LETHBRIDGE

'Lethbridge' is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada, and the largest city in southern Alberta. It is Alberta's fourth largest city by population after Calgary, Edmonton, and Red Deer. At 127.19 square kilometres (49.1 sq mi), it is the third largest in area after Calgary and Edmonton.
The city is near the Canadian Rockies, which provides the city with mild winters and a windy climate, and is 210 kilometres (130 mi) southeast of Calgary on the Oldman River.
The city developed from drift mines opened in the late 19th century and agriculture in the early 20th century. Half of the city's economy is based in the health, education, retail and hospitality sectors, and the top five employers are government based. It has grown into the commercial, financial, transportational and industrial centre of southern Alberta.
Lethbridge provides the only university in Alberta south of Calgary, and two of the three colleges in southern Alberta have campuses in the city. There are several cultural venues in the city, including performing art theatres, museums and sports centres.

History

Main articles: History of Lethbridge

After the US Army outlawed alcohol trading in 1869 with the Blackfeet Nation in Montana, traders John J. Healy and Alfred B. Hamilton started the whiskey trading post Fort Hamilton, which later came to be nicknamed Fort Whoop-Up.^[1]
The whiskey trade eventually led to the Cypress Hills massacre of many Assiniboine in 1873. The North West Mounted Police arrived in the area to stop the trade and establish order. The NWMP arrived at Fort Whoop-Up on 9 October 1874, and they continued to maintain a post and trade for the following 12 years.
Lethbridge developed from drift mines opened by Nicholas Sheran (1874) and the North Western Coal and Navigation Company (1882), whose president was William Lethbridge, from whom the city derives its name.^[2] By the twentieth century, the mines employed about 150 men and produced about 300 tonnes of coal each day. By the time production peaked during World War I, local collieries were the largest coal producers in the Northwest Territories.^[3] Increased oil and natural gas production after the war caused the decline of coal production, and the last mine in Lethbridge closed in 1957.
The first rail line in Lethbridge was built on 28 August 1885 by the Alberta Railway and Coal Company,¹ five years before they purchased the North Western Coal and Navigation Company.^[4] The rail industry's dependence of coal and the CPR's immigration efforts to settle southern Alberta led to Lethbridge becoming instrumental in the economic success of the region. After the CPR moved the divisional point of its Crowsnest Line from Fort Macleod to Lethbridge in 1905, the city became a regional centre for Southern Alberta; something the region lacked previously. In the mid-1980s, CPR moved the rail yards in downtown Lethbridge to nearby Kipp and Lethbridge ceased operating as a hub for rail traffic in the province.^[5]
Between 1907 and 1913, a development boom occurred in Lethbridge, making it the main marketing, distribution and service centre in southern Alberta. Such municipal projects as a water treatment plant, a power plant, a streetcar system, and exhibition buildings, as well as a construction boom and rising real estate prices transformed the mining town into a significant city.
Between World War I and World War II, however, the city experienced an economic slump. Development slowed, drought drove farmers from their farms, and coal mining rapidly declined from its peak before 1920. Following World War II, irrigation in the surrounding area caused the city's population to swell, which in turn boosted the local economy. Lethbridge College (previosuly Lethbridge Community College) opened in April 1957, and the University of Lethbridge in 1967.

Government

Lethbridge City Hall

Eight at-large aldermen and a mayor make up the Lethbridge City Council. Lethbridge elects a new government every three years, in October. The City of Lethbridge has an operating budget of C$200 million, more than half of which comes from property tax.^[6]
Lethbridgians elect representatives to the federal, provincial, and municipal levels of government. One Member of Parliament (MPs) representing Lethbridge sits in the House of Commons in Ottawa, and two members of Alberta's legislative assembly (MLAs), representing Lethbridge East and Lethbridge West, sit in the legislative assembly in Edmonton. Being Alberta's fourth most populous city, provincial offices are located in the city.

Geography and climate

Map of southern Alberta.

The city of Lethbridge is located at degrees 49.7° north latitude and 112.833° west longitude and covers an area of . The city is divided by the Oldman River; its valley has been turned into one of the largest urban park systems in North America at 1,600 hectares (4,000 ac) of protected land.^[7] The city is Alberta's fourth largest by population after Calgary, Edmonton, and Red Deer. It is the third largest in area after Calgary and Edmonton, and is located near the Canadian Rockies, 210 kilometres (130 miles) southeast of Calgary.

Map of Lethbridge

Lethbridge is split into three geographical areas: north, south and west. The Oldman River separates West Lethbridge from the other two. The Crowsnest Highway and the CPR rail line separate North and South Lethbridge.^[8] The newest of the three areas, West Lethbridge (pop. 27,154)^[9] is home to the University of Lethbridge. Much of the city's recent growth has been on the west side. It has the youngest population of the three. The north side (pop. 23,241) was originally populated by workers from local coal mines. It has the oldest population of the three areas and is home to multiple industrial parks and includes the former town of Hardieville, which was annexed by Lethbridge in 1978.^[10]^[11] South Lethbridge (pop. 28,318) is the commercial heart of the city. It contains the downtown core, as well as the bulk of retail and hospitality establishments. Lethbridge College is located here.

Climate

Lethbridge has a moderate continental climate with an average maximum temperature of 12.3°C (54.14°F) and an average minimum temperature of -1°C (30.2°F). Average precipitation amounts to 386.3 millimetres (15.21 in), but Lethbridge the second driest city in the country.¹² Lethbridge has an average wind speed of 18.20 km/h (11.31 mph) and places second in the country for the most windy days of 40 km/h (25 mph) or more.^[12]
Its high elevation of 929 metres (3,048 ft) and close proximity to the Rocky Mountains provides Lethbridge with summers relatively cooler than other locations in the prairies.^[13] These factors protect the city from strong northwest and southwest winds and contribute to frequent chinooks during the winter. Lethbridge winters have the highest temperatures in the prairies.^[14]

Weather averages

Month	Record Low (°C)	Average Low (°C)	Average Temp (°C)	Average High (°C)	Record High (°C)	Average Rainfall (mm)	Average Snow (cm)
January	-42.8 (Jan 3, 1950)	-13.8	-7.8	-1.8	16.7 (Jan 19, 1944)	0.1	21.9
February	-42.2 (Feb 9, 1939)	-10.7	-4.6	1.5	21.8 (Feb 27, 1992)	0.4	13.5
March	-38.0 (Mar 8, 2002)	-6.5	-0.2	6.0	26.8 (Mar 30, 2004)	1.4	25.5
April	-25.6 (Apr 11, 1940)	-0.9	6.0	12.9	31.1 (Apr 28, 1939)	16.1	16.3
May	-11.7 (May 1, 1954)	-4.2	11.3	18.2	34.2 (May 30, 1986)	49.4	4.0
June	-1.7 (Jun 1, 1951)	8.6	15.5	22.3	38.3 (Jun 23, 1941)	63.0	0.0
July	0.9 (Jul 16, 1999)	10.5	18.0	25.5	39.4 (Jul 10, 1973)	47.5	0.0
August	-1.0 (Aug 25, 1992)	10.0	17.7	25.4	38.9 (Aug 3, 2001)	45.1	0.8
September	-9.4 (Sep 25, 1972)	5.1	12.6	20.1	36.7 (Sep 3, 1950)	37.6	2.1
October	-26.7 (Oct 31, 1984)	0.0	7.0	14.0	31.7 (Oct 4, 1943)	8.8	10.4
November	-34.7 (Nov 21, 1996)	-7.2	-1.5	4.3	22.8 (Nov 6, 1949)	1.2	17.3
December	-42.8 (Dec 29, 1968)	-12.0	-6.2	-0.2	19.6 (Dec 30, 1984)	0.5	18.8
Year	-42.8 (Dec 29, 1968)	-1.76	5.65	12.35	39.4 (Jul 10, 1973)	271.1	130.6

Weather records

Type	Record	Date
Hottest temperature	39.4°C (103°F)	July 10, 1973
Coldest temperature	-42.8°C (-45°F)	January 3, 1950
Hottest humidex	40.9°C (106°F)	July 11, 2002
Coldest windchill	-55.7°C (-68°F)	December 28, 1968
Most rain in one day	85.4 mm (3.36 in)	May 23, 1980
Most snow in one day	55.1 cm (21.7 in)	September 21, 1968
Deepest snow cover	86.0 cm (34 in)	April 30, 1967
Highest sustained wind	121 km/h (75 mph)	November 19, 1962
Highest wind gust	171 km/h (106 mph)	November 19, 1962
Highest solar radiation	17.4 RF4	July 14, 1975

Economy

Main articles: Economy of Lethbridge

Lethbridge is southern Alberta's commercial, distribution, financial and industrial centre (although Medicine Hat plays a similar role in southeastern Alberta). It has a trading area population of 275,000 (including parts of British Columbia and Montana) and provides jobs for up to 80,000 people who commute to the city from a radius of 100 kilometres (60 mi).
Traditionally, Lethbridge has had an agriculture-based economy; however, as the city has grown in recent years, it has diversified its economy. Half of the city's industry is in the health, education, retail and hospitality sectors, and the top five employers are government based.^[15]
Lethbridge has been the home of several national companies. From its founding in 1935, Canadian Freightways based its head office in Lethbridge until moving its operations to Calgary in 1948; its call centre remains in Lethbridge.^[16] Taco Time Canada was based in the city from 1978–1995 before moving to Calgary.^[17] Minute Muffler, which began in 1969, is based in Lethbridge.^[18] International shipping company H & R Transport has been based in the city since 1955.^[19] Braman Furniture, which has locations in Manitoba and Ontario, has been headquartered in Lethbridge since 1991.^[20]
Lethbridge serves as a hub for commercial activity in the region, providing services and amenities for the region. Much of the region's transportation needs are concentrated in or near the city including Greyhound service, four provincial highways, rail service and an airport. In 2004, the police services of Lethbridge and Coaldale combined to form the Lethbridge Regional Police Service.^[21] As well, the city provides municipal water to Coaldale, Coalhurst, Diamond City, Iron Springs, Shaughnessy and Turin.^[22]
In 2002, the municipal government organized ''Economic Development Lethbridge'', a body responsible for the promoting and developing the city's commercial interests.^[23] Two years later, the city joined in a partnership with 24 other local communities to create an economic development alliance called ''SouthGrow'', representing a population of over 140,000.^[24] In 2006, Economic Development Lethbridge partnered with SouthGrow Regional Initiative and ''Alberta SouthWest Regional Alliance'' to create the ''Southern Alberta Alternative Energy Partnership''. This partnership is responsible for the developing and attracting alternative energy business, including wind power, solar power and biofuel in the region.^[25]

Demographics

2001 distribution of ethnic population in Lethbridge

In 2007, Lethbridge had a population of 81,692.^[26] The 2006 federal census reported a population of 74,637 in the city and 95,196 in the metropolitan area.^[27] In 2001, Lethbridge had a predominantly white population with roughly 1 out of 10 persons being non-European.^[28] Of those, over a third were aboriginal, most of whom came from the nearby Peigan and Kainai nations. Of the remaining 63%, Chinese and Japanese made up the largest portion at over 1,200 each.

2001 distribution of religions in Lethbridge.

The most commonly observed faith in Lethbridge is Christianity. According to the 2001 federal census, 50,245 residents, representing 75.8% of respondents, indicated that they were Christian. 22.3% of Lethbridgians reported no religious affiliation, which is higher than the national average of 16.3%. The percentage of residents reporting other religions amounted to nearly 2%, including Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Jews and Sikhs.
While Statistics Canada exclude numbers of Mormons separately in their census reports, an estimated 5,500 adherents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Community of Christ live in Lethbridge.^[29] At seven percent of the city's population, this is significantly higher than the national average of 0.5%.

Culture

Lethbridge was designated a Cultural Capital of Canada for the 2004-2005 season.^[30] The city is home to venues and organizations promoting the arts. Founded in 1957, the Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge is the largest organization in Lethbridge dedicated to preserving and enhancing the local arts.^[31] The Southern Alberta Ethnic Association (Multicultural Heritage Centre) promotes multiculturalism and ethnic heritage in the community.

Visual arts

Visual artists in Lethbridge range from nationally recognized artists, emerging contemporary artists, to western and recreational painters. There are three major museum/galleries in Lethbridge: the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG) is a contemporary gallery; the Bowman Arts Centre, administrated under the Allied Arts Council's aegis, operates three galleries; and the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery highlights work from its historical and contemporary art collection.^[32]

Music

The Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra has been performing in the city since 1960. It has produced spin-off music groups, such as the Lethbridge Musical Theatre and Southern Alberta Chamber Orchestra.^[33] Vox Musica is a community choir based at the University of Lethbridge and has been performing since 1984.

Theatre

In addition to productions presented by the University of Lethbridge's theatre department, Lethbridge is home to the New West Theatre, which produces seven shows annually including original music revues and new Canadian drama. New West Theatre performs at the Genevieve E. Yates Memorial Centre, using its two theatres: the 500-seat proscenium Yates Theatre and the 180-seat black box Sterndale Bennet Theatre.^[34]

Sports and recreation

Henderson Lake

Lethbridge has designated 16% of the land within city boundaries as parkland, including the 755 hectare (1,865 acre) Oldman River valley parks system.^[35] It has facilities for field sports and baseball, a disc golf course, a skate park, a BMX track, a climbing wall, a dozen tennis courts, and seven pools. It is home to three golf courses (including the award-winning Paradise Canyon Golf Resort) and within of several others.
Built for the 1975 Canada Games, the ENMAX Centre is Lethbridge's multipurpose arena. The 6,500-seat facility has hosted concerts, three-ring circuses, multicultural events, national curling championships, basketball events, banquets, skating events and the Lethbridge Hurricanes, a major WHL franchise. The arena has a running track, racquetball and squash courts, and a full-size ice rink.^[36] There is an outdoor sports field with capacity for 2,000 people adjacent to the centre. In 1997, the 58,000 square foot Community Savings Place (formerly the Lethbridge Soccer Centre) was built directly south of the ENMAX Centre and added two regulation size indoor soccer pitches to the complex.^[37]
There are several venues in and near Lethbridge for winter sports. There are six indoor ice arenas in the city with a total ice area of 11,220 square metres (120,766 sq ft) and a total seating capacity of 8,149. Other than the ENMAX Centre, all ice surfaces are available from October to April only. Lethbridge is 150 kilometres (93 mi) east of the Castle Mountain ski resort.

Current amateur teams
Team	Sport	League
Lethbridge Bulls	Baseball	Western Major Baseball League
Lethbridge Hurricanes	Hockey	Western Hockey League

Major attractions

High Level Bridge near downtown Lethbridge.

The Lethbridge Viaduct, commonly known as the ''High Level Bridge'', is a steel trestle bridge. It was completed in 1909 on what was then the city's western edge.
Indian Battle Park, located in the coulees of the Oldman River, commemorates the last battle between the Cree and the Blackfoot First Nations in 1870.
Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden, located in south Lethbridge, was opened in 1967 in celebration for the Canadian centennial. It was a royal event with Japan’s Prince and Princess Takamatsu leading a list of special guests.

Fort Whoop-Up in Lethbridge.

Originally known as Fort Hamilton, Fort Whoop-Up was a centre of illegal activities during the late 19th century. It was first built in 1869 by J.J. Healy and A.B. Hamilton as a whiskey post and was destroyed by fire a year later. A second, sturdier structure later replaced the fort.
Galt Museum & Archives is the largest museum in the Lethbridge area. Its building once served as the main hospital in the city during the late 19th century and early 20th century. It has an extensive archive collection and hosts exhibits. Between 2004–2006, it underwent major renovation, which included a 5,000-square foot exhibit centre, a larger store, and a 2,500-square foot education centre.
Paradise Canyon Golf Resort, located in the city's southwest, is a world-class golf course with amenities available in larger cities. The eighteen-hole course lies next to the Oldman River.

Skyline

Skyline of downtown Lethbridge.

There are several prominent structures on Lethbridge's skyline, some of which are unique to the city. One prominent landmark is the post office. While less recognized as the High Level Bridge, it is one of the most distinctive buildings in Lethbridge. The four-storey building was built in 1912 and is crowned by a functioning clock tower.
Other prominent buildings include office towers; the water tower, which was originally built in 1958 and sold to a private developer who converted it into a restaurant; and the Alberta Terminals grain elevators.

Education

The public Lethbridge School District and the separate Catholic Holy Spirit Division administer grades Kindergarten through 12 locally. The Palliser School Division, which is based in Lethbridge, administer public primary and secondary education in the outlying areas. The Third Academy private school has a campus in Lethbridge.
Lethbridge is home to Lethbridge College, founded in 1957, and the University of Lethbridge, founded in 1967. Red Crow Community College has a campus in the city. During the 2003–2004 school year, the post secondary student population in the city was approximately 14,000 at both the University of Lethbridge and the Lethbridge Community College, which is roughly 20% of the city's population.^[38]

Transportation

Main articles: Transportation in Lethbridge

Mass transit in Lethbridge consists of forty buses (with an average age of ten years) covering the city on over a dozen routes.^[39] Traditionally, bus routes in the city started and ended downtown. In the early twenty-first century, however, Lethbridge Transit introduced cross-town and shuttle routes.
The Parks and Recreation department maintains the citywide, thirty-kilometre, pedestrian/cyclist Coal Banks Trail system (map). The system was designed to connect the Oldman River valley with other areas of the city, including Pavan Park in the north, Henderson Lake in the east, Highways 4 and 5 in the south and a loop in West Lethbridge (including University Drive and McMaster Blvd).^[40]
Four provincial highways (3, 4, 5, and 25) run through or terminate in Lethbridge. This has led to the creation of major arterial roads (including Mayor Magrath Drive, University Drive and Scenic Drive). This infrastructure, and its location on the CANAMEX Corridor, has led to Lethbridge being a major shipping destination, with shipping lines having depots located in the city.
Lethbridge is 100 kilometres (62 mi) north of the United States border via Highways 4 and 5; and 210 kilometres (130 mi) south of Calgary via Highways 2 and 3. Highways 2, 3 and 4 form part of the CANAMEX trade route between Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Lethbridge is very close to the Lethbridge County Airport and the CPR rail yards in Kipp. The rail yards were moved to Kipp, just west of the city, from downtown Lethbridge in 1983 to make way for commercial expansion.^[41] The county airport provides commercial flights to several Alberta cities (such as Calgary and Edmonton) and Mexico, as well as private and charter flights elsewhere. The airport provides customs services for flights coming in from the United States.

Sister cities

★

Anyang (China)

★

Culver City, California (United States)

★

Timashyovsk (Russia)

★

Towada, Aomori (Japan)

Police services

★ Lethbridge Regional Police Service

★ Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Local media

Main articles: List of Lethbridge media outlets

Notes

External links

★ City of Lethbridge - Official website for the city

★ Economic Development Lethbridge - Official economic development website

★ Lethbridge Herald

★ Statistics Canada community profile

★ Lethbridge Regional Police Service

★ Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge

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