- 1908– Reader hired by Patrick Burns to work on his ranch just south of Calgary. He moves to Calgary with his wife, Rose Martha (nee Wright) and two children, Harry Roland and Doris Edna.
- 1910 – Reader builds a house in Crescent Heights, Calgary, and starts his own tree nursery there. He plays a founding role in the Calgary Horticultural Society (CHS) and starts writing for the local newspaper (Daily Herald, now Calgary Herald).
- 1912 – Cottage designed and built at the top of Union Cemetery, by the City (current location: 325 – 25 Avenue SE Calgary); neoclassical arches and office building are also placed on site.
- 1913 – Reader hired as Superintendent and moves into the cottage; commences installing rock to stabilize sloping perimeters
- 1913-1929 – Reader begins to transform the NW corner of Union Cemetery into a rock garden.
- 1920’s – Reader and the quality of his plants and seeds begin being recognized around the world.
- 1929 – Initial work on rock garden is well underway, yet it is still regarded as Reader’s private space
- 1930’s – Variety of distinguished visitors, including Viscountess Byng, Lady Elphinstone, and HRH Princess Alice visit the garden.
- 1934 – Reader’s book “ Herbaceous Perennial Garden “ is typed and carbon copies are bound; the full title is “The Herbaceous Perennial Garden together with Annotated Catalogue of Herbaceous Plants introduced by and growing in the garden of W.R. Reader, Parks Superintendent, Calgary, Alberta. “. This is reported to be one of four known editions; however, the published date is not included in the book. It is used as the basis for the original inventory of plants once in the garden.
- 1942 – Reader retires in December, after 29 years at this post. Alex Munro takes over his position.
- 1943 – Just a month after retiring, Reader died at the age of 67, on his way home after giving a slide illustrated talk about his garden. He was buried at Union Cemetery, section S.
- The City formalizes the rock garden and names it “Reader Rock Garden” in his memory.
- 1944 – The City demolishes the cottage
- 1958-1976 – Harry Boothman is City Parks Superintendent
- 1961 – Maintenance problems on site are recorded; demonstrating period of neglect
- 1970’s – Maintenance further reduced, some mature trees were cut down, the bog garden and some flower beds removed; City greenhouses demolished for LRT construction
- 2003 – Friends of Reader Rock Garden Society (FoRRGS) established & incorporated
- 2004 – Spring, Infrastructure Canada-Alberta Program (ICAP) funding becomes available; garden is fenced and locked down for renovations
- 2004 – 2005 – Garden and rock renovation undertaken; irrigation, house, water and sewer planned; inappropriate and dead plants were removed. Volunteers and paid staff peeled back the layers of soil, leaves and weeds, unearthing a garden that almost disappeared behind the overgrowth and neglect. Concerted efforts transformed the garden back to shades of its former splendor.
- 2006 – Garden reopened to the public, Official Ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Reader’s relatives, who provide personalized reflections and memories of the garden.
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