{{Short description|Private club in Calgary, Alberta}} {{Infobox organization | formation = {{start date|1891|5|5|df=y}} | logo = Ranchmen's Club badge.png | type = Private members' club | headquarters = 710 13 Avenue SW | coordinates = {{coord|51.041174|N|114.077338|W|display=inline,title}} | website = {{url|https://www.ranchmensclub.com|ranchmensclub.com}} }} The '''Ranchmen's Club''' is a private social club in Calgary, Alberta. The club was founded in 1891 as a gentlemen's club and is the oldest continuing club and institution in the city today.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://theranchmensclub.clubhouseonline-e3.club/About_The_Club/History |access-date=2025-11-22 |website=The Ranchmen's Club |language=en}}</ref> The club allowed women members starting in 1993.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crawford |first=Anne |date=February 18, 1993 |title=Club open to women - finally |page=B6}}</ref> The Ranchmen's Club is often called the most prestigious private social club in Calgary.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />

== History == thumb|Early Members of the Ranchmen's Club, 1925The club originally began when a group of prominent southern Alberta ranchers gathered in the Lougheed Block and Mariaggi’s Restaurant to form a social club in the style of an English gentlemen’s club.<ref>{{Cite web |last=avenuecalgary |date=2025-01-16 |title=The Evolution of Calgary's Private Clubs |url=https://www.avenuecalgary.com/city-life/evolution-of-calgarys-private-clubs/ |access-date=2025-11-22 |website=Avenue Calgary |language=en-CA}}</ref> The club's origins began in 1890 with a group known as the “Pack of Western Wolves”.<ref name=":0" /> On May 5th, 1891, the group formally established themselves as The Ranchmen's Club during their first general meeting.<ref name=":3" />

The Club’s first history book said of its founding that "The Ranchmen’s Club was formed then by gentlemen to whom the British Club was an integral and unique way of life."<ref name=":3" /> The Club originally consisted of only 46 members.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Settler Men's Clubs in Early Calgary |url=https://www.lougheedhouse.com/story-settler-mens-clubs |access-date=2025-11-22 |website=Lougheed House |language=en-CA}}</ref> The founding members were primarily prominent ranchers, including A.E. Cross, Duncan H. MacPherson, and Sir Francis McNaughton, as ranching formed the economic backbone of early Calgary.<ref name=":4" /> The club was formally incorporated by an ordinance of the N.W.T. Legislative Assembly on January 25, 1892.<ref name=":3" />

In July 1892, the club moved into its first owned property on Seventh Avenue (then McIntyre Avenue).<ref name=":0" /> The club faced several financial crises in its early years, notably in 1896.<ref name=":3" /> During the land boom of 1912, the club sold its Seventh Avenue property for a substantial profit ($300,000) and purchased its current location at 710 13th Avenue S.W. for $78,000.<ref name=":3" />

The current clubhouse (designed by Calgarian architect R.E. McDonnell), which they still occupy today, was not constructed until 1914.<ref name=":0" /> The clubhouse was built in a Renaissance Revival style and is noted for the "extensive use of terra cotta detailing".<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2003 |title=The Connaught-Beltline District A Heritage Walking Tour |url=https://www.calgary.ca/content/dam/www/pda/pd/documents/heritage-planning/heritage-walking-tours/heritage-connaught-beltline-heritage-walk-tour.pdf |access-date=Nov 22, 2025 |website=City of Calgary Website}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=THE BELTLINE (Connaught & Victoria Park) Walking Tour |url=https://blenny-dandelion-jw87.squarespace.com/s/The-Beltline-Brochure-Web.pdf |website=Heritage Calgary}}</ref> The clubhouse opened officially opened on July 20, 1914.<ref name=":3" /> On the east facade of the clubhouse is a image of a cowboy riding a bucking bronco, which is said to have been designed by A.E. Cross.<ref name=":0" /> The clubhouse underwent renovations in both 1925 and 1982.<ref name=":1" /> The interior features extensive woodwork, book-lined walls, and a prestigious Western art collection launched by the "Picture Club" in 1949.<ref name=":0" /> Before this, the clubhouse walls were primarily decorated with dozens of taxidermied trophy heads, which members eventually felt had become "a little out of style".<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Saucier |first=John James |title=A Short History of the Ranchmen's Club: A Light-Hearted Account, |date=1975 |location=Calgary, AB}}</ref> In 1984, the club initiated a program to name third-floor rooms after historical figures, with the Lougheed Room being the first so designated.

The Ranchmen’s Club has hosted multiple famous white tie dinners, including one in 1919 in honour of Edward VIII (then Edward, Prince of Wales), who had purchased the E.P. Ranch in southern Alberta.<ref name=":1" /> Similarly, two dinners were held for Viscount Bennett. One upon his winning the leadership of the Conservative Party, and another shortly before he left Canada to take his seat in the House of Lords in the United Kingdom.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Coutts |first=George |title=The Ranchmen's Club Calgary 1953 A Slight Historical Sketch, 1891-1952 |date=1953 |publisher=Rous & Mann Press |location=Toronto}}</ref> On this occasion, it is noted that he became "quite emotional over leaving his Club"<ref name=":5" />

A prestigious dinner was held in January 1946 for General H.D.G. Crerar, attended by 86 members. The club’s 50th Anniversary (1941) was marked by a formal dinner, as was the 65th (1956), the 100th (a Black Tie Dinner in 1990), and the 125th Anniversary Gala in 2016, which was attended by then Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Lois Mitchell.<ref name=":0" />

== Presidents == {{div col|colwidth=20em}} *1891 – Thomas Somerville Charters Lee *1901 – M. Morris *1902 – John Pascoe Jeremy Jephson *1906 – Alfred Ernest Cross *1908 – Charles S. Lott *1911 – Alfred Ernest Cross *1912 – M. C. Bernard *1913 – W. H. Hogg *1913 – George Langrishe Peet *1914 – William Toole *1915 – M. C. Bernard *1917 – George Langrishe Peet *1919 – P. J. Bergerson *1920 – M. C. Bernard *1921 – Lt. Col. Gilbert Edward Sanders *1923 – H. Melvin *1925 – G. A. Walker *1926 – R. M. Gemmel *1927 – John Edward Annan Macleod *1929 – W. J. Watson *1929 – M. C. Bernard *1930 – H. A. Allison *1931 – G. B. Coutts *1933 – F. M. Harvey *1935 – G. R. Johnson *1937 – G. B. Coutts *1949 – W. G. Egbert *1952 – F. C. Manning *1956 – Lt. Col. D. F. Rogers *1958 – Benton Stewart MacKid *1960 – Donald Allen Sprung *1962 – William Rees Taprell *1966 – J. R. Alexander *1968 – J. J. Saucier *1968 – R. J. Burns *1970 – W. A. McGillivray *1972 – K. R. Lyle *1973 – R. G. Black *1975 – G. E. Lockwood{{div end}}

== Notable Members ==

* Alfred Ernest Cross<ref name=":3" /> * James Alexander Lougheed<ref name=":3" /> * Charles Rouleau<ref name=":3" /> * Paddy Nolan<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biography of Nolan Patrick James |url=https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/nolan_patrick_james_14E.html}}</ref> * Maitland Stewart McCarthy<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biography of Maitland Stewart McCarthy |url=https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/mccarthy_maitland_stewart_15E.html}}</ref> * David Lynch Scott<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biography of David Lynch Scott |url=https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/scott_david_lynch_15E.html}}</ref> * William Pearce<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biography of William Pearce |url=https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/pearce_william_15E.html}}</ref>

== See also ==

* Calgary Petroleum Club (Similar private members' club of Calgary) * List of gentlemen's clubs in Canada * Lougheed House * Beltline, Calgary

== References ==

{{reflist}} Category:Clubs and societies in Canada Category:Gentlemen's clubs in Canada Category:History of Alberta Category:History of Calgary