The homes of Everett Klippert

A few weeks ago the Calgary Gay History Project spent an afternoon with Donald Klippert, exploring the city landscape and the history of the Klippert family. Donald’s Uncle Everett became infamous in the 1960s with his high-profile incarcerations which led to the decriminalization of homosexuality in Canada in 1969.

Together in a Car2Go we orbited the older communities of Calgary and saw the houses (some still standing) where Everett grew up. It was interesting to anchor Everett’s story in the actual streets of the city and added depth to our understanding of his life.

Everett was born in 1926 in Kindersley, Saskatchewan but his family moved to Calgary when he was 2 years old. Their first house was on the North Hill, but the family moved around frequently in those first years, always staying on the north side of town. Hillhurst, Bridgeland and Crescent Heights were their neighbourhoods; there they lived, worked and attended church.

Here is a photo essay of the Klippert family homes in Calgary from 1930-1947.

The Klippert Family Home from 1930-1932 in Hillhurst.

The Klipperts rented this home in 1933.  Everett’s mother died in May of this year, while living in this recognizable 14th Street house.

The Klippert family bought this Crescent Heights house and lived here from 1934-1942.

The Klippert family standing in the front yard of their Bridgeland house. They lived here from 1943-1947 (Everett is pictured on the far right with the Bridgeland School behind him.)

{KA}