Welcome to the homepage for RETROactive Live: the Alberta Heritage Speaker Series. Coming to you from the historic Old St. Stephen’s College on the University of Alberta campus, RETROactive live will showcase the rich and diverse history of our province in interesting and accessible ways, bringing the talented staff of the Historic Resources Management Branch to your home or office. We are always looking at new ways to share the work that we do – the sites we see, the stories we hear and the people we meet – and this webinar series is an effort to connect with you in a new way.
Historic Windows FAQ
Presenter: Fraser Shaw
May 27, 2026
7 p.m. – 8 p.m. MST
Registration link
Of all the questions that Heritage Conservation Advisory Services staff field from owners of heritage properties, the most common relate to windows. Join Fraser for this presentation on historic windows as architectural elements, including their contribution to the heritage value of a place and considerations for building functionality, comfort and overall performance. Case studies will be shared to illustrate technical challenges and solutions at a variety of heritage properties across Alberta.
Bits, Bytes and Borden Numbers: Digital Heritage at the Historic Resources Management Branch
Presenter: Robert H. Gustas
May 12, 2026
7 p.m. – 8 p.m. MST
Digital technologies play an increasingly essential role in the recording, analysis and management of cultural heritage in Alberta. This talk will explore how new methods including drone mapping, 3D modeling and image analysis are being applied by the Historic Resource Management Branch to document and record heritage sites in Alberta.
For your reference, Robert will be consulting a number of public-facing digital resources during his presentation, including:
- Alberta Geospatial Services Platform (AGSP)
- Listing of Historic Resources Web Application
- Alberta Geographical Place Names Webmap
- Heritage Resources Management Information System (HeRMIS)
- “Our record in stone”: Blackfoot perspectives of Okotoks (RETROactive)
Please note that this presentation will be recorded for archival purposes and may be shared for future viewing.
Ancient Jade Artifacts in Alberta and Beyond
Presenter: Dr. Todd Kristensen
May 4, 2026
7 p.m. – 8 p.m. MST
Registration link (Closed)
Jade was used for over 3,000 years in British Columbia to make woodworking tools, some of which were traded east to Indigenous people in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. This talk explores the science of jade, the anthropology of its exchange and archaeological stories that unfold when landowners share their discoveries. Alberta’s unusual jade may relate to one of the largest human migrations on the continent.
Please note that this presentation will be recorded for archival purposes and may be shared for future viewing.
RETROactive 