Mewata Armouries, Calgary

Calgary is home to the reserve armoury of Canadian Forces. Also known as Mewata Armouries, this armoury is housed in a building that was constructed between 1915 and 1918. Designed by architect T.W. Fuller, it was built at a cost of Canadian $282,051.

This armoury is home to King’s Own Calgary Regiment, Calgary Highlights and other local militia units. A unique feature of the building housing the Mewata Armouries is its red brick structure with a cut stone foundation and the sandstone finish.

You will find a span of steel trusses in the large drill hall. Another storey was added to the building a few years after it was constructed in Gothic Revival/Tudor style.

Mewata Armouries resembles a medieval castle or fortress. You will be impressed by the small six sided towers and the four majestic corner towers. Do not miss out the crenellated roofline and buttresses with turrets.

Originally the armoury featured 117 rooms with a large drill hall at the center. At the basement there were 30 yard shooting ranges and bowling alleys apart from sergeants and officers’ billiard rooms. Today, the barracks serve as storage space.

Mewata Armouries is commonly associated with Calgary Militia units even though it has served Lord Strathcona’s Horse Permanent Force Squadron. Units that have been based at Mewata over the years include King’s Own Calgary Regiment, 19th Alberta Dragoons, South Alberta Light Horse, 746 Communications Squadron and the Calgary Highlanders.