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
May
May
June
June
July
July
| Date | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|
|
Wednesday, July 1 |
2:00-3:30pm | |
|
Saturday, July 4 |
10:00 - 11:30am | |
|
Sunday, July 5 |
2:00 - 3:30pm | |
|
Saturday, July 11 |
10:00 - 11:30am | |
| Sunday, July 12 | 2:00 - 3:30pm | |
| Saturday, July 18 | 10:00 - 11:30am | |
| Sunday, July 19 | 2:00 - 3:30pm | |
| Sunday, July 26 | 2:00 - 3:30pm |
August
August
| Date | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|
|
Saturday, August 1 |
10:00 - 11:30am | |
|
Sunday, August 2 |
2:00 - 3:30pm | |
|
Saturday, August 8 |
10:00 - 11:30am | |
|
Sunday, August 9 |
2:00 - 3:30pm | |
|
Saturday, August 15 |
10:00 - 11:30am | |
| Sunday, August 16 | 2:00 - 3:30pm | |
| Sunday, August 23 | 2:00 - 3:30pm | |
| Sunday, August 30 | 2:00 - 3:30pm |
September
September
| Date | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|
|
Saturday, September 5 |
10:00 - 11:30am | |
|
Sunday, September 6 |
2:00 - 3:30pm | |
|
Saturday, September 12 |
10:00 - 11:30am | |
|
Sunday, September 13 |
2:00 - 3:30pm | |
| Saturday, September 19 | 10:00 - 11:30am | |
| Sunday, September 20 | 2:00 - 3:30pm | |
| Saturday, September 26 | 10:00 - 11:30am | |
| Sunday, September 27 | 2:00 - 3:30pm |
October
October
November
November
| Date | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|
|
Wednesday, November 11 |
2:00 - 3:30pm |
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.