Our City

Why Lethbridge? (by Ric Swihart, Lethbridge Herald Reporter)

Home, they say, is where the heart is.

Of course, those of us born and raised in southern Alberta think it is a pretty amazing part of the world. Those who move here usually quickly learn to enjoy and love the community and the region in southern Alberta – especially in winters when the famous Chinook winds can change a deep freeze into a balmy winter day. The emergence of a vibrant wind mill industry foretells the story of winds in southern Alberta, and one reckons acceptance is at least partly learned.  But, then again, the local folklore indicates that if you don’t like the weather in southern Alberta, wait five minutes.

So what do we have here? It is a region and city that was built on the coal industry. It is also part of the famous Palliser Triangle, a large region stretching north to Saskatoon and east to Winnipeg that John Palliser before 1900 described as practically uninhabitable.  Pioneer farmers and ranchers rejected that assessment, and when the Mormons arrived from Utah with their irrigation expertise, agriculture took over as the economic engine. That remains to this day, bolstered by the majority of Canada’s irrigated land and the most diverse agricultural production in the nation.

Of course, Lethbridge has emerged in the world of business and technology. In fact, per capita it boasts one of the highest percentages of doctorates in the land.  But being local can taint one’s perspective of home. 

So when the nation’s largest federal agricultural research station on the eastern outskirts of the city named a new director one year, a man who had served across the nation and in foreign lands, the suggestion that he might become a bored manager struck a chord.  He said we locals don’t seem to realize what we have right under our noses.  And then he proceeded to call out the pluses he had determined in his short time in Lethbridge.  Ready for this?

He pointed to proximity – 125 miles from the economic centre of the province to Calgary, 65 miles to the 24-hour port-of-call leading to Great Falls in Montana and other points south, close to Waterton Lakes National Park which is partnered as the International Peace Park with Glacier National Park in Montana, two post-secondary educational institutions in Lethbridge College and University of Lethbridge, a vibrant public and separate school system complemented by several Christian schools, extensive live theatre venues, the Western Hockey League Lethbridge Hurricanes, a full complement of choice of churches in what many call the Bible Belt, a Big Band, the 10-day Kiwanis Music Festival, a great selection of high class golf courses . . . “I use all this to attract scientists and staff to the Lethbridge Research Centre.”

Add to that about 50 reservoirs made to complement the irrigation industry, and you not only have assured water supplies for about 48 communities in southern Alberta, you have a virtual water recreation wonderland that includes fishing summer and winter, boating, and real estate development with a shoreline.

And you talk with anybody involved with the Alberta Home Builder’s Association you quickly learn that Lethbridge has some of the best builders in the province. It is home to the Chinook Regional Hospital, 177 beds in a relatively new facility.  Better yet, jump in your vehicle and drive to Lethbridge and southern Alberta for a visit.  But be prepared to stay because southern Alberta and Lethbridge tends to grow on you fairly quickly.

Links

City of Lethbridge
www.lethbridge.ca

University of Lethbridge
www.uleth.ca

Lethbridge College
www.lethbridgecollege.ab.ca

Lethbridge Schools and Education
http://mymaxwellhouse.ca/info/education.html

Chinook Health Region
www.chr.ab.ca

Lethbridge Public Library
www.lethbridgepubliclibrary.ca

Sir Alexander Galt Museum and Archives
www.galtmuseum.com

Southern Alberta Art Gallery
www.saag.ca

Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden
www.nikkayuko.com

Fort Whoop-up Interpretive Centre
www.fortwhoopup.com

Lethbridge Hurricanes Hockey
www.lethbridgehurricanes.com

Lethbridge Bulls Baseball Club
www.bullsbaseball.com

Chinook Country Southwest Alberta
www.chinookcountry.com