Along Calgary’s Memorial Drive, rows of poplar trees planted in the 1920s stand as quiet reminders of soldiers who never returned home. While the stories of those World War One veterans may be unknown to many, a new interactive walkway now puts many of the stories in the spotlight.
Stretching from Mewata Armoury to the George C. King Bridge, the Veterans Walkway is a five-kilometre walking route along Memorial Drive. Embedded with 31 bronze medallions embossed with a maple leaf, the path serves as an interactive outdoor memorial. The walkway was created in tandem with a mobile application where visitors can stroll the trail while discovering a diverse history archive through scannable QR codes and dedicated wayfinding signage along the route.
Using photographs, written firsthand accounts and narrated audio stories, the free companion app narrates Calgary’s history during the First World War. From veterans, to the women on the home front, to medical teams tending to the wounded, each medallion works as a touchpoint connecting users to more than 100 stories. The app can be accessed on mobile or as a desktop version in four different languages including English, French, Punjabi and Mandarin.
“It’s like Calgary’s rich military history is in your pocket,” says Chair of Veterans Walkway, Carolyn Patton.
Starting in 2024, Patton worked alongside local military historians and various partner organizations, like the City of Calgary, the Lois Mitchell History & Heroes Foundation and more, to create the memorial project. Launched in celebration for the Royal Canadian Legion’s 100th anniversary, the initiative is both an educational tool and a long-lasting tribute to the city’s military history.
Patton says the Veterans Walkway connects generations through the stories of those who served and ensures their sacrifices are not forgotten. “There are existing stories already, like the memorial trees. But now we’re able to tell those stories, so people can remember why those trees were planted from the very beginning,” says Patton.
Download the Veterans Walkway app, or find the desktop version at veteranswalkway.ca
