In the photo: George Moss’ wife, children, and great grandchildren at the official dedication day of George Moss Park (circa 1970).
If you walk through the community of Ogden today, you’ll find a park where youth are playing basketball, children are laughing in playground, and neighbours are connecting in the fresh air. That place is George Moss Park, and behind its name is a bigger story about community, care, and the power of one person’s dedication over many years.
Volunteer Week is a chance to celebrate the people who give their time and energy to make Calgary a better place. We are recognizing that spirit in the volunteers, partners, and community members who have helped transform George Moss Park into a welcoming hub for play and connection. And, it all started with one man and a simple green space.
From Manchester to Ogden
George Moss arrived in Canada from Manchester, England, with his wife and daughter, seeking new opportunities and a place to build a life. In 1908, a job offer from the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) brought him to the area that would soon become Ogden. By 1911, the community had officially taken on the name Ogden, and George was firmly rooted in the neighbourhood.
As the area grew, George noticed a piece of open land that he believed could be something special: a green space where local children could play and be active close to home. Determined to protect it from development, he advocated to keep the land as a play area for kids.
At the time, CPR owned the land in Ogden. Recognizing George’s commitment, CPR agreed to loan the land to him so it could be used as a community green space. That decision would shape generations of childhood memories.
A volunteer caretaker for a community rink
For years, George Moss maintained the grounds, looked after the field, and eventually created a hockey rink so children would have a local place to play in the winter. His three sons, who loved hockey, were among the many kids who grew up skating and playing there.
Season after season, George looked after the rink and the surrounding space, tending the ice and keeping the area usable for the neighbourhood. He continued this quiet, hands-on volunteer work until 1951, helping to anchor the community around the simple joy of outdoor play.
Long before there were formal programs or funding models, George modelled what it means to be a community builder: see a need, advocate for a solution, and keep showing up to tend it.
From neighbourhood green space to named park
In 1970, the City of Calgary formally recognized George’s contributions and the importance of the space he had helped protect. The park was officially dedicated in his honour and named George Moss Park. That act of naming acknowledged not only his years of volunteer work, but also the role that ordinary citizens play in shaping the city’s shared spaces.
Today, George Moss Park is a reminder that this place exists because one person saw possibility in a patch of land and chose to look after it for the good of others.
In the photo: Sharon Jacobus, great granddaughter of George Moss, showing a picture of the Moss family during the dedication of George Moss Park.
A new chapter for George Moss Park
More than a century after George first arrived in Ogden, the green space is entering a new chapter.
In recent years, Parks Foundation Calgary has partnered with Youth Centres of Calgary (YCC), the City of Calgary, and a range of donors and community partners to reimagine George Moss Park as a vibrant gathering place for youth and families.
Through these partnerships, George Moss Park has been transformed into a sports hub for Ogden and surrounding communities. Today, George Moss Park is home to Martin Family Pump Track & Skatepark, a combined concrete pump track and skatepark to the site – the first of its kind in Calgary – creating a dedicated space for riders of different ages and abilities to enjoy wheeled sports.
Through this project, the park now includes:
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Sport courts where youth can play, practice, and compete
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An expanded playground and tot lot for younger children
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A community plaza with seating and picnic areas
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Trees and green space to relax, gather, and connect with neighbours
Thank you to the people carrying the legacy forward
During Volunteer Week, George’s story reminds us that lasting legacies often start small: with one person who notices a need, chooses to act, and keeps caring for a place over time.
The park that bears George’s name is now supported by many hands – from youth and families who animate the space every day, to local organizations that program and advocate for it, to donors and volunteers who invest their time, skills, and resources.
This Volunteer Week, we celebrate George Moss and everyone who cares for the spaces we love across Calgary. Your commitment is helping build parks and public spaces where stories, memories, and connections can grow for generations to come.