Photo credit: Wendy Schultz

卡城華人舊墳場重修

Calgary Chinese Cemetery* Revitalization Project

As a cherished historical site dating back to 1908, the Chinese Cemetery holds great significance as the resting place of many of Calgary's early Chinese pioneers. The City of Calgary is in the final stages of a significant revitalization project to the Chinese Cemetery (Erlton St SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2W4), in cooperation of the Chinese community with the plan to start work this summer [2024].

* Community Elders recognize two Chinese cemeteries in Calgary. The original 1908 site is the cemetery revitalization project located at Erlton, while the newer site established in the 1960s is at Queen’s Park Cemetery. They are commonly referenced as the old Chinese Cemetery and new Chinese Cemetery.

Putting It Right

The City of Calgary and community volunteers fixing the wrongs, on so many dimensions.
Reshaping our future, a year after the Centenary of the Chinese Exclusion Act.
YEAR 101 and Beyond

“Last week was volunteer week to complete the Chinese Cemetery Revitalization Project. The rainy weather and wet conditions prevented us from doing any work at the start of the week. The community came out massively during the morning and afternoon shift on Wednesday! On site work included headstone cleaning, spreading of loam and seeding. Given the significant contribution of the volunteers, most of the work was done on Wednesday! We worked a few hours the next morning and to completed the volunteer activities with The City of Calgary Cemeteries Operations. There will be a ceremony on site of the Chinese Cemetery (off MacLeod Trail) to unveil a Memorial Stone to commemorate the completion of the project and view the restoration work on Aug 23 at 1pm. On behalf of Mr Jack Yee, thank you for the community support and everyone that contributed to the success of this worthwhile project! Pictures to follow.”

-Ron Y.Y. Lee

In Local News

Discover Alberta Ancestors

A project of the Alberta Family Histories Society (AFHS)

AFHS is a volunteer-run, registered non-profit organization whose members who are enthusiastic about world-wide family history research and who work to ensure that ancestors’ stories are passed down to younger generations.  We offer research assistance, educational programs, a resource centre, special-interest groups, and various on-going projects.  One of these projects is Alberta Ancestors, our free, searchable database of hundreds of Alberta cemeteries. Genealogy researchers and local historians will find information about the persons interred in their cemetery of interest, and photos of the grave markers there. AFHS is happy to present the Calgary Chinese Cemetery on our Alberta Ancestors website, complete with the actual Chinese characters found on the grave markers.  We gratefully acknowledge the support of the City of Calgary in funding the translation of the inscriptions, and also appreciate the interest and assistance of the Chinese community. 

Memorials Search Tool for Chinese Cemetery