CHC in the News
The Globe and Mail: A craftsman’s quest to preserve Calgary’s heritage
Dave Chalmers points out a piece of timber lattice work taken from an old building in Calgary and draws attention to the nails attached to it.
They’re square, he says, smiling. That means they are handmade – and confirms that this piece of decorative woodwork dates back to about 1885, before the railway came to Calgary, bringing with it a ready supply of mass-produced round nails, the kind with which we are familiar today.
CBC News: Calgary's historical buildings hide secrets
I help restore Calgary's history — one building at a time. I own a small construction company that specializes in the conserving our city's historic properties.
Working in this business, you learn that buildings are not just bricks and mortar, they are the bones of our community.
They tell the stories of Calgary's past.
Press Reader – Restoring buildings to their past glory
There’s something comforting about the smell and feel of old wood, but to Dave Chalmers, it’s much more. The owner of Chalmers Heritage Conservation treats it with care and reverence, doing all he can to preserve timbers where they sit or find a new use for them. Restoration and conservation is the focus of his company — he just does not work on any new construction projects.
Heritage Calgary – The Upton Residence: An Innovative Heritage Project
With peeling paint, boarded up windows, and picket fence in need of repair, why bother preserving a modest Edwardian Bungalow? It’s a “tear-down” after all.
Not this gem. This is a story about a house that has seen many neighbourhood changes over the past 100 years, and one that is receiving a major upgrade for the next century.