{"id":3331,"date":"2023-02-21T00:01:54","date_gmt":"2023-02-21T07:01:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/?p=3331"},"modified":"2024-11-25T07:17:13","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T14:17:13","slug":"mcdougall-centre-in-calgary-albertas-first-teacher-training-institution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/en\/eternal\/mcdougall-centre-in-calgary-albertas-first-teacher-training-institution-3331","title":{"rendered":"McDougall Centre in Calgary \u2013 Alberta\u2019s First Teacher Training Institution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The McDougall Centre, now a hub for provincial politics, once played a vital role in teacher education. This iconic sandstone building in downtown Calgary has served various purposes throughout its history. Learn more about its journey below on <a href=\"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/\">calgary1.one<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a6a52208a21c\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a6a52208a21c\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/en\/eternal\/mcdougall-centre-in-calgary-albertas-first-teacher-training-institution-3331\/#Construction_and_Opening_of_the_Normal_School\" >Construction and Opening of the Normal School<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/en\/eternal\/mcdougall-centre-in-calgary-albertas-first-teacher-training-institution-3331\/#From_School_to_Government_Centre\" >From School to Government Centre<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/en\/eternal\/mcdougall-centre-in-calgary-albertas-first-teacher-training-institution-3331\/#Transition_to_a_Government_Facility\" >Transition to a Government Facility<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/en\/eternal\/mcdougall-centre-in-calgary-albertas-first-teacher-training-institution-3331\/#Landmark_Architecture\" >Landmark Architecture<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/en\/eternal\/mcdougall-centre-in-calgary-albertas-first-teacher-training-institution-3331\/#The_Legacy_of_the_Normal_School\" >The Legacy of the Normal School<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Construction_and_Opening_of_the_Normal_School\"><\/span>Construction and Opening of the Normal School<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On September 1, 1905, Alberta officially became a province. To support the rapidly growing population, the provincial government quickly designated a capital, planned elections, expanded railways, introduced telephone lines, and developed an education system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Calgary was chosen by the Legislative Assembly as the site for Alberta&#8217;s first normal school (teacher training college). Historians suggest this decision served as compensation for Edmonton being named the provincial capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time, teaching was becoming increasingly popular; between 1900 and 1906, Calgary\u2019s student population grew by 116%. In January 1906, temporary teacher training facilities were set up on the top floor of Central School (later renamed the James Short School). That same year, the city purchased land for the new Calgary Normal School for $15,000. Premier Alexander Cameron Rutherford laid the cornerstone in 1906.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The college officially opened in 1908. It was the largest educational facility in Alberta, costing $150,000\u2014a significant sum at the time. Two instructors trained 26 aspiring teachers from across Canada. The program lasted four months, after which graduates were required to manage classrooms and teach a full range of core subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"499\" height=\"299\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.calgary1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/11\/1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3332\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.calgary1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/11\/1-1.jpg 499w, https:\/\/cdn.calgary1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/11\/1-1-300x180.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 499px) 100vw, 499px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.calgary1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/11\/2-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3335\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.calgary1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/11\/2-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/cdn.calgary1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/11\/2-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.calgary1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/11\/2-1-696x392.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"From_School_to_Government_Centre\"><\/span>From School to Government Centre<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1922, teacher education moved to the Provincial Institute of Technology and Art campus (later the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, or SAIT), to accommodate growing class sizes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1180\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.calgary1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/11\/3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.calgary1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/11\/3-1.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.calgary1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/11\/3-1-300x221.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.calgary1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/11\/3-1-768x566.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.calgary1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/11\/3-1-1536x1133.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.calgary1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/11\/3-1-696x513.jpg 696w, https:\/\/cdn.calgary1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/11\/3-1-1068x788.jpg 1068w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Calgary Public School Board purchased the former normal school building and renamed it McDougall School, in honour of missionary John McDougall. John\u2019s father, George, established missions in Victoria, Edmonton, and Morley. John himself participated in missionary work, authored several books, and translated hymns and the Bible into the Cree language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>John McDougall was also deeply involved in public service and Indigenous relations. During the Northwest Rebellion, he acted as a mediator between Alberta\u2019s Indigenous tribes and the federal government. After retiring in 1906, he served as a Dominion government commissioner and an official in the Department of Indian Affairs. He passed away in Calgary in 1917.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the next 60 years, McDougall School functioned as a junior high and later an elementary school, also housing the school board&#8217;s offices. The school closed in 1981 due to declining enrolment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Transition_to_a_Government_Facility\"><\/span>Transition to a Government Facility<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After restoring Government House in Edmonton in 1976, Alberta\u2019s government sought a similar venue in Calgary for official meetings and conferences. In 1982, the province, in collaboration with the Calgary Board of Education and the City of Calgary, purchased the former McDougall School for $20 million. On September 10, 1982, the building was designated a Provincial Historic Resource.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On September 8, 1987, Alberta\u2019s Lieutenant Governor Helen Hunley officially opened the McDougall Centre as Southern Alberta\u2019s government centre. It serves as both an office space and a venue for provincial officials. Today, it is a popular spot for wedding photography, tours, and educational events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Landmark_Architecture\"><\/span>Landmark Architecture<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>From its opening in 1908, the McDougall Centre\u2019s architecture became a source of pride for Calgarians. Local newspaper <em>The Albertan<\/em> called it \u201cthe finest in the Dominion.\u201d This three-storey sandstone building with a mansard roof was among the first large public structures in Alberta. It is listed on the Alberta Register of Historic Places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Designed by provincial architect Allan Merrick Jeffers, the building is an example of Beaux-Arts architecture inspired by 16th-century French academic design. Beaux-Arts was a prominent style for North American public buildings in the early 20th century, valued for its elegance. Features include a flat roof, grand entrances, arched windows, symmetry, and classical details such as balustrades, pilasters, and cartouches. Jeffers also designed the Alberta Legislature Building in Edmonton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The symmetrical building features intricate stone carvings and extensive detailing. Granite steps lead to a triple-arched entrance, flanked by colossal columns. The interior boasts plaster mouldings and carved oak woodwork. Five circular windows illuminate the mansard roof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1959, the Calgary Board of Education added a gymnasium and a three-storey annex to the building\u2019s west side. However, during a $10-million restoration completed in 1986, these additions were removed to restore the building\u2019s original appearance. A nearby underground parkade, costing $25 million, was built by the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"656\" height=\"663\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.calgary1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/11\/4-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3341\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.calgary1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/11\/4-1.jpg 656w, https:\/\/cdn.calgary1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/11\/4-1-297x300.jpg 297w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 656px) 100vw, 656px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>To replicate authentic column capitals and other decorative elements, restorers hired skilled stonemasons and sourced sandstone from a quarry near Lethbridge. A &#8220;1986&#8221; inscription on the McDougall Centre&#8217;s west fa\u00e7ade commemorates this restoration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2015, another exterior restoration project addressed damage caused by Calgary\u2019s freeze-thaw cycles, which had eroded the soft local sandstone. Calgary, once known as the \u201cSandstone City,\u201d has a rich history of sandstone construction dating back to the late 1800s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Legacy_of_the_Normal_School\"><\/span>The Legacy of the Normal School<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>During World War II, teacher training temporarily moved to King Edward School. After the war, training returned to the Provincial Institute of Technology and Art. Anticipating an influx of veterans and growing demand for post-secondary education, Alberta\u2019s government restructured teacher training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1945, the University of Alberta assumed responsibility for teacher education, consolidating Alberta\u2019s normal schools into its Faculty of Education. Calgary\u2019s normal school became a satellite campus of the University of Alberta. In 1958, it was renamed the University of Alberta in Calgary. A new campus opened in 1960, and in 1966, this branch became the autonomous University of Calgary. Thus, the normal school established in 1908 is a direct precursor to today\u2019s University of Calgary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The McDougall Centre, now a hub for provincial politics, once played a vital role in teacher education. This iconic sandstone building in downtown Calgary has served various purposes throughout its history. Learn more about its journey below on calgary1.one. Construction and Opening of the Normal School On September 1, 1905, Alberta officially became a province. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":463,"featured_media":3344,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1166],"tags":[2480,2496,2504,2499,2509,2502,2497,2505,2501,2500,2506,2507,2508,2503,2498],"moimportance":[],"motype":[1158],"moformat":[2510],"class_list":{"0":"post-3331","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-education","8":"tag-alberta-education-history","9":"tag-alberta-teacher-training","10":"tag-allan-merrick-jeffers","11":"tag-calgary-beaux-arts-architecture","12":"tag-calgary-historic-buildings","13":"tag-calgary-historic-landmarks","14":"tag-calgary-normal-school-3","15":"tag-calgary-provincial-historic-resource","16":"tag-mcdougall-centre-calgary","17":"tag-mcdougall-centre-government","18":"tag-mcdougall-centre-restoration","19":"tag-mcdougall-school-history","20":"tag-sandstone-architecture-calgary","21":"tag-teacher-training-in-alberta","22":"tag-university-of-calgary-origins","23":"motype-eternal","24":"moformat-c-l"},"modified_by":"Viktorij Voitova","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/463"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3331"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3331\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3347,"href":"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3331\/revisions\/3347"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3331"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=3331"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=3331"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calgary1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=3331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}