Outlaws and crimes of the Wild West: YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre opens its newest exhibit, The Rogues’ Gallery

On behalf of our partner agency YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre, we are sharing the following with you.

Outlaws and crimes of the Wild West: YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre opens its newest exhibit, The Rogues’ Gallery

YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre is proud to announce the opening of its new digitally immersive exhibit, The Rogues’ Gallery.  

The Rogues’ Gallery showcases the colourful stories behind dozens of mug shots of outlaws from Calgary’s Wild West of more than a century ago. The mug shots are contained in one of the jewels of YouthLink Calgary’s historical collection, the Calgary No. 1 Mug Shot Book. This mug shot book was the first of its kind and, in 1913, ushered Calgary Police into the brand-new era of criminal identification.

"This exhibit offers a compelling insight into Calgary's past, highlighting the unique characters and narratives that have shaped our city's historical landscape," says Tara Robinson, Executive Director of YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre.

Visitors will be taken on an exploration of how society and policing have evolved over the last 100 years through videos, stories, photos, and artifacts.

"Through these historical mug shots, we are transported back in time to a different era, where the challenges faced by police officers were different from today. But no doubt, police leaders back then would have found these challenges just as critical as the challenges we face today,” says Deputy Chief Katie McLellan.

The Rogues’ Gallery exhibit will officially open to the public on Friday, April 12, 2024, at the YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre.

The Rogues’ Gallery was made possible in collaboration with the Alberta Museum Association, the Archives Society of Alberta, the Calgary Police Service – Digital Services Unit, Canada’s Penitentiary Museum, the GALT Museum, the Royal Alberta Museum, and Lisa Isley—bookbinder, conservator and artist.

About YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre:

YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre is a non-profit organization where crime prevention, community policing, and history are at the heart of everything we do. Through innovative exhibits and experiential learning opportunities, YouthLink Calgary aims to inspire and empower Calgarians to make safe and responsible choices.