Chinese Cemetery

Erlton St SW, Calgary, AB, T2S 2W4

GPS Coordinates: 51.025319, -114.059556
County:
Record count: 1,204

Ownership: City of Calgary

Directions: Located along the west side of MacLeod Trail SE, at 31 Ave SW, the cemetery is adjacent to St. Mary's Cemetery.

Background: Founded in 1908, Calgary’s Chinese Cemetery honors many of the city’s early Chinese pioneers, most of whom emigrated from Hoy Sun (Toisan) in southern China. These immigrants faced harsh conditions, racial discrimination, and restrictive immigration laws that prevented family reunification.

With few descendants to maintain the graves, many headstones deteriorated over time. The City of Calgary took over the cemetery in 1935. In 1980, during LRT construction, 39 bodies were unearthed and reburied in a common grave. Instead of restoring individual headstones, the Hoy Sun Association erected a monument. The cemetery, which includes a pagoda for offerings, is now recognized as a culturally significant site by the Calgary Heritage Authority.

Transcriptions

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City of Calgary, Open Data, compiled by Interment.net, June 23, 2025, (1,204 records)