SAIT’s roots are as old as the famous Calgary/Edmonton rivalry. After Alberta became a province in 1905, its newly formed government gave Edmonton both the provincial legislature building and the province’s first university. After determined campaigning by Calgarians, the city was awarded the Provincial Institute of Technology and Art (PITA, as SAIT was formerly known) in 1916 . 

In this episode, Calgary historian and author David Finch and the CEO of Heritage Calgary, Josh Traptow (AIM ’11), illustrate the city’s physical and economic landscape in the early 1900s and trace how, in 1922, PITA moved from its original location in Inglewood to its permanent home — the stately brick building PITA shared with the Calgary Normal School. Explore how, together, the two institutes would sit regally at the crest of Calgary’s North Hill for decades, and investigate the opportunities the brand new “castle on the hill” symbolized for students, the city and the province.

Writing, production, sound design, vocals and composition by Ron Tarrant.
Research and writing by Astrid Gagnier, Alyssa Athanasopoulos and Kris Ferguson.