Canadian Pacific Railway Station Building

The Canadian Pacific Railway (C.P.R.) Station Building derives its heritage value from the fact that it is the only example in Alberta of a standard Plan X-12 Canadian Pacific Railway station, from its builder C.W. Sharpe and from its association with the C.P.R.'s competitive branch line expansion program under Thomas Shaughnessy who became president in 1899.

Because of the role of Empress as a railway terminal, a station based on standard Plan X-12 was constructed at this location. It is the only example of this standard plan in Alberta. It is distinguished by the utilization of the large windows and by ornamental pressed metal wild roses at the end of the roof ridge cap. The layout of the station incorporates the necessary functions of a divisional point station including: passenger, freight and telegraph facilities as well as office space for the roadmaster who was responsible for the maintenance of the track within the division.

C.W. Sharpe and Sons provided ornamental plasterwork work for many Winnipeg buildings including banks, insurance companies and the Carriage Library and the Legislative Building in Regina.

Empress served as a divisional point on the branch line constructed between Bassano and Swift Current. The choice of the Empress site by the C.P.R. and its designation as a divisional point initiated the development of the community and assured its early development.