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.
2026 cemetery tour dates, locations and times
Union Cemetery
Address: Erlton St & 32 Ave. SW
To learn about the ordinary folks who did extraordinary things, join a volunteer guide for a tour at the historic Union Cemetery.
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.
Please arrive on-time to secure your spot as space is limited.
Burnslands Cemetery
Address: 3020 Spiller Rd. SE
To learn about the ordinary folks who did extraordinary things, join a volunteer guide for a tour at the historic Burnsland Cemetery.
Tours begin at the Galloway House at Union Cemetery and then proceed to Burnsland 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.
Please arrive on-time to secure your spot as space is limited.
St. Mary’s Pioneer Cemetery
Address: 3157 Erlton St. SW
To learn about the ordinary folks who did extraordinary things, join a volunteer guide for a tour at the historic St. Mary’s Pioneer Cemetery.
Tours begin just inside the gates of the 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.
Please arrive on-time to secure your spot as space is limited.
Chinese Cemetery
Address: Erlton St. and Macleod Tr. SW
To learn about the ordinary folks who did extraordinary things, join a volunteer guide for a tour at the historic Chinese Cemetery.
Tours begin beside the pagoda.
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.
Please arrive on-time to secure your spot as space is limited.
Tour dates
July
July
| Date | Location | Time | Registration link |
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Date:
Wednesday, July 1 |
Location: |
Time:
2:00 - 3:30pm |
Registration link:
(Cancelled) Union Cemetery Tour |
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Date:
Saturday, July 4 |
Location: | Time: 10:00 - 11:30am |
Registration link:
(Cancelled) Burnsland Cemetery Tour |
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Date:
Sunday, July 5 |
Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm |
Registration link:
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Date:
Saturday, July 11 |
Location: | Time: 10:00 - 11:30am |
Registration link:
St. Mary's Pioneer Cemetery Tour |
| Date: Sunday, July 12 | Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm |
Registration link:
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| Date: Saturday, July 18 | Location: | Time: 10:00 - 11:30am |
Registration link:
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| Date: Sunday, July 19 | Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm |
Registration link:
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August
August
| Date | Location | Time | Registration link |
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Date:
Saturday, August 1 |
Location: | Time: 10:00 - 11:30am | Registration link: |
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Date:
Sunday, August 2 |
Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm | Registration link: |
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Date:
Saturday, August 8 |
Location: | Time: 10:00 - 11:30am | Registration link: |
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Date:
Sunday, August 9 |
Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm | Registration link: |
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Date:
Saturday, August 15 |
Location: | Time: 10:00 - 11:30am | Registration link: |
| Date: Sunday, August 16 | Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm | Registration link: |
| Date: Sunday, August 23 | Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm | Registration link: |
| Date: Sunday, August 30 | Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm | Registration link: |
September
September
| Date | Location | Time | Registration link |
|---|---|---|---|
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Date:
Saturday, September 5 |
Location: | Time: 10:00 - 11:30am | Registration link: |
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Date:
Sunday, September 6 |
Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm | Registration link: |
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Date:
Saturday, September 12 |
Location: | Time: 10:00 - 11:30am |
Registration link:
St. Mary's Pioneer Cemetery Tour |
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Date:
Sunday, September 13 |
Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm | Registration link: |
| Date: Saturday, September 19 | Location: | Time: 10:00 - 11:30am | Registration link: |
| Date: Sunday, September 20 | Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm | Registration link: |
| Date: Saturday, September 26 | Location: | Time: 10:00 - 11:30am | Registration link: |
| Date: Sunday, September 27 | Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm | Registration link: |
October
October
| Date | Location | Time | Registration link |
|---|---|---|---|
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Date:
Saturday, October 3 |
Location: | Time: 10:00 - 11:30am | Registration link: |
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Date:
Sunday, October 4 |
Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm | Registration link: |
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Date:
Saturday, October 10 |
Location: | Time: 10:00 - 11:30am | Registration link: |
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Date:
Sunday, October 11 |
Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm | Registration link: |
| Date: Saturday, October 17 | Location: | Time: 10:00 - 11:30am | Registration link: |
| Date: Sunday, October 18 | Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm | Registration link: |
| Date: Sunday, October 25 | Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm | Registration link: |
| Date: Saturday, October 31 | Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm | Registration link: |
November
November
| Date | Location | Time | Registration link |
|---|---|---|---|
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Date:
Wednesday, November 11 |
Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm |
Registration link:
Burnsland Cemetery Tour - Remembrance Day |
(Done) May
(Done) May
| Date | Location | Time | Registration link |
|---|---|---|---|
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Date:
Sunday, May 17 |
Location: |
Time:
2:00 - 3:30 p.m. |
Registration link:
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Date:
Sunday, May 24 |
Location: |
Time:
2:00 - 3:30 p.m. |
Registration link:
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Date:
Sunday, May 31 |
Location: |
Time:
2:00 - 3:30 p.m. |
Registration link:
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(Done) June
(Done) June
| Date | Location | Time | Registration link |
|---|---|---|---|
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Date:
Saturday, June 6 |
Location: | Time: 10:00 - 11:30am |
Registration link:
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Date:
Sunday, June 7 |
Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm |
Registration link:
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Date:
Saturday, June 13 |
Location: | Time: 10:00 - 11:30am |
Registration link:
St. Mary's Pioneer Cemetery Tour |
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Date:
Sunday, June 14 |
Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm |
Registration link:
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Date:
Saturday, June 20 |
Location: | Time: 10:00 - 11:30am |
Registration link:
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| Date: Sunday, June 21 | Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm |
Registration link:
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| Date: Sunday, June 28 | Location: | Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm |
Registration link:
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Registration is highly recommended as space is limited. However, we do try to save a few spaces for walk-ups.
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.