For as long as humans have flown, Lethbridge has had the space for it! As aviation took off in the early twentieth century, the need for dedicated airports became clear around the world, from major cities to small rural communities. It wasn’t long before this demand manifested locally into the Lethbridge Airport.
Read MoreThere’s no need to explain how important hockey is to Albertans. No matter the age or the league, the sport has an impact on all of us—especially if it inspires pride in our local athletes!
Read MoreWhile a relatively young city, Lethbridge’s history is unique in the way it surrounds us even today. It is easy for any historical organization to speak about buildings that used to be, or practices that were once in place; it’s another thing entirely to walk up to these buildings or continue these lines of work. While industries like coal mining are seen far less today, other fields—particularly the agricultural kind—define our region today as thoroughly as they used to. The past runs through any city’s veins; in Lethbridge’s case, it doubles as its face.
Read MoreEvery day we are surrounded by sound, but we often don’t pay much attention to it. Over the years, the sounds around us have changed, influencing our behaviours in significant ways. Authority figures in particular have used many different types of sound to motivate the actions of citizens on a daily basis. One important way sound has impacted our community is in the fire department’s use of sirens and alarms for citizen safety.
Read MoreIn many ways, our lives are sonically scheduled by various devices and mechanisms. Over the years, different sounds have told us what to do—whether it be the school bell of our younger years or the smartphone alarms of today.
Read MoreSound has played an important role in the way our community has changed over the years. As technology has evolved, sounds have shifted in different ways within our society to shape the way our daily actions unfold. The Lethbridge Police Service in particular has used sound in many ways over the years to influence the behaviour of citizens.
Read MoreDiscover the development of hearing aids
Read MoreWhen we hear of internet, TV or radio channels being censored, it can be easy to think only of governments in distant lands like Russia, China or North Korea. However, there have been times in history that the Canadian government has controlled what sounds can be heard—or not heard—within our own borders.
Read MoreVenture through archived issues of the Lethbridge Herald for glimpses of what this tradition may have looked like a hundred years ago
Read MoreFor many decades, the T. Eaton Company (later just “Eaton’s”) was a major catalogue supplier.
Read MoreFrequent travellers may be familiar with phrase books—dictionaries used during a trip to communicate in basic sentences, even if you don’t understand the local language. You may not know, however, just how far back these tools date!
Read MoreWith so many online platforms popping up around family history and DNA research, it’s clear that interest in the field of genealogy is increasing. And in part due to the pandemic, the online accessibility of other genealogical materials has increased dramatically as well. Despite all of these great online resources, to get a full picture of your family history you will eventually need to step foot into an archive to view important documents and photos in person. This can be a daunting idea if you have never visited an archive or don’t know how to access one. But it’s actually quite easy!
Read MorePeople and historic events are not frozen in time; they can be researched and explored through new ways of thinking—Fort Whoop-Up and its legacy are no exception.
Read MoreGalt Gardens is one of the oldest green spaces in Lethbridge, established when the plans for the downtown were laid out over one hundred years ago. This area in the city core—between 1 and 3 Avenues and 5 and 7 Streets—was set aside by the Galt family in 1885 as a central square for the new urban centre.
Read MoreThe Inn Purple was a coffee house for young adults that was open from 1967 to 1968 in Lethbridge. It was a place where teens and young adults could go to hang out, listen to music and dance without drugs, alcohol or their parents.
Read MoreWhen we think of local history, trees aren’t necessarily what come to mind. But trees help create a sense of community identity and have brought people together in unique ways.
Read MoreThe MacDonald Block is one of few buildings that have held a vintage advertisement and withstood the test of time. One hundred and twenty-five years’ worth of local business have held a place in this building at 302 5 Street South.
Read MoreOur region is known for its long-standing rodeo tradition. What you probably didn’t know is that it was Raymond’s own Earl Bascom who invented the hornless bronc saddle—a more efficient and safer saddle that is still used in rodeo competitions today.
Read MorePublic transit is an ever-evolving part of life within the local community, and free or inexpensive access to local culture is crucial. Much like the streetcar initiative over a century ago, an innovative transit project called cultureLINK is launching in Lethbridge this summer.
Read MoreOki. A relatively small Blackfoot word—however it is packed with meaning and cultural significance. The word can mean many things in English including: ‘hello’, ‘greetings’ and ‘welcome’.
Read More