In 1959, people were watching "Rawhide", "Bonanza" and "The Twilight Zone", movies included "Some Like it Hot", "Ben Hur" and "North by Northwest". Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba after leading a revolution that led to the establishmen of a Communist dictatorship. An American Airlines Boeing 707 made the first scheduled transcontinental U.S. flight, flying from California to New York. St Lawrence Seaway, a joint US / Canadian venture, is completed linking the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. And, on January 11th of that year a group of gentlemen gathered at the Masonic Temple in Calgary, Alberta, now known as Freemasons Hall, to decide if there was sufficient interest to warrant the petititioning of a new Canadian Rite Lodge.

That evening, sixty-one masons from many parts of Alberta, as well as Saskatchewan gathered and signed the register. After some preliminary formalities, the chairman of the evening, R.W. Bro. Ned Rivers asked the brethren present if it was their desire that a new Canadian Rite Lodge be organized and asked for a show of hands by all those in favour. The voting was practically unanimous. Next was the matter of the name. R.W. Bro. Rivers suggested that since Bow River Lodge #1 was willing to recommend or sponsor the Lodge, that it be a fitting tribute to call the new lodge Elbow River Lodge. Since that day 50 years ago, hundreds of upright and honourable men have affiliated and been raised through Elbow River Lodge.

Elbow River Lodge meets on the first Tuesday of every month except in July and August at Bowmont Masonic Hall, 7704 39 Avenue NW, Calgary, Alberta.