The rich multicultural history of International Avenue precedes settlement, it is important to recognize. In fact, Greater Forest Lawn is located on the traditional territories of the Métis Nation of Alberta (Region 3) and the peoples of Treaty 7, including the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), Stoney Nakoda Nations, and Tsuut’ina Nation. Moreover, it is important to recognize that Indigenous culture is not just history, it is living and dynamic, and Indigenous people are an ongoing part of the intricate cultural mosaic of the area.

With the ceremonial driving of the last spike in the national railway, the nation-state of Canada was thus connected from coast to coast. However, vast tracts of arable land remained in the west. The Liberal government under Sir Wilfrid Laurier was determined to attract farmers to this area, to enhance Canada’s economic growth. He appointed Clifford Sifton who embarked on an ambitious campaign of encouraging immigration to the Canadian Prairies. With the promise of 160 acres of 'free land' to farmers, Sifton’s initiatives succeeded in attracting many immigrants to the Canadian West during this first great wave of immigration from 1870 – 1930.

So began a more intensive populating of the area east of the bustling city of Calgary, in the Municipality of Shepard. Immigrants from America and eastern and central Europe homesteaded here, bringing with them a legacy of hard work. Skilled trades people, entrepreneurs and others came too, recognizing the need for their services that would be created by this increasing population.

The unincorporated hamlets of Forest Lawn, Albert Park and Hubalta appeared within the Municipality of Shepard around 1910 as small communities sprang up to support the surrounding agricultural families. A school, the one-room Bow River School, had already been constructed in 1904 at what is now known as 17 Avenue and 41 Street SE. The first class consisted of six pupils. Due to rapid growth a new, four-room school was constructed at 16 Avenue and 39 Street in 1912. It was again named “Bow River” and continued to serve the community until it was demolished in 1955 to make way for the new Patrick Airlie Elementary School. The first Bow River School was moved to Albert Park where it served as that communities first school. That building is still standing and is currently used as a church.

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​Real estate speculators from the United States attempted to take advantage of the boom times by buying up pieces of land and subdividing them into residential lots. When the lots did notsell due to lack of a rail link to Calgary, the speculators laid their own tracks from the Calgary City limits and promised the railroad would soon be coming. Of course that never happened.

With the coming of World War I the area was in a serious economic depression and many of the lots reverted back to the Municipality of Shepard. Some twenty-five-foot lots which had previously sold for $300 were now sold for as low as $5.

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​Residents continued to come to the area, however. Early industries included tractor plants, a marmalade factory, mink farming, a chick hatchery, mixed farming and general stores. The hard times continued with the Great Depression of the 1930s. To take the burden off the Shepard Municipality, the Provincial government created the Village of Forest Lawn (which included Hubalta) and the Village of Albert Park. A year later they were amalgamated into the Village of Forest Lawn, under provincial control. In 1942 the province canceled all tax arrears and the bulk of the relief debt. By 1946 the Village of Forest Lawn felt confident enough to assume self-government.