Heritage Calgary

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St. Mary's Cathedral

On June 25, 2021 the Heritage Calgary board approved the following site to be updated to the Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources.


St Mary’s Cathedral – 219-221 18 Avenue SW (Mission) - Year Built: 1955-1957 (Cathedral & Hall); 1955 (Parish Hall); 1958 (Parish Office)

Evaluated as a City-Wide Historic Resource

St. Mary’s Cathedral complex is exceptionally valuable for its continuous nearly 150-year use and ownership by the Roman Catholic church and since 1913, as the primary religious institution for the Diocese of Calgary (Institutional Value – City Wide Significance).

The Cathedral complex is significant for the outstanding Modern and Gothic Revival design of St. Mary’s Cathedral, built 1955-57 (Style Value – City Wide Significance).

The Cathedral complex has activity value as the epicenter of collective religious experiences of the Francophone settlers and later general Catholic community in Calgary (Activity Value – City Wide Significance).

The Cathedral complex has significant landmark value for its prominent siting with unimpeded sightlines of the church from 1 Street SW, its spectacular Gothic-inspired architecture with Modern styling, and its strong continuous ties to the Roman Catholic congregation in Calgary (Landmark Value – City Wide Significance).