Wednesday marks dark day in Calgary history

Wednesday night marks 100-year anniversary of a very dark chapter in our city’s past.

A race-fueled riot broke out at a local restaurant on 8th Ave. (which quadrant) where soldiers looted the property after hearing a rumour that a returning veteran was fired and replaced by a German.

Police watched helplessly as they smashed kitchen equipment and looted the property.

Local historian Harry Sanders discusses how the following day, the vets did it again at the Riverside Hotel, targetting German owners.

“They made off with the cigars and the beer and sacked the hotel,” Sanders said. “The hotel was later repaired and the building stood at least until the end of the 1950s.”

Sanders said that it wasn’t clear how long the anti-German sentiment lasted but many businesses were quick to change their names.

Listen to the full story here:

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