Cemetery tours
Mounties and ministers, cowboys and cooks, prohibitionists and politicians.
Join volunteer tour guides on a walk through time to learn about the people, personalities and events that shaped the vibrant city Calgary is today. From May through November, we tell their fascinating stories during free guided walking tours of Calgary's historic Union Cemetery.
Note: Cemeteries are not wheelchair or stroller accessible. Pets are not permitted. For more information on our historical cemetery walking tours call the Cemetery office at 403-221-3660 or email CalgaryCemeteries@calgary.ca.
The Calgary Heritage Authority has deemed four City of Calgary Cemeteries - Union Cemetery, Burnsland Cemetery, Chinese Cemetery and St. Mary's Cemetery - to be historically significant cultural landscapes that played an important part in the settlement and establishment of Calgary as a city. If you would like more information about these historic cemeteries, or to discover some of the important people buried there, visit our location pages.
2025 cemetery tour dates, locations, times and registration
To learn about the ordinary folks who did extraordinary things, join a volunteer guide for a tour at the historic Union Cemetery. All tours begin at the Galloway House at Union Cemetery.
Tours may be cancelled due to extreme weather or unforeseen circumstances. If you do not see your tour guide, please contact 3-1-1 for an update on the tour status as 311 operators will be notified if a tour is cancelled.
Cemetery tours are a drop-in style program and do not require registration. Please arrive on-time as you will be required to complete a standard waiver prior to the tour commencing.
May
May
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| Sunday, May 18 | 2:00-3:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, May 25 | 2:00-3:30 p.m. |
June
June
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
|
Sunday, June 1 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
|
Sunday, June 8 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
|
Sunday, June 15 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
|
Sunday, June 22 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
|
Sunday, June 29 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
July
July
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
|
Sunday, July 6 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
|
Sunday, July 13 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
|
Sunday, July 20 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
|
Sunday, July 27 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
August
August
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
|
Sunday, August 3 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
|
Sunday, August 10 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
|
Sunday, August 17 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
|
Sunday, August 24 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
|
Sunday, August 31 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
September
September
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
|
Sunday, September 7 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
|
Sunday, September 14 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
|
Sunday, September 21 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
|
Sunday, September 28 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
October
October
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
|
Sunday, October 5 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
|
Sunday, October 12 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
|
Sunday, October 19 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
|
Sunday, October 26 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
November
November
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
|
Sunday, November 11 |
2:00-3:30 p.m. |
Virtual tours
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Union Cemetery Virtual Tour
Join Shelly, volunteer cemetery tour guide on a virtual tour of the historic Union Cemetery. Featured in this video are the Galloway family, The Yorkshire Giant, John Ware, Reverend Angus Robertson, Davina McElroy and John Sibley.
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Union Cemetery Virtual Tour
Join Sheila, volunteer cemetery tour guide on a virtual tour of the historic union Cemetery. Hear stories of officers with the North West Mounted Police, Captain Cecil Denny and Sargeant Major T.J Kempster, the Bentley family, Robert Steen, Dudley Ward, D.R McWilliams, May Swindel and Charles Taves.
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St. Mary’s Pioneer Cemetery Virtual Tour – Part 1
Join Amanda, volunteer cemetery tour guide on a virtual tour of the St. Mary’s Pioneer cemetery. Learn about the rich history of some of Calgary’s earliest settlers, John Glenn, Mary Deane – wife of Richard Burton Deane and the McNeil family.
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St. Mary’s Pioneer Cemetery Virtual Tour – Part 2
Join Amanda, volunteer cemetery tour guide on a virtual tour of the St. Mary’s Pioneer cemetery. Learn about the rich history of some of Calgary’s earliest settlers, Mother Mary Greene, the Rouleau’s and Peter Prince.
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Burnsland Cemetery Virtual Tour
Join Amanda, volunteer cemetery tour guide on a virtual tour of the Burnsland Cemetery. The tour highlights some of Calgary’s earliest citizens who dedicated their lives to the betterment of the community. Euphemia Hill Bagnall, Inspector Carruthers, Ivan Crooks, Henry Jenkins, Rosella Henry and Ernie Starr are all featured in this tour.
Volunteer tour guides
Interested in leading a cemetery tour? Contact us for more information.
We are currently at capacity for volunteers.
Contact
For more information on cemetery tours please email parksvolunteer@calgary.ca. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.