Did you catch our #HeritageWeek2020 campaign on social media last week? It featured seven days / seven stories celebrating the people who have made Hillhurst Sunnyside home, past and present. Find our enriching local stories and images on our Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and/or by clicking on the links below, which will open in new browser windows for viewing ease.
We kicked off #HeritageWeek2020 by placing copies of the award-winning Hillhurst Sunnyside Heritage Walking Tour & Map brochure in a few Little Free Libraries in our community. There is still a handful of paper copies at the Little Free Library outside HSCA or you can find a digital copy online on our website here.
Day 1 began by acknowledging our past prior to European settler history and a Land Acknowledgement. As People of Treaty 7, Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association as an organization is a part of our collective path toward Indigenous reconciliation. HSCA staff and programs will be sharing what reconciliation means to us in the coming weeks via social media and on our e-newsletter.
Day 2 featured the Corless family, lifelong volunteers in our community. See Bob Corless’ photos, memories of the area and the family’s contributions to HSCA.
Day 3 introduced Pamma FitzGerald, the artist and Hillhurst Sunnyside community member who designed the pedestrian gates on the north side of Kensington Road NW.
Day 4 put the spotlight on Violet King, the first Black woman in Canada to graduate law school and practice law. Learn about her perseverance, activism against racism and advocacy for Civil Rights and read community Lorna Cordeiro’s powerful story about Ms. King here.
Day 5 showcased Adam's house. Places have stories and remnants of memories. Century Homes was a volunteer-led initiative that celebrated local stories, as unearthed by residents of century-old homes built during the first building boom in Calgary. Read Lisa Chong’s (HSCA Planning & Engagement Coordinator) story about Adam’s house on our social media channels.
Day 6 shared Everett Klippert’s story. Mr. Klippert was at the forefront of the fight for human rights in the late 1960s. His imprisonment sparked public outcry and led to the 1969 decriminalization of homosexuality in Canada. Read his story, discover his family’s connection to Hillhurst and watch the 2018 short film, Gross Indecency: The Everett Klippert Story.
Day 7 wrapped up with a tribute to Doreen Orman. Featured in the YWCA “She Who Dares” Canada 150 project, Doreen had lived in Sunnyside from 1946-2017. Since the 1930’s, Doreen has dedicated her entire life to volunteering and received the Governor General’s Award in 1992 for her work on advocating for women’s rights and read more about Doreen’s legacy on the community. Her advocacy led to Memorial Drive’s dedication as the only in parkway Calgary.
#HeritageWeek2020 is just the beginning of this storytelling journey in our community! We’d love to continue to share stories and memories with YOUR help! Email your stories and photos to lisa.c@hsca.ca or stephanie.c@hsca.ca.