Reader Rock Garden

William Reader, Superintendent of the City of Calgary’s Parks Department from 1913-1943, was a garden innovator. He was responsible for all of Calgary’s parks and cemeteries, the municipal nursery, the first municipal nursery and the first municipal golf course. 

Mr. Reader was also one of the Society’s founders and ensured the Society and the City worked closely together. For example, in 1914, over 10,000 trees were planted through the efforts of the Society and the City planted another 10,000.   Our beautiful city might look much different today without this past collaboration!

His personal passion, however, was creating the “rockery” on the steep north slope of Cemetery Hill (just south of the Calgary Stampede grounds), now known as the Reader Rock Garden.  The garden was built during the years 1922-1929 but over time almost disappeared behind overgrown shrubs and weeds, until funding became available to restore it.

Since 2004 the City of Calgary has restored and replanted the garden, returning it to its original beauty.   A replica of the Reader home has also been built and now houses a lovely restaurant.  A visit to the renewed garden, and lunch or dinner in the Reader house should be on your must do list this summer.  We encourage you to visit their website for more information.