“Calgary’s newest infrastructure investment, award-winning[1] and photo-worthy, exemplifies the complexity of reconciliation. The ship-shaped structure of the Calgary New Central Library bridges geographic divides in our city– the library floats over the light rapid transit line in a feat of engineering.[2] From the main deck, downtown’s modern skyscrapers reflect off the port side windows; the East Village neighbourhood and the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers lie starboard. Two years after the grand opening, it’s the building’s users who shore up the library’s deficit in historical and cultural knowledge of the land, Treaty 7 territory, which the library occupies.

The ship of dreams,[3] and books, is within Instagram distance of the city’s first building, Fort Calgary, and of the rail ties that facilitated trade. The railway brought colonists and settlers out west. Sport hunters killed buffalo from the train’s windows as it crossed the prairies. The view from the Fort is like something you’d see in a Hollywood movie made in Calgary, Unforgiven or Brokeback Mountain. Buffalo stampeded here, until they were hunted to near extinction. Other species survived.

Outside the library, three alien sculptures have disembarked the ship. Nearly four stories tall, the Drinking Birds nod their heads continuously, unconsciously, dipping deep, like their toy ancestors who went by the name insatiable birdie. One tall alien greets visitors outside the terraced steps, east. The other two stand on a switchbacked gangway, port side. The sculptures wear orange, aqua, and marine uniforms, and in between dips, they appear to be surveying the new nest: Calgary City Hall to the west, the Bow River to the north, Fort Calgary and the Elbow River on the right, and the railroad, behind, to the south.

Approaching the building from City Hall or the Elbow River leads to a dramatic show: a planked ceiling of western red cedar bent into a surprise. A wooden arch extends from the ship’s midpoint to the stern. The effect is a physical echo of the span and swoosh of clouds brought by Chinook winds. It’s a step-stopper moment when you see it. A phone-grabber. They even have an official Instagram wall plaque on that swoosh of cedar.

Modern, and a nod to nature.

Like wearing a pair of heels while carrying a backpack.”