February 12, 2026
Written by Chris Axford
Communications & Marketing Coordinator

The Gordon Residence (2710 21 AV SW) in 2023, when it was last evaluated.

Since 1992, Heritage Calgary and its predecessors have run a plaque program that recognizes important heritage sites throughout the city.

From interpretive plaques recognizing existing heritage to commemorative plaques that honour past structures which have been demolished, heritage plaques share the story of buildings with great impact.

Public history helps build community and informs residents of their local history. Plaques are a way of communicating public history, providing information to curious community members and getting people interested in learning more. These plaques help celebrate and inform Calgarians about the people and the buildings that made their city.

These plaques inform people that a house on their street has deeply established history. The Gordon Residence in Glengarry is one such house. Built in 1912, the Gordon Residence is a charming and simple two-storey Queen Anne Revival-Style home that represents the area’s pre-war development. The community of Glengarry was initially established in 1906 when ranching brothers Thomas and Charles turned their farm and ranch into a real estate development. This decision reflected Calgary’s rapid growth between 1906 and 1913, sometimes referred to as the Age of Optimism, which saw Calgary’s population grow from 11,967 in 1906 to 56,514 in 1916.

The Gordon Residence (2710 21 AV SW) ca. 1995.

Population growth slowed significantly after this period, leaving upstart subdivisions like Glengarry largely undeveloped. Communities like South Calgary and Altadore also experienced this; eager speculators and investors would buy up agricultural land in hopes that Calgary’s growth would continue and that the land they held would be needed for real estate. Communities like Glengarry would see a drop off in development for the following decades.

This would be the case until after the Second World War when Calgary saw its next big boom. Between when the Gordon Residence was built in 1912 and then, architectural styles saw a big change. The Queen Anne Revival-style home was surrounded by post-war bungalows. Today it is surrounded by denser infills, reflecting the area’s continued growth, popularity, and desirability.

Because of the area’s rapid growth and change, recognizing the heritage that built the community is incredibly important. This is why Amy and Neil, who own the Gordon Residence, sought a plaque. The two had been renting a home nearby and had noticed that the Gordon Residence was one of the few pre-war homes in the area. Because development of the area stalled between when the home was built and after the Second World War, heritage homes were incredibly rare. Combined with the ongoing growth and redevelopment of Killarney, Amy and Neil felt it was important to acknowledge just how rare a house like the Gordon Residence is.

The Gordon Residence’s plaque before being delivered to the property owners.

The couple purchased the home in 2016, and were excited to find that previous owners had taken great care of the home, having tastefully refinished the interior 15 years prior. Amy and Neil heard a lot of stories about the home from neighbours when they moved in, which made them incredibly curious about the house. While most of what they were told about the house turned out to be untrue, the two nevertheless sought to have their property evaluated and added to the Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources.

At first, they were worried about what being included on the Inventory would mean for their home. A common misconception about being on the Inventory is that nothing about the home can be changed. Reaching out to Heritage Calgary was the first step on correcting this misconception. Typically, municipal designations protect clearly stated character-defining elements of a site. Changes can be made to non-defining elements, and funding can even be made available for repairs to character-defining elements. In general, the process of designation requires close collaboration and cooperation between the property owner and the City of Calgary.

The Gordon Residence was added to the Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources on October 13, 2023. It was the 935th site added to the Inventory. It stands two blocks away from 17th Avenue SW and four blocks away from Bow Trail and Shaganappi Point LRT station. Around the corner is a dog park, and down the street in the opposite direction is the Killarney Aquatic & Recreation Centre, Ward 8’s only public recreation centre. Needless to say, the Gordon Residence gets a lot of foot traffic. Amy and Neil were so proud of the inclusion of their home on the Inventory that the two wanted to share the history of their home more publicly. With the high foot traffic, many people would see the plaque.

Amy and Neil, inspired by trailside maps and information displays, tried something different and obtained a plinth to mount their plaque at the edge of their property along the sidewalk. The position of the plaque, the angle, and the height all but say “read me”, as the homeowners intended.

The plaque program is open to sites and properties that are listed on the Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources. Learn more about Heritage Calgary’s plaque program here.

The Gordon Residence and the Plaque Program