The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, located in Calgary, is probably one of the most unusual churches that exist in Canada. Its amazing appearance is more similar to modern buildings. However, the church was built more than a century ago, in 1889.

The inspirer of the construction of the temple was a Frenchman Albert Lacombe. He was a Catholic missionary who came to preach the religion to the local Indian population.

Lacombe organized his first parish in the small village of Rouville, in the suburbs of Calgary (the village became part of the city in 1907). And the first Catholic church was built there. It was small and looked more like a chapel than a church. But it was enough to start with.

Later Lacombe received more land. So the construction of the new church began. The church received its first guests in 1889. It was a large beautiful neo-Gothic building of pale sandstone. Unfortunately, it did not last long: the church was severely damaged during a fire in July 1955. It stood in ruins for several years. And then a large-scale reconstruction began.

The architects wanted to both preserve the original appearance and add more modern and relevant details to it. So a mixture of neo-Gothic and modern minimalism appeared instead of the usual church. It was a bold decision that at first seemed controversial. But in the end, this building became one of the most beloved among residents and an important attraction for tourists.

And the main focus of the church is a huge statue of the Virgin and Child, placed over the central entrance. Its height is five meters. The sculptor took into account the location of the statue. He chose such a perspective that the Virgin Mary seems to bless everyone who enters the temple.