BRIDGES OF MEMORY: HONOURING NATHAN HORNBURG

We are honoured to share a story that speaks to legacy, courage, and connection; values we hold dear in Waldorf education. On September 24, 2025, two bridges in northwest Calgary were officially named in memory of Cpl. Nathan Hornburg, a former student of the Calgary Waldorf School, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2007 while serving with the King’s Own Calgary Regiment.

Exactly 18 years after Nathan’s death, the two bridges spanning the Bow River on the northwest segment of Stoney Trail were renamed in his honour. The “West Bow Bridges” will now carry commemorative signage recognizing Cpl. Nathan Hornburg, with the hope that all who cross will take a moment to reflect on service, sacrifice, and the human stories that shape our shared spaces. CityNews

At the ceremony, Nathan’s sister Rachel Herbert (née Hornburg) shared heartfelt reflections on her brother’s legacy in both her speech and a CBC interview:

“It’s extraordinary that everyone who drives across this bridge will get to see his name,” she said. “And I hope that every time they see his name, they’ll associate it with the values that Nathan lived and died for.”

Nathan was born on June 19, 1983, and grew up in Calgary. He was a student in our school from Preschool to Grade Nine and he graduated in 1999.  His sister Rachel was also a long-time student here.  Nathan’s parents served as active volunteers who were passionately involved in our school from the very early days onward.  Among their many activities at the school, his father, Michael, served on our Board and his mother, Linda, founded the Cross-Country Run.

Nathan joined the Canadian Forces in 2001 and was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Canada’s NATO mission. On September 24, 2007, at age 24, Nathan was killed in action while attempting to recover a disabled tank under enemy fire.

The Hornburg family approached our School with the wish to establish a Memorial Fund in Nathan’s name. This fund was used to create the bouldering wall in the gymnasium, honoring Nathan’s love of sport and physical activity. In addition, the School purchased a painting by Chris Bowman, an alumnus and close friend of Nathan, which hangs in our Assembly Room.

In remembering Nathan, we honour a soldier and an individual whose spirit and service embody qualities we strive to cultivate in Waldorf education: initiative, empathy, strength of character, and the courage to act in the face of challenge.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Hornburg family for bringing this public honouring to light, for ensuring that Nathan’s memory remains not only alive in their hearts but also recognised in the fabric of Calgary itself. Their dedication has given the city, and all of us, a lasting place to reflect on his life and legacy.