Springbank Cemetery (Rocky View County)

Excerpts from History of Springbank United Church by Evelyn Buckley on the occasion of the church’s 120th anniversary September 24 2006.

“The story of the Springbank church…. Lies in the staunch and devoted lives of the men and women who have brought up their families in this community starting back in the days of the homestead and the horse and buggy through to the era of the super highway. Wives and children combined through good and bad times, through drought and wars to give the church their lives and their faith. Through all the changes that have taken place many of the names of the pioneers remain on the active roll as their children, grand-children and great grand-children remain faithful to the cause their ancestors loved so dearly.” Rev W. J. Dr Collett

1886 – Worship Begins in Springbank
Three years after the C.P.R. made its dramatic arrival at the sprawling outpost called Calgary, James and William Young settled west of the tiny town, building small log homes for their families who arrived in November 1886. Shortly after their arrival, James and Lily Young opened their home to any neighbor’s who wanted to join them in worship and Sunday School. Laymen and occasionally ministers would come as preachers.

1887 – A Log School is Built
The Youngs, along with their neighbors, were instrumental in building the log school in 1887. The church was able to move to the school and Sunday mornings saw the Youngs transporting their grand piano by wagon to worship every Sunday.

From Wikipedia
Springbank Cemetery is located in the rural community of Springbank, immediately west of Calgary. As of 2022, there were 292 interments at this cemetery.

Community of Springbank

Springbank is named after Springbank Creek which flows southeast into the Elbow River. The descriptive name for this creek was first applied to the municipal district in 1918 (MD of Springbank). It was first given as a school district name on July 11, 1887 because of the numerous springs breaking out of the sides of the lesser coulees all over the district. Most of the early settlers located near the springs.

Springbank consists mostly of country residential acreages developed with estate homes and features the Springbank Airport. The adjacent rural communities of Bearspaw to the north, across the Bow River, and Elbow Valley to the south, across the Elbow River, also consist mostly of country residential acreages. The urban community of Harmony is adjacent to the Springbank Airport to the west.
Eastern portions of Springbank have been annexed by Calgary since the early 1980s. These portions are now developed with the Calgary neighbourhoods of Springbank Hill, Aspen Woods, West Springs, Cougar Ridge, Crestmont and Valley Ridge.

Attractions in Springbank include Calaway Park, an outdoor family amusement park, the Sprinbank Airport, and numerous golf courses. There are three schools, an elementary school, a middle school and a high school. These facilities are operated by Rocky View Schools.

Notable residents hailing from Springbank include Jann Arden (musician), Lanny McDonald (former professional hockey player), Darryl Sutter (head coach of the Calgary Flames) and Roman Turek (former professional hockey player).