TREE Timeline

Grade 4/5

Indigenous History

Prior to life on the reserve, the Tsuut’ina camped in tipis and hunted along the edge of the forest during the winter. During the summer, all bands met in the open prairie to hunt bison, collect berries and engage in ceremonies, dances and festivals.

On 22 September 1877, the Tsuut’ina and some other Indigenous nations signed Treaty 7, which created various reserves.

From 1857 to 1860, explorer Captain John Palliser estimated the Tsuut’ina population at 1,400 during his scientific expedition of western Canada. Epidemics of smallpox (1837), scarlet fever (1864) and other diseases, as well as wars, reduced their population to 450 by the time they settled on the reserve in 1881. By 1924, the Tsuut’ina population had decreased to about 160.

Indigenous History

According to Statistics Canada, between the years 1996 and 2006, the Indigenous population in Canada grew by approximately 45 per cent. This higher growth rate can be contributed to higher fertility rates and an increasing tendency for people to identify as Indigenous. As of 2020, the Government of Canada counted 2,439 registered members of Tsuut’ina Nation.

Today, Tsuu’tina territory is in southern Alberta, bordering the southwestern city limits of Calgary. In 1877, well-known leader Chief Bull Head reluctantly signed Treaty 7, which created the 280 km2 reserve on which the Tsuut’ina now live.

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Tree location

1912- Current Calgary Development

Calgary has created an Municipal Development Plan to create an environment that allows the city to provide services to Calgarians that is financially sustainable and allows the city to protect the natural environment while building and supporting the economy. The newest MDP was approved by council in 2021 which strives to make Calgary a place where people can have a great live and a great place to live. Calgary is expected to grow by 2 million people in the next 50-60 years.

1975- Spruce Meadows Opening

Construction of Spruce Meadows began in 1973, with the opening in 1975 and first equestrian tournament in 1976. It hosts 500,000 visitors annually and has the stable capacity for 1,000 horses.

There are six major outdoor tournaments and eight indoor tournaments at Spruce Meadows annually.

The facility is also the home venue of Cavalry FC of the Canadian Premier League, a soccer team owned by Spruce Meadows Sports and Entertainment. The 6,000-seat stadium, known as ATCO Field for sponsorship reasons during soccer use, is within the facility. The field was constructed in early 2019 at the site of a modified jumping field.

Recently, the Southern family, who have owned the facility since its opening, have become vocal regarding the encroaching city development—once several kilometres outside of town, Spruce Meadows is now located adjacent to the residential neighbourhoods of Bridlewood and Somerset, with a third, Silverado,

1971- Copithorne Ranch

80 acres and a former feedlot was purchased by the Southern Family

1973- Riding Hall Construction

The riding hall was built on the land.

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1975- Spruce Meadows Opened

​​The grand opening of Spruce Meadows was in April 1975

1977- Further Construction

Additional barns and facilities were built to help host the Master’s Jumping event

1979- Record Attendance

For the first time, attendance at this venue reached 50,000 people

1989- Grandstand Construction at Spruce Meadows

The grandstand building started construction to accommodate more visitors

1990- The Queen Visits Spruce Meadows

Queen Elizabeth visited.

2009- Spruce Meadows Begins Wetlands Education Program

Spruce Meadows begins hosting schools to teach them about the wetlands that surround the facility.

2005- Silverado Beginning Construction

The neighborhood of Silverado begins construction.

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Before this year, there was only one road into and out of the neighborhood. Now, cars can access it using Spruce Meadows Blvd, 194th Avenue South, McLeod Trail, and Sheriff King Street.

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This neighborhood will become home to 7400 people.

2016 Silverado Population Census

2016 Silverado Population Census

2016 Silverado Population Census

2016- South West Calgary Ring Road (Stoney) Project

Quick facts

• The (SWCRR) connects Highway 8 and Highway 22X at Macleod Trail.
• The project consists of:
• 49 bridges
• 31 kilometres of new six and eight-lane divided highway
• 14 interchanges
• three river crossings
• two river realignments (Elbow River and Fish Creek)
• two bridge rehabilitations
• one road flyover
• one railway crossing (flyover)
• one tunnel
• Cost – $1.42 billion; including $333.6 million from the Government of Canada’s National Infrastructure Component.

2016- South West Calgary Ring Road (Stoney) Project

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• Traffic projections – between 80,000 and 100,000 vehicles per day by 2050.
• Construction involved:
• 16 million cubic metres of excavated earth. If 1,650 NHL sized rinks full of dirt were stacked on top of each other, that’s how much earth was moved for this project.
• 13 million kilograms of rebar
• One million metric tonnes of asphalt
• During the 2020 and 2021 construction seasons, work included:
• landscaping, grading, completion of drainage
• electrical work on street and traffic lights
• signage, safety barrier and guardrail installation
• utility work, base and finish paving, and line painting
• Tsuut’ina Trail, (Sarcee Trail to Fish Creek Boulevard) opened on October 1, 2020.

2016- South West Calgary Ring Road (Stoney) Project

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Tree location near Ron Southern

2017- Belmont Development

Belmont is a new neighborhood in Southwest Calgary. Trees are planted by the City of Calgary through a tree initiative. Trees are planted along the road and maintained by the City of Calgary. Complete Streets is the initiative which brings colour, shade, and natural protection by planting and caring for trees along public roads.

2018- North Silverado Plan

This outline for the future subdivision and development of 16.77 hectares of land in the southwest community of Silverado. This proposal provides for:

• approximately 100 low density lots (R-1, R-G Districts) that may include Single Detached Dwelling with Secondary Suite, Semi-detached Dwelling and Duplex Dwelling;
• approximately 634 multi-residential units (M-G District or M-2 District), which would include Townhouse and Low-rise Apartment housing types;
• 3.46 hectares of public open space (S-SPR District) which will include an interconnected pathway network, and areas for residents to use for recreational activities; and
• vehicular access to the subject site is proposed through the connection to and extension of three local roads: Silverado Skies Link SW, Silverado Ponds Way SW and Silverado Skies Way SW.