The second floor of the Traders Bank of Canada building was chosen in 1970 to be the site of Heritage Park’s Masonic Lodge Hall because, before 1915, Masons typically rented out similar rooms to house their lodge meetings. Freemasonry provided a sense of belonging and an escape from the stresses of life for many Alberta settlers.
The urban lodges met every two weeks, and the rural lodges once a month, for friendly conversation, esoteric rituals and frequently, food and drink. The Masters, Wardens and Deacons Association of Calgary donated the Masonic artifacts, which came from lodges throughout Alberta, and advised Heritage Park as to the proper appearance of the lodge room. There is an intrinsic value ascribed to these artifacts by all Masons — who have a long, secretive history, dating back to thestonemason guilds in the era of the biblical King Solomon.
Visit this historical lodge and get a glimpse into the earliest days of Masonry in Calgary.
