Howdy from The History Wrangler, recipient of the 2019 City of Calgary Award for Heritage.
In October’s “Fistful of Alberta History,” we feature the colonel who named our great city, a famous resident who created the Canadian flag, a famous outlaw, and one of Canada’s finest athletes.
Colonel James Macleod
Colonel James Macleod was born in Scotland in 1836 and studied at Queen’s College, Kingston, and Osgoode Hall. In 1873, James joined the North West Mounted Police (NWMP). After the march west in 1874, he had a post named in his honour—Fort Macleod. James had a great admiration for the buffalo herds that roamed the plains, and it was he who suggested that the buffalo head be added to the NWMP logo. He also proposed the name for Calgary, naming it after a beautiful place in Scotland.
George Stanley
George Stanley is described as a “Canadian historian, author, soldier, teacher, public servant and designer of the current Canadian flag.” He was born in Calgary, Alberta, on July 6, 1907. After receiving a BA from the University of Alberta, Stanley attended the University of Oxford in 1929 as a Rhodes Scholar. In 1949, Stanley became a teacher at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, and spent twenty years there. During this time, Stanley put forward a proposal regarding the maple leaf design for the Canadian flag, stating, “The single leaf has the virtue of simplicity.”
Harry Longabaugh, “The Sundance Kid,” Cowboy at the Bar U Ranch
Harry Alonzo Longabaugh was born in Pennsylvania in 1867. When he was twenty years old, he was caught stealing a horse, saddle, and gun in Sundance, Wyoming. He was sent to prison for eighteen months, and it was after his release that he became known as “the Sundance Kid.” Unfortunately, he continued to get into trouble, especially with the local sheriff, so he decided to head north into Canada. In 1890, he found work as a ranch hand on the H2 Ranch north of Fort Macleod. He also worked as a horse breaker at the Bar U Ranch near Longview, one of the largest ranches in southern Alberta. After a couple of years, he decided to return to the United States, where he joined up with outlaw Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch gang.
Hayley Wickenheiser
Hayley Wickenheiser is one of the most famous female hockey players in Canada and around the world. She was born in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, in 1978, and moved to Calgary, Alberta, with her family when she was thirteen years old. She was only fifteen when she became part of the Canadian National Women’s hockey team. When she was selected, she was the youngest athlete to ever play for Team Canada. Hayley has had an extremely successful career as a hockey player, competing with Team Canada five times in the Winter Olympics and twelve times in the World Championships. She has helped Canada win four Olympic gold medals and seven World Championships!
