About Kensington

Just steps across the Bow River from downtown, Kensington is one of Calgary’s most vibrant and beloved neighbourhoods. Inclusive, welcoming and full of unexpected charm.

Getting to Kensington

Our History

Billy Wadsworth doing a traditional dance

Our Shared Land

The Kensington Business Improvement Area respectfully acknowledges the original people of these lands.

Kensington is situated in Treaty 7 Territory, the traditional lands of the Blackfootconfederacy: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations; the Bearspaw,Chiniki and Wesley First Nations, and the Tsuut'ina Nation families and Ancestors. We arealso home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6)

We seek to build strong relationships with Indigenous Peoples and create an inclusive andnurturing community for current and future generations.

We strive to combine social and environmental responsibility with economic opportunityas we move forward together.

Wander tree-lined, pedestrian-friendly streets, discover public art and soak in the energy of live music and lively patios. Take in a film at the iconic Plaza Theatre, challenge friends to an escape room, try a new board game, or cruise the pathways on an e-bike.

From sun-filled patios in the summer to twinkling lights and festive experiences in the winter months, Kensington always shines! Rich in history and just minutes from downtown, Kensington offers a dynamic blend of shopping, dining, and culture. All in one walkable destination.Come discover your new favourite spot!

The History Of Kensington •

The History Of Kensington

Carscallen Block building in Kensington, Calgary

Indigenous History

Sheltered between the Bow River and the bluff, Kensington has been a travel route, meeting place, and settlement for thousands of years. These lands were part of the traditional territories of the Blackfoot peoples, the Stoney Nakoda, and the Tsuu T'ina peoples who followed the migration of buffalo. Early European settlers uncovered Indigenous artifacts and buffalo bones, indicating this was likely a buffalo kill site. Today's 10th Street was once an Indigenous trail to the Rocky Mountains, known as Morleyville Trail. By 1911, it became 10th Street and hosted the first streetcar service north of the Bow River. Another Indigenous trail followed Gladstone Avenue and 4th Avenue along the bluff, visible today in the area's unusual street pattern.

Early Settlement

European settlement began in the 1880s. Felix McHugh established a 21-acre homestead in 1883 (McHugh Bluff is named after him). In 1888, Thomas and Georgina Riley and their family of 10 children homesteaded nearby. After Thomas's death in 1909, part of their land became Riley Park.

The Louise Bridge

The Louise Bridge has connected Kensington to downtown since 1888. The wooden Bow Marsh Bridge was damaged in the 1897 and 1902 floods and replaced with a steel trestle in 1906. The current concrete arched bridge was completed in 1921 and served as the main route to Calgary's northwest for decades.

Carscallen Block building facade in Kensington, Calgary

Heritage Buildings

Heritage buildings line 10th Street and Kensington Road. The Plaza Theatre (1935) is Calgary's only remaining small theatre house with its original facade. Original commercial blocks still in use include the Hayden Block (1912), King George Masonic Hall (1911, now Higher Ground Cafe), and the Carscallen Block (1910), home to the oldest business north of the Bow River.The Kensington Pub (10A Street) was originally working-class housing built in 1911, renovated into a restaurant in 1982. The original Fire Hall #6 on Memorial Drive served from 1909 to 1964.

The Kensington BIA would like to thank Heritage Calgary for their efforts to "embrace and keep space for the stories of this place," and, in particular, the advocacy work of the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association Heritage Subcommittee.Much of the historical information here was taken from The Hillhurst Sunnyside Context Paper, commissioned and funded by the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association. The Hillhurst-Sunnyside Context Paper was prepared in 2021-2022 by Marilyn Williams and Gillian Sissons. Click Here to Learn More.