Once a vital tuberculosis sanatorium, the facility known as Baker Sanatorium was demolished in 1989. Delve into the fascinating history of this institution and the dedicated doctor it was named after with icalgary.
Dr. Albert Henry Baker
Born in Walkerton, Ontario, Dr. Baker spent his childhood there before graduating from the medical faculty at the University of Toronto in 1911. By 1914, he had already joined the medical staff at the renowned Mayo Clinic.
In 1916, Dr. Albert Henry Baker served on a medical advisory board dedicated to studying the spread of tuberculosis among Canada’s Indigenous population.
Later, he contracted tuberculosis himself at the age of 32. At the time, treatment primarily consisted of rest and recovery. Albert Baker spent his period of illness at one of the first sanatoriums built in North America: Saranac Lake in New York.
In 1918, he returned to Calgary, where he became the second physician under Dr. J. B. Ritchie at the repurposed Frank Sanatorium. This facility was leased and renovated to treat veterans returning from the war.
The Central Alberta Sanatorium was opened in 1920, a joint project between the Alberta and federal governments. After 1925, the sanatorium transferred to the provincial government, and Dr. Baker became its chief physician. Patients from the Frank Sanatorium were then relocated to the Central Alberta Sanatorium.
Dr. Albert Baker retired in 1950. The sanatorium was renamed in his honour in 1953 following his death, and the adjacent park later followed suit.
It is important to note that in 1946, Alberta had the lowest rate of tuberculosis in Canada. However, when factoring in cases among the Indigenous population, Alberta ranked third overall.
In 2005, Dr. Baker was recognized by the Calgary Herald as one of the 106 Doctors of the Century.
The History of Baker Sanatorium
Dr. Albert Henry Baker was the director of this tuberculosis sanatorium, which occupied the land where the modern-day Baker Park now sits.
The site’s first buildings were constructed in 1918 by the federal government’s Department of Soldiers’ Civil Re-establishment. The facility was initially opened to house and treat World War I veterans suffering from tuberculosis.
The facility was isolated, consisting of many separate buildings, and visually separated from other communities by trees.
By 1962, the facility was gradually converted into the Baker Centre for the Disabled, as more space for tuberculosis patients became available elsewhere.
The facility officially closed in 1970, with the last 29 patients receiving care before its closure.
According to public records, the building remained functional until 1979 before it was finally demolished in 1989.
The Enduring Legacy: Baker Park
The sanatorium’s legacy lives on as Baker Park. Spanning 12 hectares (30 acres) on the banks of the Bow River on Calgary’s west side, it is one of the city’s most popular locations, often chosen for formal events, particularly weddings. The park’s design—characterized by its geometric pathways, straight axes, and tree-lined avenues—is a deliberate nod to its history as a military-era medical facility. This design distinguishes it from other parks in Calgary.
This family-friendly riverfront park is located at 9333 Scenic Bow Rd. NW and is open from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Key features of Baker Park include picnic areas, promenades, arches, a gazebo, a grass amphitheatre, a river observation point, washrooms, seasonal fountains, and a disc golf course.
Baker Park is maintained and operated by the City of Calgary Parks Department.
