Lethbridge, Alberta

For other meanings of Lethbridge, see Lethbridge (disambiguation).

Lethbridge, a city in the province of Alberta, Canada, has a population of about 73,000 people. It is located near the Canadian Rockies and is 210km (130 miles) southeast of Calgary on the Oldman River.

History

The city developed from drift mines opened by Nicholas Sheran (1874) and the North Western Coal and Naviagtion Company, Limited (1882), whose president was William Lethbridge. Names that have been used to identify the Lethbridge area include the Blackfoot Aksaysim, also transliterated as Aksiiksahko or Steep Banks, Mek-kio-towaghs, also Miiksskoowa, variously translated as Painted Rock, Red Painted Rock, or Medicine Stone, Assini-etomochi, also Asinaawaiitomottsaawa, or Where We Slaughtered the Crees, and Sik-ooh-kotok, Black/Rocks or Coal, the Sarcee Chadish-kashi, Black/Rocks; the Cree Kuskusukisay-guni, Black/Rocks; the Stony Ipubin-saba-akabin, or Digging Coal; and the European names, Coalbanks, Sherans, or Sheran's Ferry, The Crossing, The Colliery, Newlethbridge, Lethbridge Colliery, Upper and Lower Town, Coalhurst, and, offical since October 15, 1885, Lethbridge (The name Lethbridge was in common, if unoffical, use for the riverbottom community at least as early as May 1884). Before settlement the area where Lethbridge is located was known as The Arid Region. When geological surveys around 1880 revealed an abundance of coal, it was called The Belly River Coal District. After the Galts introduced irrigation to counter the Arid Region image aruond 1900, the locality was called the Irrigated District. Finally, as an aid to land sales after the rush of dryland settlement started about 1905, the non-irrigable portion was called The Winter Wheat Lands.

Climate

Lethbridge has a moderate continental climate with warm summers and mild winters influenced by Chinook winds. The area also receives one of the highest amounts of sunshine in the country. The proximity of the city to the mountains usually protects Lethbridge from the influence of strong northwest and southwest winds which are associated with blizzard conditions. The comparatively high elevation of the city, when combined with Chinook conditions, results in a reduction of the severity and duration of winter cold periods and alleviates the extreme summer heat. Lethbridge enjoys the highest winter and annual mean temperatures on the prairies and yet is slightly cooler than many southern prairie locations during the summer.

Culture

City sights

Arts and interpretive centres

The Sir Alexander Galt Museum and Archives is a year-round destination. "The Galt" features blockbuster exhibitions, hands-on activities and programs for the entire family. Smaller exhibitions explore the life and times of the people of southern Alberta. The building which houses the museum and archives was the former Galt Hospital, named after Sir Alexander Galt, a Father of Confederation, whose company was a major force in establishing a community called Lethbridge on the Oldman River. The best photo opportunity for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) bridge is at The Galt.

The Bowman Arts Centre is a designated Historic Site and home of the Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge. Resident groups include: the Lethbridge Sketch Club, Lethbridge Handicraft Guild, Textile Surface Design Guild, Oldman River Potter's Guild. These and many other arts organizations, provide a multitude of programs. Two gallery spaces feature the work of regional artists. Other programming focuses on children's studio classes in visual and performing arts and on adult workshops. Southern Alberta Art Gallery is located in a park setting in the heart of downtown Lethbridge, the Southern Alberta Art Gallery offers a dynamic variety of contemporary art exhibitions and programs, including weekly films, family programs and free guided tours. The Gift Shop features unique creations by local and regional artisans, fabulous lines of children's toys and one-of-a-kind gifts. Admission is free and all are welcome!

Fort Whoop-Up Interpretive Centre: is located in Indian Battle Park, Fort Whoop-Up is a replica of the American whiskey trading fort established here in 1870. It was the first stop of the NWMP (Northwest Mounted Police) on their march west in 1874. The Centre offers year-round special events, programs and a gift shop.

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre is located less than one hour west of Lethbridge. Named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981, this is the largest and best preserved buffalo jump in North America. The Interpretive Centre houses artifacts and displays which interpret the history of the buffalo jump; a self-guided tour will take you through 5,000 years of history. A view point and guided walks by native interpreters are available. This is a unique example of the communal way of hunting used by the Natives of the Great Plains of North America.

Oldman River

Helen Schuler Coulee Centre: Nestled amongst the cottonwoods and coulees of the Oldman River Valley and framed beneath the magnificent High Level Bridge, the Helen Schuler Coulee Centre introduces visitors to the 81-hectare Lethbridge Nature Reserve. The Centre itself provides a variety of programs such as nature walks, self-guided trails, exhibits and children's programs on a year-round basis.

High Level Bridge:

The Lethbridge Viaduct, better known as the High Level Bridge, is the longest and highest of its type of construction in North America, extending over 1.6 km across the coulees to Lethbridge. It is 314 feet in height and was completed in 1909.

Henderson Lake

Henderson Lake Park is located on Mayor Magrath Drive and South Parkside Drive, this park features a 60-acre man-made lake with concessions, picnic areas and playgrounds. The park has a variety of trails for walkers, joggers and cyclists. A campground is located right next to the park. This park is adjacent to the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden, which was built in 1967 as a centennial project, this authentic Japanese garden is a symbol of the Japanese-Canadian friendship that exists in our community.

Other

Lethbridge and District Exhibition: The grounds host the annual summer fair (Whoop Up Days), thoroughbred racing, trade fairs, craft fairs and various other activities throughout the year.

ATB Financial Alberta International Airshow: This two-day airshow is held each summer attracting more than 30,000 visitors who come to view the civilian and military aircraft in the sky and on the tarmac.

Regional attractions

Alberta Birds of Prey Centre is located just 10 km east of Lethbridge in the town of Coaldale. This beautifully landscaped 70-acre centre is a living museum. It features hawks, falcons, eagles, owls and vultures from Alberta and around the world. Daily flying demonstrations take place from spring through fall when the weather permits.

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is located one and 1/2 hours southwest of Lethbridge. Established in 1932, Waterton Lakes National Park joined with Glacier National Park in Montana to become the world's first International Peace Park.

Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park is located two hours southeast of Lethbridge. This park takes its name from the abundant native carvings (petroglyphs) and paintings (pictographs) that decorate its sandstone cliffs. The park was established to protect these fragile reminders of the past. Spectacular formations, the meandering Milk River, the rich animal and plant life of the valley and open grasslands all contribute to the charm of this unique park.

Education

There are two major post-secondary institutions in Lethbridge: the University of Lethbridge, founded in 1967, and Lethbridge Community College (LCC), founded in 1957. LCC has a 45-year tradition of meeting the educational and training needs of southern Albertans. Moving into a new four-year business plan beginning in 2003, the college will continue to provide quality career programs while also placing an even greater emphasis on workforce development. In today's fast-paced world of work, LCC provides opportunities for companies and industry to ensure their employees have the up-to-date skills and training they need in a competitive business environment. There are also two large high schools with student bodies of over 1000 each: Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, and Winston Churchill High School.

Layout and geography

Lethbridge is located at degrees 49.7 degrees North latitude and -112.833 degrees East longitude. The following are satelitte communities of Lethbridge:

• Coaldale, Alberta
• Raymond, Alberta
• Magrath, Alberta
• Coalhurst, Alberta
• Picture Butte, Alberta

Sports and recreation

Enmax Centre:

The Enmax Centre, formerly the Canada Games Sportsplex, was built as a lasting legacy of the 1975 Canada Winter Games. Over the past quarter century, it has played host to world class concerts, annual three-ring circuses, multicultural events, national curling championships, international basketball, banquets, skating events and a major WHL (Western Hockey League) franchise. Golf Courses: Golfers can choose from the championship Paradise Canyon Golf and Lethbridge Country Club, Henderson Lake Golf Course or the family-oriented Bridge Valley Par 3, and Evergreen Par 3 Course and Driving Range, a year-round golf practice facility and pro shop, (34 heated stalls for winter use). Another eight courses can be reached within a half-hour drive.

Transportation

Air service

The Lethbridge County Airport is conveniently located on Highway 5, two kilometres south of the City of Lethbridge and approximately 10 minutes from the city centre. There are seven commercial scheduled flights per day provided by Air Canada Jazz and Integra Air. Destination airports are Calgary International Airport (a hub for connecting flights to destinations throughout Canada and the United States) and Edmonton City Centre. Itinerant aircraft customs clearance is available from Canada Customs via CANPASS. Charter aircraft services, aircraft rentals and flight training are available.

Road

Lethbridge is served by excellent provincial highways. To the north, Calgary and Edmonton are two- and five-hour drives respectively, via Highway 2. Only one hour to the south lies Alberta's major port of entry to the United States; this 24-hour border crossing at Coutts links Lethbridge and Alberta's Export Highway with US Interstate 15. Highway 3 (Crowsnest Trail) is a major east-west traffic route linking Lethbridge with Vancouver to the west, and eastern centres through Medicine Hat where it joins the Trans-Canada Highway.

Lethbridge has over a dozen trucking firms offering local, provincial, national and international freight services. Warehouses and terminal facilities for truck freight are readily available throughout the city.

Lethbridge's internal roadway network is adequate for a city of this size. Major east-west arteries in Lethbridge are: 26 Ave N, 18 Ave N, 9 Ave N, 5 Ave N, 1 Ave S (west of Stafford Drive South), 3 Ave S, 6 Ave S, 10 Ave S (east of 13 St), 16 Ave S, 20 Ave S (east of Mayor Magrath Drive South), and 24 Ave S, also known as Scenic Drive. Major north-south routes are 43 St, 28 St N, Mayor Magrath Drives North and South, 23 St N, 13 St, Stafford Drives North and South, and Scenic Drives North and South.

Rail

The city is located on a mainline of the Canadian Pacific Railway. With trackage in all four directions, products are easily shipped east to Toronto, south to the US, west to Vancouver, and north to Calgary. Full freight-handling facilities are located in Lethbridge and a large modern marshalling yard facility is just west of the city. Spur trackage is also available to serve the industrial area, as is a rail loading facility available to all businesses.

Customs and Transit Services

Canada Customs provides service to Lethbridge via the Coutts Custom Office. Customs service for the clearance of aircraft is provided at the Lethbridge Airport for CANPASS participants only. A total of four sufferance warehouses are located throughout the city. LA Transit offers service to most residential areas seven days a week. Also offered by LA Transit is bussing for the public and separate school systems plus a variety of charter services.

Other

In 2003, Lethbridge city councillor Dar Heatherington became embroiled in a scandal when it was alleged that she had filed false reports with police about a stalker. She was convicted of public mischief on June 29, 2004, and resigned her seat on August 9.

Local media

Daily newspapers

• Lethbridge Herald – The largest newspaper in Lethbridge.

Radio stations

• 93.3 – CHHK – Bee 93
• 95.5 – CHLB – Country 95.5
• 106.7 – CJRX – Rock 106
• 107.7 – CFRV – The River

See also

• Fort Whoop-Up
• Montague Aldous
• Charles Alexander Magrath
• Lethbridge-West
• List of the 100 largest cities in Canada by population
• List of the 100 largest metropolitan areas in Canada

External links

• City of Lethbridge home page
• Lethbridge Herald
• University of Lethbridge
• Lethbridge School District No. 51