Our History

Serving Calgary since June 19, 1919, the Calgary Downtown Kiwanis Club has deep roots in the city’s history. Here are some links to pique your interest:

• Kiwanis celebrates 100 years of transforming city and kids – Calgary Herald June 18, 2019
• Slideshow on the Kiwanis Club of Calgary (Downtown) – Kiwanis Clubs of Calgary
• A history of the buildings at Project Kampfire (Alternate)

The Calgary Downtown Kiwanis Club has had some illustrious members along its way, some examples of which are:

• R.S. (Russell) Trowsdale, P.Eng. – A past president (1931) of APEGA;
• Gordon Berry, Harold Brandreth, Jack Douglas, Murray Gardiner, John Mayell, Len Roper – many of whom had cabins named after them at Kamp Kiwanis;
• Mike Shaikh – A business leader, esteemed community advocate, volunteer, philanthropist and Member of the Order of Canada;
• W. Donald Goodfellow, K.C. – A Leader in Canadian Construction Law;
• Grant Kelba – Creator of Harvey the Hound
• Grant Carlyle – whose family established Carlyle Dairy (Carlyle Dairy Wagon)
• Sandy Cross – who established the Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area
• Doug Moe K.C. – a prominent family lawyer in Calgary

Chip Wilson who started Lululemon Athletica had some of his first swimming days at the pool at Kamp Kiwanis as discussed on the Tim Ferriss Show.

We think this Club and its long history serving the City of Calgary is important to maintain. If you have something to add – please e-mail us with: the name of the member, their involvement with the Club, and a link to the source material confirming their involvement and recognizing them. It would be nice to be able to include them in our history.

If you would like to join us – please get in touch. We’d love to have you join our membership!