African War Memorial’s imperial message by reminding Calgarians that Canada’s military history is closely entwined with that of the British Empire. The construction of these monuments also helped renew the public’s interest in the park by drawing attention to the fact that the park’s older monuments had been neglected.

Above: Calgary Central Memorial Park ANZAC Memorial. Source: Jessica Purvis. Used with Permission.

Revitalizing & Redeveloping Central Memorial Park, 2004-Present

The poor condition of the park outraged the public and once again the city rallied around the site. Local community groups began to patrol the park at night to prevent Calgary’s youth from vandalizing memorials and dishonouring the sacrifices of their ancestors while activists drew attention to current social issues. Between 1981 and 2000, Calgarians frequently gathered in the park to protest violence against women and to draw attention to the struggles of the city’s homeless population. [25] The people’s demands for reform partnered with the City’s desire for redevelopment triggered an $11.5 million restoration project.

In 2004, the City of Calgary proposed the redevelopment of Central Memorial Park. The redevelopment aimed to ensure that the historical significance of the park was maintained while guaranteeing that the “historical elements created the framework and context into which new elements and uses” could be placed. [26] The City emphasized that redevelopment would allow the park to once again become a valued community place that people could take pride in and integrate into their daily lives. The renovation occurred between 2009 and 2010 and successfully restored the park’s original Edwardian design of geometric patterns of plants, paths, and grass while also incorporating a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design approach (CPTED). CPTED is a multidisciplinary approach that deters criminal behaviour by influencing the physical design of the environment and by encouraging positive social interactions. [27] CPTED integrates security measures to maximize visibility through the use of natural surveillance and the placement of physical features and plants. Signs, buildings, and maintenance are used to communicate the fact that the space is checked on regularly and monitored. [28] The City’s adoption of a CPTED policy aimed to reduce the occurrence of criminal activity in the park and create a space people felt comfortable using.

The redevelopment project also focused on making the space more attractive to the public. Water features, free WI-FI, and new lighting that drew attention to the monuments were integrated into the design to make the park seem more welcoming. A restaurant with an outdoor reading room and flexible seating was built on the south side of the park to create an inviting environment. These elements helped rectify the functional void left by the removal of music pavilion and gave Calgarians an additional reason to visit the park. [30]

Central Memorial Park Today

On January 12, 2018 Central Memorial Park was formally recognized as a National Historic Site. National Historic Sites are places of profound national importance that “bear witness to our country’s defining moments and illustrate its human creativity and cultural traditions” [31]. This recognition guarantees that Central Memorial Park, Calgary’s oldest surviving park, will remain a key feature of Calgary’s physical and cultural landscapes despite the fact that many Calgarians have forgotten the imperial message celebrated by the statue positioned at the centre of the park.

Contributors: Jordan Manning, Mateus Pereira, Shannon Pruden, and Jessica Purvis

Above: Calgary Central Memorial Park's Horseman of the Plains. Source: Jessica Purvis. Used with Permission.

References

[1] “Who is the Horseman of the Park,” para. 2, Beltline Heritage Group, last modified 2014, https://beltline.ca/community/heritage/who-horseman-park; “Memorial Park Library, Central Memorial Park Declared National Historic Site,” The Calgary Herald, January 18, 2018.

[2] “Canada & the South African War, 1899-1902,” Canadian War Museum, last modified February 16, 2016, http://www.museedelaguerre.ca/cwm/exhibitions/boer/boerwarhistory_e.shtml.

[3] “Found Dead in Chair in His Lonely Shack,” The Edmonton Bulletin, February 11, 1913, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, item Ar00105, http://peel.library.ualberta.ca; “Veteran Insane From Old Wound,” The Edmonton Capital, April 29, 1910, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, Item Ar00112, http://peel.library.ualberta.ca.

[4] “Put Statue in Central Park,” The Calgary Daily Herald, January 16, 1911, Early Alberta Newspapers.

[5] Alberta Register of Historic Places, Memorial Park Library, 2013 https://hermis.alberta.ca/ARHP/Details.aspx?DeptID=1&ObjectID=4665-0454.

[6] Beltline Heritage Group, Central Memorial Park Library, 2010, https://beltline.ca/community/heritage/central-memorial-park-library.

[7] “Unveiling of the South African Statue Tomorrow,” The Calgary Daily Herald, June 19, 1914, Early Alberta Newspapers.

[8] “Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire” Red Deer News, September 16, 1914, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, http://peel.library.ualberta.ca.

[9] Celia Morgan, Commemorating Canada: History, Heritage, and Memory 1850s-1990s (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2016), 78.

[10] “South African Memorial Statue is unveiled by the District Officer Commanding,” The Calgary Daily Herald, June 22, 1914, Early Alberta Newspapers.

[11] “South African Vets Enjoy Reminiscences at Big Banquet Here,” The Calgary Daily Herald, July 7, 1936; Celia Morgan, Commemorating Canada: History, Heritage, and Memory 1850s-1990s (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2016), 78.

[12] Carson, McCulloch Associates Ltd., Landscape Architects, “A Conceptual Proposal for Redevelopment,” pg. 48, September 2004, https://beltline.ca/media/CMP_concept_2004.pdf.

[13] Carson, "A Conceptual Proposal for Redevelopment," pg. 54

[14] Doer, BIg, Calgary then and now – Cenotaph and Memorial Park Library, December 2013, http://www.bigdoer.com/12984/then-and-now/calgary-then-and-now-cenotaph-and-memorial-park-library/).

[15] -The Calgary Journal. The 50th Battalion on the frontlines of history. July 30, 2014, https://www.calgaryjournal.ca/index.php/news/ 2325-the-50th-battalion-on-the-frontlines-of-history.

[16] Beltine Heritage Group, R.B. Bennet Memorial, 2010, https://beltline.ca/community/heritage/rb-bennet.

[17] “Farewell to Leadership Brings call from Bennett for Unity Across Canada,” The Calgary Daily Herald, July 7, 1938.

[18] Beltline Heritage Group, Eternal Flame . https://beltline.ca/community/heritage/eternal-flame, 2014.

[19] Lau, Michael. “Group Urges Vandal Crackdown: Destruction Rife in Downtown Green Spaces,” The Calgary Herald, August 28, 2000, ProQuest.

[20] Calgary Gay History, “YYC LGBTQ Legacy Sites,” para. 5, Calgary Gay History Project: Our Past Matters (blog), January 26, 2017, https://calgaryqueerhistory.ca/2017/01/.

[21] Carson, "A Conceptual Proposal for Redevelopment," pg. 2-18.

[22] Beltline Heritage Group, Royal canadian legion commemorative medallion. https://beltline.ca/community/heritage/legion-medalion, 2014.

[23] Beltline Heritage Group, Burma star. WWII memorial. https://beltline.ca/community/heritage/burma-star, 2014.

[24] Beltline Heritage Group, Australia and new zealand airmen ANZAC - WWII memorial. https://beltline.ca/community/heritage/central-memorial-park/anzac, 2014.

[25] Lorraine Locherty, “Women March in Protest for 10^th Year,” The Calgary Herald, September 13, 1991; “Calgarians Invited to Downtown Park Sleep-In,” The Calgary Herald, September 25, 2002.

[26] Ryan White, “Winter Clothing Attached to Poles, Placed in Trees During Scarf Blitz,” The Calgary Herald, November 28, 2015; Brad Linn, “Central Memorial Park Officially Re-Opened,” para.4, Calgary City News (blog), May 13, 2010, http://www.calgarycitynews.com/2010/05/city-of-calgary-reveals-restoration-of.html; “Central Memorial Park,” para. 7, World Urban Park: Parks of the World, https://www.worldurbanparks.org/en/programs/parks-of-the-world/379-parks-of-the-world-central-memorial-park-calgary-canada.

[27] Andrew Guilbert, “Central Memorial Park Then and Now, Avenue Magazine, March 28, 2016.

[28] “Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED),” para. 1, Calgary Police Service, http://www.calgary.ca/cps/Pages/Community-programs-and-resources/Crime-prevention/Crime-Prevention-Through-Environmental-Design.aspx.

[29] “Central Memorial Park Revitalization,” para. 2, Beltline. https://beltline.ca/community/parks-public-places/central-memorial-park.

[30] “Government of Canada Announces New National Historic Designations,” para. 2, News Wire, https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-announces-new-national-historic-designations-668995663.html.

For Further Reading

Feeling out of date? Check out archival copies of the Calgary Herald:

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=PLWDSxI5WzYC&dat=19360707&b_mode=2&hl=en

Visit the City of Calgary's website:

http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pages/Locations/Downtown-parks/Central-Memorial-Park.aspx

Learn more about the history of Calgary's Beltline:

https://beltline.ca/community/parks-public-places/central-memorial-park

Learn more about Calgary's LGBTQ+ Heritage:

https://calgaryqueerhistory.ca/

Learn more about the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire:

http://www.iode.ca/

Image Header: The South African War Monument. Source: Jessica Purvis. Used with Permission.

Historical Map: Victor, E.A. Street Map of the City of Calgary [map]. 1913. Scale not given. “Digital Historic Maps.” University of Calgary. https://library.ucalgary.ca/c.php?g=382137&p=2589277 (15 March 2018).

Current Map: Calgary, Alberta [map]. 2018. Scale undetermined; generated by Jessica Purvis; using https://www.google.ca/maps. https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Calgary,+AB/@51.0401756,-114.0706821,16z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x537170039f843fd5:0x266d3bb1b652b63a!8m2!3d51.0486151!4d-114.0708459 (15 March 2018).

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