The historical bow valley ranche at fish creek provincial park
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Branded Patio

As part of the Artisan Gardens expansion, the Society is developing another outdoor area - The Branded Patio. Nestled behind the Bow Valley Ranche House and accessible through the Native Gardens, the Branded Patio will showcase individually crafted 18" mosaic stepping stones in the unique shape of a wagon wheel. Feature mosaic artist Pamel Rodger will customize each stepping stone as per sponsors' requests and will incorporate sponsors' family names and up to 4 hand/foot prints, making you and your children “Ranche Hands……Stepping into the Future”. This unique sponsorship opportunity means stepping stones will be permanently displayed for generations to enjoy. Create your legacy today!

Reserve your Stepping Stone here


The clay handprints (Ranche Hands) are made of high fire, durable porcelain clay, fired to 2350 degrees F in an electric kiln. Pamela uses porcelain, as it is a fine, white clay body that captures the details of life lines and skin creases. The tonal qualities are from rubbing and wiping off raw red iron oxide onto the bisque clay, before the final firing. The glazed areas of color on the Ranch Hands are reference points that tie them visually to the sky and foliage. 

Samples of Completed Stepping Stones and their Sponsors

Feature Stones: The Brands of the Bow Valley Ranche


Along with the sponsored Stepping Stones, artist Pamela Rodger will create 7 Brand Stepping Stones tracing the history of the Bow Valley Ranche and the Cattle Brands that were used from 1873 – 1972, the year Fish Creek Provincial Park was established. 

Pamela Rodger's perspective for the feature stones:

~1873 to 1879: John & Adelaine Glenn... (homestead, stopping house, trading store, irrigation, first cereal crop in Calgary, livestock brand) five inch slate cut brand, clay silhouette of homestead, chicken, calves, wheat. names in clay, dates and other details. 

~1879 to 1880: Dominion Government purchases and forms Indian Supply Farm #24-Fish Creek Supply Farm, as part of Treaty 7 with the Blackfoot Confederacy. White Buffalo/White Buffalo Woman / Raven to represent the” Mystery”, grass lands.

~1880 to 1892: purchased by Quebec Lieutenant Governor, Theodore Roitaille real estate speculation... 1887 to 1892: leased to Hull brothers (horse & cow brands).

~1893 to 1902: Sole ownership William Roper Hull (progressive irrigation, famous crops, hay stacking machine,  1896 W.R. Hull house built, the social centre of Calgary, stock brands, range horses, cattle and calves, agriculture and social culture, common brands sold to Burns.

~1902 to 1972: Ranche owned by Patrick Burns, Burns’ Company, Burns family. Ranche used for stock sorting & holding site for cattle brought from the Burns’ ranches around Calgary /stock brands.

~Stepping stone 5 with Burns brands and stock images. Brand “Never Locked Gate”. Percheron horses, cattle.

~ 1972 to ... Alberta Government purchased the land in 1975 and established Fish Creek Provincial Park and Bow Valley Ranch Visitor Centre. (Mosaic to feature emblem of Visitor Centre, a young child’s simple stick drawing of a family walking.)

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