Union Cemetery

Cemetery Rd. and Spiller Rd. S.E., Calgary, AB, T2C 4H3

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GPS Coordinates: 51.027894, -114.056826
County:
Record count: 22,026

Ownership: City of Calgary

Directions: Located about 3.4km south of downtown Calgary, along the east side of MacLeod Trail and the west side of Spiller Rd, adjacent to Burnsland Cemetery.

Background: When Calgary incorporated as a town in 1884 with over 1,000 residents, city council quickly recognized the need for a Protestant cemetery beyond the inadequate Roman Catholic mission graveyard. In 1885, councillors selected a 50-acre site at Shaganappi Point overlooking the river valley, with the first burial occurring in September 1885.

However, rocky soil conditions made hand-digging graves difficult, forcing council to relocate. In 1890, Union Cemetery was established on a hill at 28 Avenue and Spiller Road S.E. The laborious process of transferring burials from Shaganappi Point began in 1892 and concluded in 1912.

Early burial costs were substantial: $5 for single plots, $10 for double plots, plus $2 for digging. Access proved challenging, requiring dangerous river crossings until bridges were built.

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Union Cemetery, Calgary, AB