THE GLENCOE CLUB’S 90th ANNIVERSARY

November 16, 2021 marks the 90th Anniversary of The Glencoe Club

To mark this momentous occasion, we’ve gathered a few historical events that take us through the last 90 years. Collectively, they have made the Club the second home it is today.

With such a long and treasured past of athletic achievements, Club milestones and members of note, it is impossible to acknowledge them all in just a few pages. While we hope this timeline is as accurate as possible, unfortunately through fire and flood, we have lost many archives and mementos.

We encourage members to share any memories, stories and photos through our Legacy Project so we can continue to build our archives for future generations.

We hope you enjoy this short summary of our long history. Be sure to also look for our “Celebrating 90 Years” video series to be released weekly in September leading up to our official anniversary date!

In 1921, members of the Calgary Skating Club were working on plans for an indoor or covered rink. Somehow the idea grew and a nucleus of enthusiastic Calgary Skating Club members expanded it into a concept that would lead to the creation of one of Western Canada’s first family and recreational sports clubs.

By all accounts, the driving force behind the formation of The Glencoe Club was E.A. (Ernie) McCullough, one of the most active members of the old skating club. He was chairman of the committee which started the Glencoe in 1929-30 when all assets of the skating club were turned over to the Glencoe.

(Above excerpt taken from the 50th Anniversary book, The Glencoe Club 1931-1981)

1930s

• After the idea was sparked and the right people were involved, the development of The Glencoe Club moved quickly in 1931. On March 21 the inauguration of the first Board of Directors took place and on June 2 the first

Annual General Meeting for the shareholders was held. • The actual construction of the Club only took three short months. The official sod-turning ceremony was in

August and the Club opened to members in November. • On November 16, The Glencoe Club hosted the Grand

Opening Gala. With nearly 1,000 members and guests in attendance, this event was one of the biggest dinner dances ever held in Calgary at the time. The badminton courts were designed and decorated, dinner was served and entertainment, including a thirteen-piece orchestra and dancers, was brought in. The party continued to 2 am and the entire musical program was broadcast over local radio. After the gala, the court floors had to be re-sanded in time for badminton play.

The Glencoe Club officially opened its doors on November 20 with 1,200 members (450 of which held shares). Sport facilities included indoor and outdoor skating, badminton, curling, squash, bowling, lawn bowling and outdoor tennis.

• The first annual Glencoe Ice Carnival was held on February 5 at the Victoria Park Arena on the Calgary Exhibition Grounds.

With a capacity crowd of 4,000, the carnival was open to the public and tickets were available for purchase at Hudson’s Bay

Company, Eaton’s and Tom Campbell’s Hat Shop. President

Ernie McCullough delighted the crowd by taking part in the masquerade scene with pairs partner Peggy Nowers. • In 1939 the Government of Canada offered to buy the building for $100,000 to build a naval training base. While tempting due to the economic climate, the Board of Directors voted against the sale by a very slim margin. • In the winter of 1939, two more sheets of curling ice were added, bringing the total to 6. • During World War II, The Glencoe Club welcomed people in the forces from Australia and New Zealand and the Royal Air

Force stationed in Calgary, for $1per visit.

• During the war years, The Glencoe Club was on shaky financial ground. In 1941, the Glenoce faced possible bankruptcy with the only cash available being proceeds from the Ice Carnivals.

That summer staff was reduced to Secretary-Manager, Stu

Aitken, and a janitor. • After years of natural ice in skating and curling, an artificial ice plant was built in 1947. The first of its kind in Alberta, it led the way for many skating and curling facilities to move to artificial ice. At the opening of the new artificial curling ice, Ed

Gooder, president of the curling section, threw the first rock.

• After years of declining popularity, the squash court was removed in 1947 to make way for a much-needed enlargement of the men’s curling locker room. Squash did not return to the

Glencoe until the Club was rebuilt after the fire in 1962. • In March 1948 The Glencoe Club hosted the

Canadian Figure Skating Championship and the 16th Annual Ice Carnival back-to-back. To the delight of many Calgarians, ever-popular Olympic

Gold Medalist Barbara Ann Scott competed in the championship and was persuaded to stay and perform in the Ice Carnival. To show their appreciation for her participation, the Board of Directors unanimously awarded Barbara an

Honourary Life Membership to the Club.

Alice Murdoch Adams with her chorus line at the Opening Gala at The Glencoe Club, November 16, 1931

1940s

• After the overwhelming success of the March Ice Carnival, for the first time ever, a second Ice Carnival was held in the same year. The

November Carnival included a handful of famous Olympic and championship skaters. • In 1949 the Glencoe purchased matching curling rocks to be used in the Club – a first for Calgary curling facilities. • That same year, several Club improvements were completed, including: › Extensions to the canteen hallway and dining room above › A new canteen › Two new bowling lanes › Insulation of the curling rink and renovation of the curling locker rooms › Division of the curling rink from the skating rink › Conversion of one badminton court to a badminton lounge › Installation of junior locker rooms › New furniture in certain areas of the Club

• With the advent of professional ice shows coming to

Western Canada, the Club Carnivals struggled to capture the support and spirit of previous years. The 18th Annual

Ice Carnival held in March 1951 became the last public ice show. From this point on the ice show was open to members and their guests only. • Club improvements and enhancements became the theme of the 1950s, beginning with a complete renovation of the kitchen in 1953 for $16,000. • In October 1954, construction of an outdoor pool and locker rooms began at a cost of $75,000. Two of the outdoor tennis courts were removed to accommodate this new sport area. • The new 75-foot outdoor pool opened for the summer season in 1955 with two diving boards plus a small wading pool. At that time, Calgary had only two other swimming pools available. The outdoor pool brought more members to the Club in the summer months, generating more activity in other facility areas. For the first time in its history, the Club was effectively used for 12 months of the year by its members. Many new aquatic programs were established including lifesaving, scuba diving, diving and swim lessons. • The first Club swim meet was held in August 1955, with opening ceremonies featuring an awe-inspiring diving exhibition.

1950s

Outdoor Pool sod turning on June 4, 1954

• With the growing popularity of bowling and curling, in 1957 four additional bowling lanes and two sheets of curling ice were added, along with curling lounge and office updates. Estimated costs of those renovations were $150,000. • By 1959, membership had grown to 3,300 total members.

• On January 9, 1962 The Glencoe Club was completely incinerated by a devastating fire. A flash fire that began in the kitchen on the second floor quickly became a raging inferno and spread rapidly through the 79,000 square foot building in a matter of 90 minutes. About 100 members were evacuated and watched the Club burn to the ground. Nothing was left except the swimming pool and a few charred curling rocks that, while looking intact, disintegrated when touched, leaving nothing but the handles. While the estimate of damage was approximately $1,400,000, the replacement value was nearly $2,000,000.

• The Glencoe began another decade of upgrading and adding to existing facilities. Renovations in 1960 included: › Completely refurnished lounge › Dining room renovation › Building a new 2,800 square foot men’s locker room and reallocating the existing locker rooms.

• In October 1960 the first issue of Glencoe News was published. • In 1961 the Entrance fee for new members was set at $400 and more renovations were completed, including: › The Ladies Locker Room › New carpet on stairway to second floor › New seating arrangements constructed in Bowling › New lighting in Badminton › An additional ice plant installed so Curling and Skating could each have their own

• After the original 30-year lease ended, The Glencoe

Club purchased the land where the Club was built in

June 1960 from the City of Calgary for $40,000.

1960s

President Borland officiating at sod-turning for the new club, April 6, 1962 • The first speed-swimming team was created in 1963 with about 20 competitors swimming four nights per week.

By the end of the season the team had expanded to 75, ages 7-14. A swimming committee was established and starting blocks were purchased, all in time for the first indoor swim meet on September 21.

• In 1963, a duplicate bridge league began and bridge found its home at the Glencoe with the purchase of necessary equipment to get leagues underway and an affiliation with the American Contract Bridge League.

Games were held twice weekly and played by both men and women.

• With a majority vote from members, The Glencoe Club applied to the Alberta Liquor Control Board for a license in 1964 and a new sports cocktail lounge was built.

A new ladies steam room was finished and a massage service became available. Minor updates to the skating rink were done along with the purchase of a Zamboni. • By January 1965 the Club had a waitlist for the first time and a new membership category, known as the

House Membership, was introduced. For all new applicants, a House Membership became a prerequisite for an Active Membership. The Entrance fee for new members at this time was $800. • The synchronized swimming team and program was established in 1965 and remained a competitive program until 1975. • To extend playing time on the outdoor tennis courts, lights were added on two of the courts at a cost of $9,500 in August 1965. • October 23, 1965 marked the first Annual President’s

Ball, a tradition that continues today to welcome new

Club Presidents into their role.

• Plans to rebuild the Club got underway immediately.

On April 6, 1962 construction of the new two-storey

Club began, scheduled for completion in three phases with various facilities opening for use as they were completed. • In January 1963 the new bowling alleys opened with automatic pin-setting machines, replacing the pin boys who used to set up the pins by hand. • In June 1963, the new Pro Shop opened.

The official Grand Opening of the new Club was celebrated on September 8, 1963, just 20 months after sod-turning.

• By the end of 1963, the Club was in full operation with sport activities in badminton, bowling, curling, skating, squash, swimming (indoor and outdoor pools), tennis (4 courts on the roof of the Club), table tennis, and an exercise room. Lawn bowling never returned as an activity after the fire.

• After many trophies were lost in the fire, a Club

Champs wall was installed in 1966 to commemorate

Club Champions from1963 onward. • In 1966, bleachers were installed for the indoor pool, accommodating 120 spectators, and a new exercise room was completed on the second floor. • In 1968, many Club upgrades were completed, including renovations to the locker rooms, steam baths, and east and west entrances. Also added: an elevator in the lobby, a billiards room (for men over 21 only), a receiving area, squash courts and a men’s lounge. • By 1969, the entrance fee for new members reached $1,600.

• 1970 brought the computer age to the Glencoe, and all account numbers were changed as they were entered into the new system. • With sport and pool activity picking up, in 1970 the

Club began a towel service and later that year purchased several industrial-sized washing machines to do all laundering within the building. • The new exercise room opened in 1970 along with two tennis courts on the back parking lot for junior play. • The first annual Achievement Awards were hosted in 1970 as well. This new awards program was initiated to recognize members who make outstanding contributions or accomplishments on behalf of, or reflecting upon, The

Glencoe Club.

1970s

• In 1971, a children’s nursery opened for 3 to 5-year-old children. For the first time, many young moms could participate in sports activities during the week. • The first summer skating school ran July 26 –

August 28, 1971. • In 1974, the exercise room on the second floor was recarpeted and fitted with new mini-gym equipment and fixtures at a cost of approximately $7,000. A room on the main floor adjacent to the Sports Office was also converted to an exercise facility. • In October 1974, the Club began to convert the outdoor courts to indoor courts. A roof was constructed at a cost of $279,000, making tennis a year-round activity at the Glencoe.

Opening of the covered tennis courts - President Buchanon

• The new tennis courts opened on June 21, 1975 with a full program of champagne reception, opening ceremonies, exhibition matches, dinner and dancing. • 1975 brought major improvements to dining and bar services as well as the completion of the Sports Office area at the West Entrance.

1980s

• In 1975, the Entrance fee for new members was raised to $2,000. Then in 1977 and 1979 it was increased to $2,500 and $3,000 respectively. • After ever-increasing demands for more exercise facilities, construction of an indoor running track began in July 1977.

It opened at the end of August. In 1979 a new weight room was constructed east of the tennis courts.

• Four squash courts were converted from North American to International dimensions in 1979, costing the Club approximately $200,000. • The main dining room was completely renovated during the summer of 1979.

• In early 1980 planning began for the construction of a new outdoor pool. After feedback from membership via a questionnaire, it was designed as a recreational pool.

Ranging in depth from three to five feet, it was located further south and west of the old outdoor pool in order to maximize attractive sunbathing areas. Demolition of the old pool began, leaving the membership without a pool for the entire summer season. • The increasing number of joggers kickstarted the first Glencoe Fun Run, a two-to-five-mile scenic tour along the Elbow River in the spring of 1980. This annual event eventually morphed into the popular

Glencoe Icebreaker. • The Club held its first summer sports camp in 1980.

Activities were offered to three main age groups (ages 6-8, 9-12 and 13-16) and included exercise, weight training, tennis, squash, badminton, swimming, skating, canoeing, cycling, games and outdoor field programs. • As interest in squash was dramatically rising, in 1980 two new courts were built and the two existing courts were enlarged. At the same time the yellow dot, super slow

Dunlop became the official ball of Squash Canada. This made hardball squash non-existent in the Club. • Entrance fees were increased to $3,500 effective July 1, 1980 and were further increased to $4,000 effective

July 1, 1981. • From 1980 to 1981 many renovations took place, including the boys and ladies locker rooms and steam bath areas. Laundry was relocated to the main floor near the East Entrance, a video security system was put into operation, new chillers were installed for skating and curling, new kitchen equipment was brought in and new lighting installed in hallways and locker rooms.

• The Glencoe entered its 50th Anniversary year (1981) with 2,831 shareholder members, and a total of 4,133 family members and a waitlist that was growing exponentially. In January 1981 the

Board of Directors decided to restrict the House

Memberships to 340 and establish a waitlist for

House Membership. Applicants would be charged $100 to be placed on the list (the fee would then be applied to the purchase of a share when the applicant progressed to the House Membership). • January 1981 also marks the time when children of house members were finally granted access to use the sport facilities of the Club. • On May 28, 1981 the official opening of the new pool was celebrated with champagne served poolside and synchronized swimming performances.

• By June 30, 1981, membership had grown to 6,964 total members.

• To mark the 50th

Anniversary, the Club hosted a week of evening celebrations November 9-14, 1981, with each party featuring music, entertainment, and costumes from each decade. A history book by long-time Glencoe members Helen Baxter and

Peggy Paulson was also published and distributed to each shareholder. • The Club opened another location in which members could gather and socialize: The

Scottish Pub opened in 1982. • In January 1983 the first marathon training course started at the

Glencoe. By December of that year, the Club’s first

Honolulu Marathon team set off to compete. • The demand for squash continued and, in November 1983, three additional squash courts were added bringing the total to seven. • By 1984, the Entrance fee for new members reached $5,000. • In 1984 The Glencoe Club became the National High

Performance Training Club for Badminton. This marked the first time in Canadian sports history that internationalcalibre badminton players were concentrated at one club with expert training and coaching. • The Glencoe Club expanded its operations by purchasing a 36-hole golf course located north of the Elbow Valley Estates in March 1984. Club President Jim Mackie hit the first ball on The Forest course July 1984.

1990s

• A $4 million dollar expansion was approved in 1986. In 1987 construction began in three phases. The first phase was the addition of two new tennis courts and a golf practice facility (completed in April). The second phase included pool improvements and a brand new, 10,000 sq. ft. Fitness facility with two exercise studios, a stretch area, an Olympic lifting platform, over 6,000 pounds of free weights and 16 pieces of cardio equipment as well as a private sports injury clinic. The third phase was the two-level parking structure on the west side of the building. • Carolle Anderson became the firstever female President of the Board of Directors in 1988. • In 1989 The Glencoe Club became the only private club in Alberta to be recognized by the Canadian

Association of Sport Sciences as an accredited fitness appraisal centre. • 1989 marked the inaugural Icebreaker Road Race. This 10 km race quickly became one of Calgary’s premier spring road races.

• By 1990, the entrance fee for new members reached $7,000. • For the 60th Anniversary in 1991, the Club celebrated with events all year from all departments including a Family

Pool Carnival, tournaments, dinners, and parties. The largest event was the Fitness Challenge that garnered participation from 967 members. • In 1991, the Ballroom was renovated and redecorated to improve lighting, acoustics and décor. A more attractive stone fireplace was installed, along with new windows and a new sound system.

Soundproof doors were also added between the

Ballroom and the dining room and the coffee shop was renovated to improve service efficiencies and offerings. • Construction began on the Main Entrance canopy and the balcony above it in March 1991. The canopy was renovated to include new stucco, new steps, new landscaping and lighting. Paving stones were added to the driveway. The balcony providing outdoor seating for 40 people in the summer months and could be accessed off the dining room.

• The Club began offering catering services to offices and homes and the dining room became available for private bookings or corporate functions in 1992. • In 1992, membership levels reached 10,078 with 5,652 active members. • One of the most long-awaited projects of 1992 was the purchase of a $46,000 insulated pool cover along with a few modifications to the outdoor pool, making it a year-round use pool. • The Glencoe Club aligned itself with the City of

Calgary snow removal program in 1993, helping clear snow along Elbow Drive and Stanley Park. • Repairs and facelifts continued from 1993 to 1995 with 60 tons of steel used to reinforce a new floor for the skating rink, renovations to the Sports Lounge, west patio and men’s locker room, upgrades to the squash courts, and installation of a lift system to aid injured or disabled members upstairs to Fitness or Physio.

• An alligator designed by Jeff

Young and Calgary artist

Mark Cromwell became the official logo and mascot of the Glencoe Swim Team (Glencoe Gators) in 1993. • In 1994 The Glencoe Club became a National

Training & Development Centre for Curling to develop programs, technology, and teaching/ coaching resources, which will benefit the Canadian curling community in all aspects of coaching and instruction.

• Also in 1994, The Canadian Figure Skating

Association, in conjunction with the Calgary

Olympic Development Association, established a High-Performance Ice Dance Centre at The

Glencoe Club.

• In 1994 Project Angel was launched as a Club-wide initiative to donate time, money and support to various local charities. This initiative still continues to this day. • With continuous demands for improved facilities, the

Fitness Centre closed in the summer of 1996 for a muchanticipated expansion. This included two new exercise studios, a larger stretch area, over 8,000 pounds of free weights, and 35 pieces of cardio equipment. • In 1996 the indoor pool closed for re-tiling of the deck and tank, and the men’s and ladies locker room were expanded with more lockers and the addition of handicap washrooms and showers.

• The coffee shop closed in June 1997 for renovations and opened in August as the Glen Harvest Café. • Renovations in the Pub and pool room began in

August 1997. The Corner

Pocket officially opened on

October 29, 1997. • After a 4-month renovation closure, the dining room reopened as The Grille Room on September 9, 1998. The kitchen also received an upgrade at this time. • As of September 1, 1998 smoking was no longer permitted in the Bowling Alley. • The Advantage Glencoe program launched in 1998 to support Glencoe’s youth sport competitors. • The first glencoe.org website launched in 1998 with the aim to provide information to members and be a tool for members to provide feedback to the Club. • In 1998 the girl’s locker room got a complete refurbishment and a second girls locker room opened under Curling to provide much-needed additional locker space for this membership group. • By 1999, the entrance fee was $12,000 and there were 11,032 total members. • To ease the process of program registration, a new “Book-It” touch tone phone system was launched in 1999. Members could now register 24 hours/day, 7 days per week. By fall registration, an online system was also added.

• The smoking of pipes and cigars was no longer permitted in the Corner Pocket in 1999. • The first of its kind in North America, a new tennis court surface, Mega Slide, was installed in 1999 along with new lights and refurbished curtains. • In 1999, The Glencoe Club became a partner of The

International Club Network, providing members with access to some of the most desirable affiliated clubs around the world.

2000s

• In January 2000, the Club purchased its first AED (automatic external defibrillator) to be used in emergencies. Staff was fully trained on this device along with regular CPR and First Aid. • By May 2000 members had the convenience of paying account charges through online banking. • On July 1, 2000 the Club restricted smoking in all areas of the Club other than in the Corner Pocket.

• Both the indoor and outdoor pool closed for two and a half months for a major mechanical upgrade in 2000. Other renovations done at this time to the outdooor pool area included replacing the waterslide, outdoor deck and planters, refinishing the tank, and removing the wading pool. • The Pro Shop and West Entrance were renovated in 2000. The entrance was upgraded to improve security and add automatic doors. • The grand opening of the new Glencoe Pro Shop was celebrated on September 25, 2000. • In 2000 all entrances were equipped with electronic scanners and the Club enhanced membership cards from thin, paper cards to plastic smart cards that provided not only member identification but access to Club entrances and point of sale purchases. By 2001 key fobs were also available for

Club access.

• From May - September 2001 the Bowling Alley was renovated with equipment upgrades, computerized scoring, strobe lighting, a high-tech sound system, and new furnishings. The new state-of-the-art Bowling Centre opened on September 14. • The Glencoe Club entered into an agreement with the Elbow

Park Resident’s Association and took over the management of the Elbow Park Tennis Club in 2001, giving members access to outdoor courts at very low cost.

• The Glencoe Club celebrated its 70th Anniversary in 2001. The Glencoe Club Story: 70 Years of Sports

History 1931-2001 written by Wendy Bryden was published and distributed to all members. • In 2001 the Club took over the management of the National Training Centre for Badminton from

Badminton Canada.

• By 2002, the Entrance fee for new members reached $15,000. • The Glencoe Club became a fully non-smoking facility on April 1, 2003. • In 2003 renovations and upgrades to the Club included skylight replacement/repair in the Fitness

Centre, fitness equipment replacement, squash court HVAC system replacemment, skating hallway flooring replacement, rebuild of the curling entrance, replacement of laundry washers and dryers, main switchboard upgrade, and major roofing repairs. • A sprinkler system was installed throughout the

Club in 2004 to improve safety of all members and add protection to the building in the event of a fire. • A major computer and software upgrade to the membership database and accounts receivable system was done in 2004 to improve member communication and allow members to review statements, chits, and the newsletter online. • In 2004, the four-year roof replacement project was completed, a new boys locker room was added providing close to 300 more lockers, and renovations were done to the Men’s Curling

Locker Room.

• An online court booking system badminton, sqush and tennis was introduced in 2005. • Renovations completed in 2005 included new paint, curtains, and flooring surrounding the skating rink, replacing the old outdoor pool flooring with tiles, and the addition of a new emergency staircase for the Fitness Centre as well as studio upgrades. • By 2005 the Entrance fee for new members reached $18,000. • In 2007-2008 the Main Ladies Locker Room was completely renovated, a new Fitness elevator was installed, and both the Men’s and Ladies Locker

Rooms got air conditioning. The West Entrance doors were also updated to improve temperature levels at the Sports Office. • By 2007, the entrance fee for new members reached $25,000. • On June 1, 2008 the Board decided to temporarily give

House members unlimited access to all facilities during the summer months, while the Club was typically less busy. This became the Summer House Program which required annual review and approval. • After many years of supporting Kids Help Phone and Inn from the Cold, the Glencoe partnered with Boys & Girls

Clubs of Calgary as their charity of choice in 2008. • In December 2008, The Glencoe Club partnered with

Heaven’s Fitness for the delivery of adult group fitness classes.

This partnership lasted until 2019. • Renovation work on the Lobby and Ballroom began in May 2009. This project included the Main Reception area, the upper foyer and washrooms, the Ballroom, the West Room, and the Solarium. As a result, these areas plus the Grille

Room, West Patio and Main Entrance were closed for a few months.

• During the renovation to the Main Reception area, the

Past Presidents’ pictures were removed and a new feature display was produced and installed in the upper hallway in

September 2009. • With the completion of the 5/10 pin conversion in the

Bowling Centre in 2009, members were able to choose what option to play. Both 5 pin and 10 pin games could be played at the same time in the Bowling Centre. With this project came a new scoring system, new flat screen HD monitors, new furniture and improved flooring.

2010s

• Both the West Entrance and Sports Office underwent a renovation in 2010.

• Mechanical upgrades of the Club’s heating systems were completed in November 2010. • In 2011, a parking counter system was installed to let members know how many spots were available in each parking venue. • In response to membership use trends, on

April 1, 2011 the dress code for the Grille Room went from formal to business casual and a monthly fresh sheet was introduced.

• A new website and weekly member email program were launched in 2011 to encourage more digital communications and engagement. The first online voting for the Board of Directors and the first paperless program registration occured that fall. • Major renovations occured to the Corner Pocket,

Boardroom and washrooms in 2011. These renovations involved increasing the capacity of the

Corner Pocket, doubling the size of the washrooms and modernizing the décor and autio visual systems for the Boardroom.

• The new pub opened without a name on

September 14, 2011. Members were able to submit ideas and the new name, The Point After, was announced in November.

• After moving to more digital methods of communication, the last printed copy of The Glencoe

News was released in December 2011. It continued to be posted to the website. • Social media became a part of the Glencoe communication plan with the launch of Twitter in 2012, Facebook in 2013 and Instagram in 2016. • The Main Men’s

Locker Room was renovated in 2013. • The flood in June 2013 substantially impacted the Club and the community. The Glencoe

Club opened its doors to neighbours, providing them with food and access to showers and washrooms. Repair and restoration work to the Club began and continued for many months. • A full Club electrical upgrade was completed in 2013. • After a lengthy land use amendment process, followed by a member vote, the West Expansion began in May 2014. • After an extensive facelift, the new Bowling Centre opened in

June 2014. • The first annual Father/Daughter Ball was held on

June 20, 2015.

THE GLENCOE CLUB MAGAZINE Glencoe Life

SPRING 2016 • Vol. 1 Issue 1

The Future is Now

See Grand Opening Feature on pg. 18-21

• In June 2015 Project Angel won the 2014-2015

Program of the Year Award by the North American

Association of Club Athletic Directors.

• By 2016, the entrance fee reached $45,000. • On March 11, 2016, the Club celebrated the grand opening of Phase 1 of the West Expansion, including lower and upper level indoor parking, the Climbing

Centre, Play Zone and flex room, and the expanded

Fitness Centre and Physiotherapy Clinic. Over 1,400 members attended and toured the new areas.

• The new Glencoe Club logo that is used today was launched in March 2016.

• The first issue of Glencoe Life was published in

Spring 2016. Released four times per year, this new publication replaced the monthly newsletter. • On June 4 and 5, 2016, the Club celebrated the grand opening of the new Outdoor Pool. That

November, the last developments of Phase 2, the

Wellness Centre and the Golf Simulators, opened for member use.

• A new security system, including gates at the Main and West entrances, was installed in 2016. • In 2016 The Glencoe Club was recognized as Club of the Year by the Canadian Society of Club Managers. • As part of the Food & Beverage Master Plan, the

Glen Harvest Café was renovated and relocated to overlook 29th Avenue in 2017. The administration offices took over the old space of the café. The all new Café 29 opened August 2017. • Additional renovations in 2017 included the pool viewing hallway and the Skating Lounge. • In 2018 the entrance fee for new members was raised to $55,000. • The fitness locker rooms received an upgrade in 2018, and the tennis courts were renovated in 2019. • The last annual Glencoe Icebreaker road race was hosted in

April 2019. • The Main Course renovation was kicked off on

June 1, 2019. Separated into two phases, this renovation included all of the food and beverage venues on the second floor, the Kitchen, the Ballroom and the Upper Foyer. • Through Project Angel, The Glencoe Club partnered with a new charity of choice, KidSport Calgary, in 2020. • The Glencoe Guppies, a new, non-competitive swim club for ages 5-7, was introduced in January 2020. • Argyle Kitchen + Patio opened in February 2020. • On March 16, 2020 the Club was closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Club reopened in phases in alignment with the Alberta Government’s reopening plan beginning in May 2020. • McCullough’s Pub and Social House and the new Ballroom opened in October 2020. • On November 16, 2021, The Glencoe Club officially turns 90!

The Legacy Project

Get to know some lifelong Glencoe members as they share their memories and love of the Club. Wendy Bryden

How did you become a member of the Glencoe? I grew up on Riverdale Avenue in Elbow Park, where the Glencoe is located. Everybody I went to school with belonged to the Glencoe, so we started putting the pressure on our parents. “When can we belong to the Glencoe?” I think they joined in the early ‘50s.

What sports and activities did you participate in? We did everything but my big sport was swimming. I swam a lot, mostly when I was in junior high school at Rideau. I was on the swim team at the Glencoe. Ken McKenna was hired for the summers to train us, and he used to make us swim with our clothes and our shoes on. Then, when we went into swim meets, we were like greased pigs going down those lanes. We did really well! We also had our wedding reception here. It was December 30, 1964. The Club was newly constructed after the fire. I think Margie Crosland and her husband had the first wedding at the Glencoe when it was reconstructed. She was the Canadian Champion figure skater featured in The Glencoe Book. And I think she had the first wedding, and it was pretty special, but we were close behind in 1964. The Ballroom was big, and we had a really nice wedding at Christ Church and then came over here for the reception and it was 30 below.

Are your children members of the Club? All our children belong to the Glencoe. We have four sons. They’re all over 50 now. They got their Glencoe memberships when they graduated from university, I think, as a gift from us. They’ve all been very active here and now their children (our grandchildren) are, too. Back then, we had four boys who were very active at the Glencoe. We had a new house in the suburbs which at that point was miles away and I had to drive an orange Volkswagen van with a stick shift and four boys in the back. I was always late for lessons after school so we decided we’d move right next to The Glencoe Club! We bought an old pile of rocks, a sandstone house, just down the street on Glencoe Road and we’ve lived there since 1977.

How has your use of the Club changed over the years? I’m no longer on the Glencoe swim team, just in case you didn’t know! I started playing a lot of tennis. It was wonderful in the early days when the court was outside where the parking lot is now. It was beautiful. We had some wonderful tennis players at the Glencoe. I tried to learn tennis as an adult once I got all the boys in school. I spent a lot of money on lessons and never really improved at all. It’s tough to learn tennis as an adult. If you can, learn (to play tennis) as a child. I see those youngsters playing now, up in the courts with the tennis pros. They’re so lucky they’re learning early. Anyway, that was my sport until I got invited to write The Glencoe Book. At that point, I decided I was never going to win anything in tennis but perhaps I could contribute by writing.

How did you get approached to write The Glencoe Book? Well, I took journalism in university. I also taught skiing in Quebec for a couple of years before I was married. I’ve always loved those two things. For the Olympics, they just came together. I luckily got a chance to write one of the official books for the Winter Games in Calgary in 1988. So, I had that under my belt. Then one day, I was leaving the Glencoe in the mid-90s, going out the front door and Ray Brett, the Assistant Manager, ran after me, calling “Wendy! Wendy!” I thought “Oh, this is interesting... one of our boys has not paid their Glencoe fees,” but instead, he explained to me that the 70th anniversary of the Glencoe was coming up in a few years and the History Committee was discussing what they were going to do. The Glencoe, apparently, has always had this little slush fund off to the side for special events. I don’t know

Glencoe Club History Committee: (L-R) Shirley Boyse, Shirley Simmering, Tedd Jennings, Wendy Bryden, Janet Lipsett, Ev Wigham, Lawrie Bonney and Dorothy Wright

if they still have it, but it was for special events, and they decided to produce a book. I said, “You want me to write a book for the Glencoe?” He said “Well, we would like you to think about it.” I thought “Well, okay, I could do that.” My husband was traveling a lot then in Russia as a consultant in the oil business and the boys had all gone away to university, so I had a bit of time and started to go to the History Committee meetings, and we discussed how we would do this book.

Who helped you with the book? We had a wonderful fellow on our History Committee named Tedd Jennings. He had been at the Glencoe as a child for the opening gala in 1931. He was an encyclopedia of knowledge and a wonderful person. We spent a lot of time doing this book. We had lots of photo shoots of groups and so on. I thought it would be fun to have the book launch on my husband’s birthday, September 14, 2001. Well, we all know what happened on September 11, 2001, which was three days before our book launch. It was so horrendous, these planes flying into the World Trade Center. Everybody in the world was stunned. Our President, John Rooney, who was going to be sitting at the head table for the book launch, was with his identical twin brother, Bob Rooney, a very successful and popular lawyer in Calgary, on a business deal in Jakarta. They got to Hong Kong and then couldn’t get anywhere else. Every plane in the world just had to land somewhere. And our whole guest list became a dog’s breakfast.

How did the book launch eventually happen? I came home and phoned Barbara Ann Scott. I said, “I don’t know what to do, Barbara. This is such a horrendous day. 9/11.” I said “I think we’re going to cancel this launch and the whole thing...” And do you know what she said to me? She said, “Over my dead body.” She was about 90 at that point. She said she and Tommy would be there if they could. She said “the mayor’s coming and you’ve arranged all these people. Don’t let the terrorists win; that’s exactly what they want.” That’s why she was a Canadian champion and our Barbara Ann Scott! She gave me inspiration to carry on three days later, which was designated a national day of mourning in Canada. That was the book launch day, and the mayor was the master of ceremonies because John Rooney wasn’t there, but he (the mayor) had to be downtown at Olympic Plaza making speeches, so Frank King took over and just kept talking until the mayor arrived, late (poor mayor, he didn’t even have any lunch, he just came

LEGACY

P R O J E C T

Are you a Glencoe Club member with lifelong experiences to share?

We’d love to interview you (on video or send you a short questionnaire), then run highlights in Glencoe Life. If you’re interested, or you know someone else we should interview, please email create@glencoe.org If we feature your story in Glencoe Life, you will receive a COMPLIMENTARY DINNER FOR TWO AT ARGYLE KITCHEN + PATIO!

in said congratulations to the Glencoe). I think he was a member, actually. Al Duerr. And so, we all sat down and had a wonderful lunch (except Food & Beverage Manager, Ron Adlington, who was having fits that the fish was overcooked because the mayor was late)! Anyway, we had the book launch, and it was a happy day and I think Barbara Ann was right: We did need a happy event and The Glencoe Club is a happy place and so I’m very glad we didn’t cancel the book launch.

What was most special about the 1988 Winter Olympics? When the Olympics came to Calgary, the final torchbearer was one of our little figure skaters. The Glencoe Club’s Robin Perry lit the torch (it was the first time a child had ever lit the torch at the Olympics). What does the Club mean to you? The Glencoe Club is part of our family. We couldn’t imagine our life without the Glencoe. That’s why we moved to Glencoe Road: We said “Let’s live right down the street! Do you want to go for a swim? Go bowling? You can do whatever you want!” Our grandchildren love it. Their dads all belong. They can use the Glencoe, too. It’s wonderful to see the generations. The little toddlers. It’s the best club in Canada. And you know most people want to belong to it but there’s such a big waiting list now. There never used to be. You have to date someone who’s a member. That’s the first thing you have to ask them (“Are you a member of The Glencoe Club?”) If they’re not… you’ve got to keep shopping! That’s the secret, I think! A

What was your most memorable experience at the Club? Last year when my husband got a hole in one at The Glencoe Golf & Country Club with his buddies on Saturday morning. It was a month before his 85th birthday. Oh, man, that was so exciting and the Glencoe has this wonderful tradition of giving. You give them the ball that you hit into the cup and then they give you this little box and you put the ball in it and it’s got the logo on it. It’s really lovely and there’s a picture of my husband, Ian, and his Saturday morning golf group which is Bill Bonney, Ian Bryden, Kris Snethun, who we lost this year, sadly, (they’re really missing him) and Dr. Joe Fairbanks. One of the funniest things that I remember was walking out of the Glencoe one Halloween and there was a life-size skeleton sitting in a chair at the front entrance reading my book! Maybe he learned something. Who knows!

Glencoe book launch, September 14, 2001 (L-R): Ken Read, President Alpine Canada; Mel Shannon, former Glencoe President; Al Duerr, Mayor; Wendy Bryden, author; Frank King, President OCO’88; Larry Wood, Sports Editor, Calgary Herald; Al Murray, Vice-President Sports, CODA; Bonnie Scott, Glencoe Club Vice-President; Ernie McCullough, 1948 Canadian Olympic Team; Judy Forshner, PGA Head Golf Professional, Glencoe Golf & Country Club

As you enter the Club through the West Entrance, you are now greeted by a new beautiful painting by Canadian artist, K. Neil Swanson.

Dedicated to our Glencoe families, friends and employees in remembrance of the time we spent apart during 2020–2021 and in celebration of our future times we will spend together in our second home.

“The idea for the painting was presented to me from Evonne Whelan, a long time member of The Glencoe Club. She wanted to symbolize coming out of the pandemic, with a special piece that celebrated the ‘city’ of the Club, with a Tree of Life motif. She said, “Lots of colour, Neil!” and expressed many more interesting ideas that I took to heart. I was currently working on a project that came about in 2020, a direct result of a covid dream. I fortunately never got covid, but like everyone else, it has affected our lives in many ways. I decided to paint 2,020 songbirds to commemorate this extraordinary time. Songbirds, to me, represent the promise of spring, and the renewal of life.

This painting illustrates the concept of growth and resiliency of a community, its people and their unique place and contribution to our city.”

– K. Neil Swanson

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