Park Talk Series

Glenbow’s Historic Ranches

Flanked by Calgary and Cochrane is the park where cattle roam, horses graze and cowboys ride: Glenbow Ranch. Spurred on by the end of the legendary Cochrane Ranche lease in 1888, a new breed of smaller and lesser-known ranches cropped up on Glenbow’s grasslands. Join Shari Peyerl to learn about these historic ranches and their trail-blazing residents. Meet the civil engineer who pioneered the first Glenbow Ranch, the stock broker who tried to beef up his own village with other businesses, the polo-playing cowgirl who got a leg-up on the competition, and the doctor whose home on the range inspired a later resident to preserve Glenbow Ranch for future generations.

Shari is an archaeologist and historian, who has volunteered at Glenbow Ranch since 2009. She is the author of the award-winning book, Alberta’s Cornerstone: Archaeological Adventures in Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park.