🦁 The Story Behind Calgary’s Famous Bridge Lions 🦁
Spoiler alert: They weren’t even supposed to be there.

If you've ever crossed Centre Street Bridge and thought, “Why are there giant lions watching me?” — you’re not alone. These iconic stone guardians have been part of Calgary’s skyline for over a century, and their story is as quirky as it is historic.

Here are 5 things you probably didn’t know about the Centre Street Lions:

1️⃣ They Were a Last-Minute Add-On

Originally, the bridge design had zero decoration (typical budget stuff). But then a city alderman saw a lion sculpture in someone’s yard and thought, “Hey, we need some of those.”

2️⃣ Built by a City Worker with Talent

Turns out, that backyard lion was made by James L. Thompson, a Scottish stonemason working as a city labourer. The City said, “James, you’re hired,” and just like that — he became Calgary’s accidental public art pioneer.

3️⃣ Inspired by London’s Trafalgar Square

If the lions look a little fancy, it’s because Thompson modeled them after the bronze lions guarding Nelson’s Column in London. He even added extra touches like roses, thistles, shamrocks, maple leaves, and bison heads — representing Calgary’s cultural roots.

4️⃣ The Ones You See Today? They’re Replicas

Calgary winters + heavy traffic = cracked lions. During a 1999 bridge reno, the original statues were deemed too fragile to stay. One lion (the least damaged) was restored and used to create replicas — the ones we see on the bridge today.

5️⃣ But You Can Still Visit an Original

The original southwest lion now lives at Rotary Park, overlooking the bridge. It’s preserved in “arrested decay” — a fancy way of saying “still cracked, but protected.” The other two originals? Stored away safely like stone royalty in retirement.

So next time you cross the bridge, give those lions a nod — they’ve been silently judging your lane changes since 1916. 🦁😉 #YYCHistory #CentreStreetLions #CalgaryLandmarks