Eau Claire Live Cam

History

The Eau Claire district in Calgary, Alberta, has a storied history, evolving from an industrial hub into one of the city’s most sought-after residential and commercial neighborhoods. Located along the Bow River, the neighborhood of Eau Claire is closely tied to Calgary’s early economic development. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Calgary was expanding rapidly, with the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and the logging industry as central components of this growth. Eau Claire was named after Eau Claire, Wisconsin, due to its connection with the Eau Claire Lumber Company, a major player in the timber industry, which established a sawmill in the area in the 1880s. The presence of the sawmill transformed Eau Claire into an industrial site, drawing workers and facilitating growth in Calgary's northern riverfront areas.

The sawmill became a key employer, attracting a community of workers who settled in the area, thus forming the basis of Eau Claire as a populated district. The Bow River, with its clear, fast-flowing water, was ideal for timber floating, a method commonly used by lumber companies at the time. Logs were transported downriver to the sawmill, processed, and then shipped out by the CPR, which passed through Calgary. As one of the major employers in Calgary’s early days, the Eau Claire Lumber Company played a significant role in shaping the area’s industrial identity. The area continued to grow through the early 20th century, with various industrial facilities setting up around the mill and creating a thriving working-class neighborhood.