In 1970, fifty Bengali families of West Bengal, India and Bangladesh (the then East Pakistan), living in Calgary formed Bengali Cultural Association of Calgary (BCAC). The main objective of the association was to foster Bengali culture, language and union of Calgary Bengali community. The other objectives were as follows
- To cultivate and propagate Bengali language and culture to the next generation children and Canadians
- To organize cultural programs
- To operate Bengali language school
- To actively take part in multi-cultural events, Heritage Day activities and Canada Day
The then BCAC events were organized as Food Fair, Rabindra Nazrul Sandhya, Annual Picnic, Special Cultural Nights and Children Christmas Party. BCAC played important role in support of the independence of Bangladesh in 1971. They protested against the genocide of Bengalis by the Pakistan-army and their followers with a number of mass rallies.
In 1973 the Muslim members of Bangladesh opted out from BCAC and formed a separate association, Bangladesh Cultural Association of Calgary (BCAOC).
On April 24th, 1978 Bengali Cultural Association of Calgary (BCAC) was registered as a non-profit organization under the Societies Act of Alberta.
In 1981 BCAC started Durga Puja, Kali Puja and Saraswati Puja with images. Since then these events have been celebrated in festive manners.
In 1981 BCAC published “Sarodatsab” (The Festival of Autumn), with articles, stories, poems and drawings of the members and their children during Durga Puja. The similar tradition of publishing annual magazine during Durga Puja is continued with different Bengali names in following years, for example: “Unmesh” (1998), Jagriti (1999), “Sarodotsab” (2000, 2001, 2002), “Arghya” (2003), Naivedya (2004), Sarodotsab Sankhya of BCAC (2005 & 2006), and Parboni (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022).Parboni was not published in the pandamic years of 2020 and 2021.
Since 2001 BCAC has been volunteering in the operation of Casino games of Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC).
In 2003 BCAC bought land in the district of MD Rocky View for establishing a Kali Temple.
In 2007 the name of the association was changed to Bengali Association of Calgary (BAC) with diversification of objectives, religious events and charitable programs. Gradually BAC turned to its present state of a religious organization for the Bengali Hindus.
BAC had to sell the land for the Kali Temple, as it did not get zoning, suitable for religious use after years' long diligent efforts.
The association purchased a bi-level building on 4.2 acre land in 24138 Meadows Drive, MD Rocky View, Calgary on the 15th of November, The main building is currently used for meetings and small religious events.
The association is awarded charitable status by Canada Revenue Agency, effective from the 28th of November, 2016.
In December, 2022 the Association sold the acreage property getting difficulties to rezone it for the use of regular and annual charitable events.
In Sep 2022 the association purchased a Church (built in 2016) located at 4315- 26th Ave, SE and started regular charitable and religious events.