Collections
PRESERVING CALGARY POLICE HISTORY
Calgary Police Discovery Centre hosts Alberta’s largest collection of policing artifacts, including uniforms, weapons, vehicles, historic casefiles, and historic evidence.
Our vast collection of policing artifacts continues to grow almost daily. From policing tools to Calgary Police uniforms, we collect all manner of law enforcement implements, uniforms, and regalia. We also actively collect personal mementos and memorabilia of current and former Calgary Police members.
By the numbers our artifact collection includes:
- Over 2000 uniform items including: shirts, pants, boots, belts, gloves, and headwear
- More than 4000 regalia pieces including: pins, buttons, badges, uniform flashes, and medals
- Excess of 1000 artifacts that illustrate the way science and the art of photography has evolved through the 20th century
- Tools and occupational equipment both unique to policing and universally necessary such as: radios, computers, call boxes, radar guns, breathalyzers, body armour, and much more!
If you are in possession of any items that you think may be of interest to the Calgary Police Interpretive Centre’s collection and are willing to consider a donation to the museum, please send an email with the history and description of the item to us at archives.
FROM THE COLLECTIONS – ONLINE EXHIBIT
Explore Calgary Police Service history through artifacts, photographs, stories, and personal moments from the collection. Each online exhibit shines a spotlight on the people, events, traditions, and milestones that have shaped policing in Calgary. Discover the stories behind the collection and get a closer look at the history preserved by the Calgary Police Discovery Centre.
LIEUTENANT DAVID MILNE
Lieutenant David Milne was born in Scotland on April 25th, 1888. In 1910, he immigrated to Canada and joined the Calgary Police Force. After three years of exemplary service, Milne was promoted to the rank of Detective. With the advent of WWI, Detective Milne enlisted, joining the ranks of the 89th Calgary Battalion. He was one of 26 Calgary Police Force members to enlist in active service during the 1914-1918 conflict.
During his military career, Milne served a large portion of his time in England, where he bounced between 3 different battalions. He was promoted to the role of Lieutenant on January 26th, 1918, and assigned to the 10th Battalion, an Alberta-strong regiment that had been at the front lines since 1915. This battalion participated in every major Canadian battle of the first world war and was known to its contemporaries as the Fighting Tenth. He led his Battalion bravely through the Battle of Amiens conquering 7 miles of German territory from August 8th– 20th. This battle marked the beginning of the Hundred Days Offensive, which ultimately led to the end of the war.
On September 2nd, 1918, Milne tragically fought his final battle, being the Sunken Road of Villers-les-Cagnicourt, France. German soldiers ambushed his battalion and Milne suffered fatal bullet wounds to his abdomen. He was buried in France in a small cemetery called Upton Wood, alongside 218 of his fallen comrades. He was survived by his wife Nellie Milne and their young daughter Frances Milne.
In early 2023, our museum collection was extremely privileged to acquire the military medal collection that had been awarded to Lieutenant Milne posthumously. Pictured here is the collection in its entirety.
Archives, Artifacts, Research, And Collections
Step into the deeper story of Calgary’s policing past by exploring our Archives, Artifacts, Research, and Collections pages. Each section reveals more history, more discoveries, and more behind‑the‑scenes insight into the people and objects that shaped our city.
Explore the people, practices, technology and investigations that have shaped policing in Calgary over more than a century.
Our Collections showcase the artifacts, uniforms, equipment, photographs and other objects that tell the story of the Calgary Police Service and policing in Calgary.
Discover fascinating artifacts from the Calgary Police Discovery Centre’s collection and uncover the stories behind them.
