Landmark Building
CALGARY LEGION HALL #1
116 - 7th Avenue SE, Calgary
Designed By: Burrel & Basevi
Built in 1919
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Prior to World War I, Canada had little experience in dealing with war veterans. There was no ministry devoted to veteran’s affairs, no comprehensive compensation plan, no health care program, and little or nothing to assist the reintegration of war veterans into civilian life. Over 600,000 Canadians had enlisted during WWI; some 60,000 were killed and 138,000 returned “without limbs or eyesight, with impaired lungs or wracked nerves.” From 1915 onwards, various government programs were established, but these tended to focus on the problems of the disabled and dependents of the deceased. The global recession that commenced in 1913 continued unabated, further worsening the difficulties faced by returning veterans: jobs were scarce, and the cost of living rose 163% between 1913 and 1920.
In 1915, returning soldiers world-wide began to band together, forming the Great War Veteran’s Association. The Calgary branch of the GWVA, formed in 1917, gained national notoriety through its grant scheme proposal. Devised to redress the pay inequities suffered by the enlisted men during the war, the “Calgary Resolution” as it was known, was endorsed nation-wide – by all except the governing federal Conservative Party. The legislation finally passed was “…a system of bonus payments…limited only by the country’s ability to pay.” And of course, during a recession, the country did not have the money, so veterans were not paid. But the GWVA, which in the mid-1920s was changed to the Candian Legion of the British Empire Service League, continued to fight for veteran’ rights.
From 1917 until 1922 the GWVA leased the premises of the Alberta Club, but as early as 1919 it had plans for its own building on two lots immediately to the east. The “Memorial Hall,” as it was known, was begun September 9, 1919 when HRH Edward, Prince of Wales (later King of England, and later still Duke of Windsor) turned the first of both provincial and municipal governments and a public subscription allowed the $90,000 structure to be built. Constructed of brick and concrete, the two-storey red-brick Georgian Revival structure is trimmed with sandstone and capped by a parapet. The first-storey windows are surmounted by keystone-trimmed arches with decorated lunettes. Designed by architectural firm of Burrel & Basevi, exterior changes have been minor: the second storey inset balcony has been closed in, and the name on the signband has been altered, but little else. In 1983 the building was designated a Provincial Historical Resource.
The Landmark Buildings and Places Database draws on the series of walking and/or driving tour booklets produced by Alberta Culture (now Alberta Culture and Community Spirit). The Heritage Community Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ministry through permission to reprint these materials online. Extracted from Calgary: Stephen Avenue and Area Historical Walking Tour. Alberta Culture, n.d., with permission from Alberta Culture and Community Spirit. Visit the Alberta Culture and Community Spirit for more information.