By Mario Toneguzzi
The community was established in 1986, after land was annexed by the city in 1956, and it is famous for the Battalion Park, originally known as Camp Sarcee in 1915, which opened on November 3, 1991 and was built to commemorate World War 1 and its soldiers.
High atop the westside, wonderful prairie and mountain views, a variety of shopping centres and ease of access downtown or west to the mountains. Signal Hill has it all.” – David Pellettier, RE/MAX Real Estate (Central)
Members of the Calgary, Lethbridge, Central Alberta, and Edmonton battalions hauled 16,000 stones in sacks onto the hill to build this stunning landmark that is appreciated by not only residents of Signal Hill but everyone in the city.
The original stones were used to form the numbers 137, 113, 151, and 51 which represent the regiment numbers of the above battalions. Members of the 137 Battalion fought for years to maintain the rocks and have them declared a historic site.
The Park is located on the southern slopes of the hill and the park features a pathway, a lookout landing and historical stone formations.
Signal Hill’s boundaries include the many neighborhoods between 17 Avenue, Sarcee Trail, Glenmore Trail and 69 Street SW. Those major roadways provide quick and easy access to any other areas of the city, including the downtown. And eventually the Ring Road (Highway 201) nearby will connect the northern and southern parts of the city with ease as well as providing fantastic access to the mountains to the west.
The other outstanding feature of the area, which includes the neighbourhoods of Sienna Hills and Signal Ridge, is its vast options for shopping, particularly with the massive Westhills Towne Centre that anchors the neighbourhood and is a destination for Calgarians from other parts of the city as well.
Signal Hill Centre, Westmarket Square and Signature Park Plaza also serve the community providing residents with shopping opportunities from big box national stores to a movie theatre to local retailers and restaurants and shops.
And a very popular place for residents is the Westside Recreation Centre which attracts people from all over the city because of its vast offerings for activity which include an aquatic park, a fitness centre, a Pilates studio, a climbing wall, a leisure ice arena, a hockey arena, fitness studios, a cycle studio, gyms, a skatepark and child minding.
The name Battalion Park School, which is K to Grade 6, was chosen by the community to honour the soldiers and to commemorate the historical significance of the former military training area.
Signal Hill is a relatively large community primarily with low density residential. The fairly upscale neighbourhood is modern yet pays homage to its heritage - a source of pride for all residents there.
