Archive for the 'lethbridge' Category

Historical Lethbridge anthem

Published on August 30, 2010 by Jonathan Růžek

I came across this YouTube video. He seems to know a lot about the history of Lethbridge! ^{[citation needed]}

Lethbridge Alberta was first known as “The Coal Banks”. The main industry in the early days of Lethbridge Alberta was coal, first discovered by Nicholas Sheran and then capitalized by the Galt Family. Coalbanks was renamed “Lethbridge” in 1906 when the Canadian Pacific Railroad was building track across Souther Alberta. They build the longest and tallest steel trestle bridge in the world across the coulees in Lethbridge Alberta and it was completed in 1909, still holding its records to this day. Lethbridge Alberta is a beautiful place when the snow melts in the summer because Lethbridge Alberta is founded on the banks of the Oldman River that snakes through Lethbridge on its way across southern Alberta. Lethbridge Alberta is now known more as a party town and its main industry is food processing. However, there may be oil around Lethbridge Alberta and this town may one day, boom again. Wait and see. Lethbridge Alberta is full of surprises. I verily enjoy the city of Lethbridge, Alberta. I invite you to have a look at Lethbridge Alberta yourself and learn more about Lethbridge Alberta from this song I wrote about Lethbridge Alberta.

Published in history and lethbridge. View Comments Tags: coalbanks, history.

I got a limo that’s 40 feet long

Published on August 28, 2010 by Jonathan Růžek

…or “I’m takin’ it easy, takin’ the bus”

But not really. This is a rant about my experience of taking L.A. Transit or whatever it’s now called – let’s say the bus – about a month ago. I felt like being green (more than just in the face) and adventurous; and because it was the middle of the summer, I wouldn’t have to freeze my derriere off waiting for one!

There were some issues I had before even stepping onto a bus, like how the stops don’t have schedules posted on them. Although the Ride Guide is available online as a PDF, and in print in some undisclosed locations, it is confusing! @chuchiface would agree

Now I’ve been told by Kim Siever, who has been taking the bus for about 12 years, that the city is developing an app or Google mashup that will give iPhone/Android/mobile users the ability to plan their routes much easier, I have no idea how far that is off. A little behind the times, Lethbridge.

So I had my university-aged sister explain the route I needed to take, which was actually quite simple to get to the college. Though it meant a lot of patience and just sitting. Good thing I brought a book. It took over an HOUR to get from Columbia Blvd. to the college, and I didn’t even have to switch buses! I could have been halfway to Calgary had I drove.

Route 12 basically takes the opposite the direction I needed to go and galavants around the westside before it stops at the university terminal. If only there were a complimentary route like it that went the opposite direction, it would shave off a lot of time. Or if I just rode my non-existent bike to the U of L…

I don’t understand how or why they picked their routes, but in the summer some stops only run every 30 minutes instead of the usual 15. More waiting around until I could take my return trip from the college terminal. And I totally forgot to pay the $2.25 fare on the way back. Take that!

Basically, this just re-enforced how much I like to drive. Too bad those Tesla Roadsters cost so much! There actually is a blue one that rides around town, by the way. I don’t want to take the bus again anytime soon. Sorry.

Published in downtown and lethbridge. View Comments Tags: rants, transit.

Leeroy likes landscapes looping Lethbridge

Published on June 16, 2010 by Jonathan Růžek

Published in environment and lethbridge. View Comments Tags: leeroy stagger, southern alberta.

Guest post: Some of my favourite places in Lethbridge

Published on March 29, 2010 by Damian Warszawski

Lethbian Lover’s note: Here’s a guest entry from one of my friends, Damian Warszawski, who recently blogged about his view on Lethbridge and has graciously allowed me to re-post it here!

Drinks & Laughs. Scenery & Family
Many people think that Lethbridge is a dreary windy hole of a town, I tend to agree but there is places that make this town worth wild. Living here most of my life I am ashamed to say I don’t know this town as well as I should, but it is getting easier by reading blogs from my cousin and my brothers friend. Hopefully this year I can get out more and experience what this town has to offer, whether it’s just going for a walk or seeing a show at a local bar. For now I will share with you two of my favourite places to relax, enjoy some drinks and love life.

Continue reading ‘Guest post: Some of my favourite places in Lethbridge’

Published in lethbridge and people. View Comments Tags: Backstreet, lethbian lovers, people.

Plan Your City “Ideas Book” available

Published on February 24, 2010 by Jonathan Růžek

Back in May, I wrote a post called “City squares want your circles,” which was about the Lethbridge ‘s “Plan Your City” initiative. Although I only participated in the “visioning workshops” (for the donuts and coffee), a number of Lethbians formed think tanks/circles and submitted their ideas to the city, which is now published online.

As part of the Plan Your City Municipal Development Plan / Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (MDP/ICSP), an estimated five hundred Lethbridge residents participated in City Circles, providing their insight into what it will take to make Lethbridge an even better place to live into the year 2050. In all, there were 48 City Circles who made a total of 55 submissions. This Ideas Book is a collection of those submissions.

But nothing I haven’t thought of already.

Ideas Book 2009 (PDF link)

Published in lethbridge. View Comments Tags: city circles, plan your city.

Lethbridge’s Straight Dope

Published on February 23, 2010 by Jonathan Růžek

If you’re looking to score some LSD, Layne Whipple is not your man. However, he passed along a rare treasure from days long past – one that smelled more like old books than anything else.

This little capsule was put on the streets by the Travel and Convention Association of Southern Alberta, showing that people weren’t always so tight-assed (but I guess it was the 70s, after all). Hit the jump to see its contents! Continue reading ‘Lethbridge’s Straight Dope’

Published in culture, history and lethbridge. View Comments Tags: drugs, history, lethridge, tourism.

An arts community?

Published on February 23, 2010 by Jonathan Růžek

Here’s a bit of surprising news from the Lethbridge Herald this morning:

In what promises to be a major downtown makeover, city council has enthusiastically endorsed a plan to build two major new arts facilities along a one-block plaza just east of Galt Gardens.

The two-phase plan is to begin with a new $12.6-million community arts centre on the eastern portion of the former IGA site by 2012, followed in subsequent years by a neighbouring performing arts centre. The latter would extend westward into the park, resulting in the closure of what is now a section of 7 Street South and creating a downtown arts district.

Local arts community leaders are lauding council’s decision, which was unanimous.

Downtown “revitalization” has always seemed like talk to me, but this is the positive sign that Lethbridge is actually becoming less hick moving forward. Hopefully, it also means there’s a place to display the large collection of art that both the university and college have locked away in their vaults.

Now if we could only get that third bridge…

Dramatic plans in store downtown

Published in arts, culture and lethbridge. View Comments Tags: arts, downtown.

Speak now, what brings you here?

Published on February 22, 2010 by Jonathan Růžek

On Facebook and Twitter the other day, I petitioned my dear followers to answer this question:

“What brought you to Lethbridge? What makes you stay? Good or bad – I’m curious to know!”

Here are a few of the more interesting responses:

	Sarah: My Dad was transferred here in 1998, and I fell in love with Lethbridge and its Arts community! It is a great size city to raise my children in, has great schools, wonderful people, and lots of wind to blow any worries away!

	Kelly: Schooling brought me here, career opportunities and my fiance (and our newly purchased house) keep us here.

	Kevin: Moved here for college and fell in love with the city. Such a great sense of community, and the people are fantastic! Graduated in April of 2009 and refused to leave.

	Michael: My job; I brought the Wife; the mortgage is currently keeping us there after my job was swallowed by the “economy” last summer.

More responses after the jump! Continue reading ‘Speak now, what brings you here?’

Published in lethbridge. View Comments Tags: lethbridge, surveys.

Lethbridge Pwns

Published on January 12, 2010 by Jonathan Růžek

With an upcoming refresh to the Canadian edition of Monopoly, you can throw around money like our very own city council! Though Lethbridge is one of many Canadian cities who are nominated to appear in the game, we Lethbians must vote for our city to secure it’s spot.

MONOPOLY is launching a new Canadian Edition and is inviting Canadians to vote for their favourite cities. The vote will determine the top 20 cities and the top 2 wildcard cities that will be the property spaces on the MONOPOLY Canada game board. Please vote for your friend’s cities or choose your own cities!

On a side thought, this reminds me of the “Lethbridge On Board” game from about six years back. Has anyone even played that?

Has our city got game? (via @LethbridgeNews)

Published in culture and lethbridge. View Comments Tags: games, voting.

I think I’m getting the black lung, pop

Published on May 13, 2009 by Jonathan Růžek

Although Lethbridge didn’t start off as a mining town, it’s well known for that. And the whiskey trade, train bridge, chinook winds and Pilsner beer. So it’s National Mining Week – a big deal for a town that once called itself “Coalbanks” (I think they changed the name because of the Inn’s reputation).