"Calgary 1912", a New Peer Group Learning Program, with Don Smith and Pat Roome

Calgary Association of Lifelong Learners, (CALL) is a new, not for profit, member led group dedicated to organizing innovative, affordable learning opportunities for people 45 and over. This fall, Don Smith, Professor Emeritus of History, University of Calgary and one of the founding members of CALL is facilitating with Pat Roome, Mount Royal University.

The group will look at many aspects of Calgary in 1912, at the height of its first big boom, when the city expanded tenfold in size in just ten years, from roughly 4,000 to over 40,000 people. So many Calgary landmarks are connected with this time period: the "Old City Hall" (1911), Central Memorial Park Library (Calgary's first public library, 1912), the Lougheed Building and Grand Theatre (1912). Important events during this period include the hosting of the first Calgary Stampede (1912), the establishment (momentarily) of the first University of Calgary (1912), and the drawing up of the "Mawson Plan" to guide the city's future development.

The 1912 theme will be very important next year. The City of Calgary is sponsoring CALGARY 2012, as 2012 is a pivotal year in Calgary's cultural history including the centennial anniversaries of some of the city's cultural cornerstones including the Calgary Stampede, The City of Calgary Recreation, the Calgary Public Library, the Pumphouse and the GRAND Theatre. "100 years after Calgary established itself as a cultural centre of the West," a City of Calgary press release reads: "Calgarians will celebrate the city's collective cultural achievements and dream big about Calgary's role as a cultural centre of Canada."

Calgary 1912 will run for ten sessions, from Wednesday, September 21 to Wednesday, November 23 always from 10 a.m. to noon.  The first meeting will be at the Lougheed House, 707 - 13 Ave. SW, Wednesday, September 21, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, other locations to be announced.  Registration is limited to 20.

To join the peer learning group on "Calgary 1912," one must first become a member of the Calgary Association of Lifelong Learners (CALL) @ $30, or @ $50 for a household of two-- and the charge for the peer group itself is $20.

Membership in CALL allows you to participate in all our activities for the year (Fall 2011 to Fall 2012). All the details on CALL programs, and registration information, appears on our CALL Web Site at http://calgarylifelonglearners.ca/