Stories From the Park

After a massive fire in 1886, Calgary officials recommended that major civic and religious buildings be constructed out of Paskapoo sandstone, rather than wood. Builder complied and the "Sandstone City" was born. In this episode, Dominic and Kesia learn speak with historian Harry Sanders about the quarries around the city, where the labour came from and the push to save these buildings in the 1960's.

It's one of the oldest forms of dancing in the Indigenous culture and it originates right here on the Prairies. If you've been to a powwow, you'll have seen the Prairie Chicken Dance. It's one of the most intricate dances, with amazing synchronization and artistry. In this episode, Dominic and Kesia learn about the dance and it's origins from Grant Many Heads, a senior interpreter at the Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park in Southern Alberta. This podcast was recorded in a live setting, so please excuse the lower sound quality.

"Those who don't know their history are deemed to repeat it," is how the old line goes. But is that really true? In this episode, Kesia and Dominic speak with Dr. Joe Anderson, a professor of history at Mount Royal University in Calgary. It's a conversation about history, why it's important that we understand it and the context that it can give us in our everyday lives. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this episode do not represent the views of MRU or Heritage Park. They are very much owned by the people who speak them.)

In this episode during Black History Month, Kesia and Dominic learn about settlers who came from the United States, making their way to settlements around the Edmonton Area. Our guest is Deborah Beaver, a descendant of those people who made their way from the eastern United States and eventually found their way to settlements like Campsie, near Barrhead, where she grew up.

It's the festival of lights! Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the holy Jewish temple in Jerusalem. In this episode, Dominic and Kesia learn about the origins of the celebration as well as what happens at the Synagogue at Heritage Park during the holiday season.

A new exhibit at Heritage Park will see the Van Terry Fox used in his Marathon of Hope displayed in Gasoline Alley museum until January of 2024. The Van of Hope became a symbol of the run itself and a place for Terry to seek refuge after a long day on the road and after public events. Dominic and Kesia speak with Terry's brother Darrell, who spent a couple of months in the van with Terry along with Terry's good friend Doug Alward.

The way Alberta has transformed its energy industry through time has been nothing short of remarkable. With a new exhibit open at Heritage Park, focusing on heating and cooling methods through time, Dominic and Kesia speak with Energy Economist Peter Tertzakian about the energy industry, it's seemingly constant state of flux, what's next and his EnergyPhile platform.

***Content warning: Some of the topics covered in this episode may be difficult to listen to.***In this episode of the podcast, Kesia and Dominic are joined By Dr. Erna Kurbegovic to talk about the controversial topic of Eugenics. While widely practiced as a form of science in the late 1800's and early 1900's, Eugenic principles are widely discredited now. We dive into the connections of the principles to the Famous 5 who, while social reformers and trailblazers in Canadian society, did employ a number of the principles of Eugenics into their social ideas.

Did you know that people of Punjabi descent have been living and working in Alberta since before it was even a province? April is Sikh History month and in honour of that, Dominic and Kesia are joined on the podcast by Dr. Michael Hawley, a professor of religious studies at Mount Royal University.

Did you know that people of Punjabi descent have been living and working in Alberta since before it was even a province? April is Sikh History month and in honour of that, Dominic and Kesia are joined on the podcast by Dr. Michael Hawley, a professor of religious studies at Mount Royal University.