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The living archive

A city gave the campus something living.

Around 1966, the University of Calgary was still a young, open campus without mature trees. Calgary residents moved trees from private yards, family estates and nurseries to the university.

Today's shade was left by ordinary citizens decades earlier—a civic gift still alive in the landscape, carrying stories of transfer, shared growth and legacy.

Before there was shade, there was a gift.

01

The Gift Registry

Each tree is treated as a civic gift transferred from the city to the campus.

02

Borrowed Shade

We gather beneath branches planted by people we may never meet.

03

One More Ring

Every student generation adds another ring to a story still growing.

The first collection · 6 records

Objects that remember.

Six everyday objects in white, burgundy, wood brown and warm gold—each carrying one part of a living civic archive.

1966 Tree-Ring Wooden Coaster

Archive No. 01

Objects for the Table

1966 Tree-Ring Wooden Coaster

$10

One Ring for Every Year

Every ring begins at 1966: a small record of time, held in the hand and returned to the table each day.

Roots of UCalgary Canvas Tote

Archive No. 02

Bags & Accessories

Roots of UCalgary Canvas Tote

$15

Carry the Roots Forward

The roots beneath today’s student paths began in Calgary backyards, family estates and local nurseries.

Planted by a City Postcard

Archive No. 03

Paper & Correspondence

Planted by a City Postcard

$2.99

A City Sends Something Living

A message travels from one place to another. In 1966, so did the trees.

A Gift from a City Commemorative Pin

Archive No. 04

Pins & Keepsakes

A Gift from a City Commemorative Pin

$8

A Gift, Worn Close

The city did not only build the university. It gave it something living.

1966 Tree-Ring Notebook

Archive No. 05

Paper & Correspondence

1966 Tree-Ring Notebook

$20

Add One More Ring

Every class, every note and every graduating year becomes one more ring in a story still growing.

1966 Burgundy Ceramic Mug

Archive No. 06

Objects for the Table

1966 Burgundy Ceramic Mug

$18

Borrowed Shade, Shared Table

The shade was a gift for strangers. The mug brings that same generosity to an everyday table.