The Beginnings

The Calgary Separate School Board leased a one room school from Mr. Rooney in Serani Estates and named it Bridgeland School. It served the many Catholic children who lived in the Bridgeland- Riverside. It was the forerunner to St Angela’s School, the fifth school to be opened by the Calgary Roman Catholic School District #1. The school opened on October 13, 1913, at 231 - 6 Street NE Calgary. The first teacher was Mrs Julia Hector, she later served as Principal until 1923. Th

The first Church was established on the upper floor of the original St Angela’s school and was initially called St Angela’s as well. The space functioned as a Chapel and accommodated 225 people. In February 1924, the altar and furnishings of the abandoned Bankhead Church near Lake Minnewaska were moved to the Chapel. Bishop Kidd lost little time in establishing the parish as soon as he had a Priest to supply it. On Sunday, September 13, 1925, he said Mass in St. Angela’s chap

From postwar rebuilding and the Great Depression to wartime discrimination and the rise of Calgary’s Little Italy, this chapter explores how Italian immigrants helped shape the city through hard work, family, and resilience. The First World War brought the first era of Italian immigration to an abrupt halt. Approximately 85 Italians from Calgary and surrounding areas enlisted in the Canadian war effort, returned to Europe, or shifted into war-related labour. When the war ende

Written in 1915, this letter reflects the concerns, loyalty, and growing frustrations of Calgary’s Italian community during the First World War, while calling for fairness and equal treatment within the city.