Behind the Scenes of Lethbridge's History

History is more than buildings and antiques. It’s also about the people who came before us and the experiences they had. From May 1 to 9, we have the opportunity to learn about our collective past by attending Historic Lethbridge Week.

Hear from a Japanese Canadian who was placed in an internment camp during World War II and learn about Canadian war brides. A screening of a 1945 Oscar-winning movie and a 1940s dance hall party will help you re-live the fun side of the war years.

Demonstrations of Sumi-e (traditional Japanese painting style), Bonseki (art of creating landscapes on black lacquer trays using white sand, pebbles, and small rocks) and Ikebana (flower arrangement) get you in touch with your artistic side.

Other events such as cemetery tours and a peek at the Galt Museum’s collections vault allow a glimpse of often unseen parts of history.

Experience the stories behind the places and things that represent Alberta’s history during Historic Lethbridge Week.

Other locations in the province also offer similar historic festivals:

• Edmonton and Northern Alberta Historic Festival, July 9 - 18, 2010
• Doors Open Edmonton, July 9 - 11, 2010
• Historic Calgary Week, July 23-August 2, 2010

Art vs Architecture at the Art Gallery of Alberta

I admit it. I went to the Art Gallery of Alberta to see the architecture not the art. That might seem like sacrilege to art lovers, but I was very excited to see the building that has transformed downtown Edmonton into a more hip and avant-garde destination.

The building, created by Randall Stout Architects, Inc., incorporates stainless steel, zinc, wood, cement and glass into a very fluid, modern and stylish design. The interior of the art gallery features a 190-metre undulating strip of steel that winds through the building’s three floors of exhibition space. The free flowing nature of the feature pays homage to the North Saskatchewan River and Aurora Borealis. The building itself is a modern art sculpture of metal and glass that blurs the line between art and architecture. Although the initial attraction was the architecture, the art also got my attention. I spent a while admiring the intricacy of Goya’s prints and I was pleasantly surprised by the Degas exhibit. I’m not a fan of Degas’ paintings and drawings but I fell in love with his sculptures.

The Karsh exhibit documented the illustrious career of one of Canada’s most famous portrait photographers. Karsh captured the essence of many of the world’s most influential scientists, artists and political leaders. I learned the famous photos of Churchill and Einstein that I’ve seen many times over the years are Karsh’s work. My love of photography made this exhibit the highlight of my visit.

I even ventured out of my comfort zone and experienced the gallery’s sound exhibits. The Murder of Crows and the Storm Room showcase the art in sound.

The Art Gallery of Alberta does what a good art gallery should – encourages visitors to find a new appreciation for art, learn something new and broaden their horizons. So, although I initially went for the architecture, in the end I stayed for the art.

See more photos of the Art Gallery of Alberta in the sidebar on the right side of the page.

Out of this World, But Close to Home

While most people are yearning for the days to get longer in the spring, I want the long dark nights to hang on for just a little longer. That way I can enjoy the night sky at the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory (RAO).

If you thought world-class observatories were only found in Hawaii or California, think again. The RAO is in our back yard. The observatory, operated by the University of Calgary, is less than 10 minutes from the city limits.

Stimulate Your Mind
The RAO hosts monthly open houses featuring university researchers speaking about astronomy-related topics. Recent topics have highlighted the northern lights, radio astronomy and the southern skies. The agenda for 2010 includes the Hubble telescope and First Nations astronomy.

Interactive displays in the interpretive centre are designed to interest children, but even grown-ups will be fascinated by the transparent globe that shows the movement of the Earth and constellations.

See With Your Own Eyes
At the open houses, volunteers set up portable telescopes on the observation terrace so that visitors can see Saturn’s rings, a nebula or even the International Space Station with their own eyes. The volunteers are very patient with newbies (like me) who don’t even know which end of the telescope to look into!

Experience the Research Telescopes
The interpretive centre and the portable telescopes are interesting, but the absolute highlight for me is the research telescopes. Like most people, my experience with telescopes is limited to portable varieties. Not many people get the chance to see big research-quality telescopes.

The coolest part of the experience is that visitors are allowed to get close to the telescopes. At the Clark-Milone telescope you can stand inside the dome and see the telescope mount swivel as the telescope focuses on new coordinates.

At the Baker-Nunn telescope you can climb up into the dome to see the telescope if you like. The Baker-Nunn telescope was originally used to track spy satellites during the Cold War. Now it the only telescope in Canada and one of only a few telescopes in the world to track asteroids on a collision course with Earth.

The ARCT telescope is Canada’s largest infrared telescope. With a primary mirror diameter of 1.8 metres, it is also one of the two largest optical telescopes in all of Canada. In the darkness of the dome it’s difficult to get an idea of what the ARCT looks like, but if you stand below it as the mounting structure moves, it sure sounds big.

If you can, try to attend an open house when the telescopes are available for public viewing. The next open house is April 24. Alternatively, you can book a private tour during the day to really see what the telescopes look like.

You don’t have to travel far to have an out of this world experience.

An Afternoon at the Calgary Farmers' Market

What a nice way to spend an afternoon. Tasting food samples, talking with enthusiastic vendors and browsing through stalls filled with interesting craft items. I like the idea of supporting local farmers, producers and artists and what better way to do that than visiting a farmers’ market.

The Calgary Farmers’ Market has the most diverse range of ethnic specialties I’ve seen at a market. Greek, Indian, Cuban, Ukrainian, Mexican, Italian, Chinese just to name a few. I walked away with a variety of dishes from around the world.

I was also surprised at the lineup in front of Simple Simon Pies. Customers were waiting 2 people deep and about 10 across just to place orders for Simple Simon’s meat and fruit pies. After tasting a sample I could see why. Another highlight was the kettle corn from the Sugar Creek Kettle Corn Co. The light, fluffy popcorn with subtle hints of sweet and salty made it the best kettle corn I’ve ever tasted.

The market is also filled with passionate and knowledgeable vendors. I was so impressed with the Old Country Sausage Shop’s commitment to keep fillers, binders and MSG out of their products that I purchased some of their Moroccan sausage. After talking with the folks at Patsy Clark Farms I decided to be adventurous and try Ostrich burgers.

In addition to food products, the market also offers a selection of craft items like painted glassware, jewelry and art.

By the time I left the market my bags were filled with goodies. The only thing I would have done differently is leaving time at the end of the afternoon to stop for a beer at the nearby Wild Rose Brewery.

The Hunt is on for Easter Activities

With Easter on the horizon, I’ve been thinking about activities that families can do to have some fun for Easter. Many major attractions in Alberta have kid-friendly events planned during the Easter weekend.

Calgary

• Munch on Easter Brunch at Heritage Park and participate in a scavenger hunt and traditional Easter egg decorating. Sunday, April 4
• Kids can meet Peter Rabbit, enter the colouring contest and enjoy face painting, crafts and games at Fort Calgary’s Spring Fever. Sunday, April 4
• At the Calgary’s Zoo’s Easter Eggstravaganza, families can enjoy treats of many kinds - entertainment, the Cadbury scavenger hunt and personalized cookie treats. Friday, April 2 and Saturday, April 3

Edmonton

• An afternoon of old-fashioned fun awaits at Rutherford House. Taste cookies baked in the wood-burning stove and find historically-coloured Easter eggs. Sunday, April 4
• At Fort Edmonton Park’s Sweet Treat Hide and Seek, kids can exchange eggs found on the Easter egg hunt for treats. There will also be storytelling, a petting zoo, and a rabbit jumping demonstration. Saturday, April 3

Grand Prairie

• Grand Prairie’s Muskoseepi Park is the site of an Easter Eggstravaganza with a bunny display, cookie decorating, games, Easter egg hunt and a visit by the Easter Bunny. Saturday, April 3
  

Lethbridge

• Dye eggs and snap photos with the Easter Bunny at the Galt Museum’s Annual Eggstravaganza. Saturday, April 3

These activities are sure to keep you hopping.

Ice Golf Baby

Golf on a frozen lake in the middle of winter. Can you say f-f-f-f-fore?

My friend Mike does the wackiest things. Last weekend he participated in an ice golf tournament on Pigeon Lake. When I asked him why he did it he replied, "Cuz it's crazy fun."

Golfers make their way around a course marked out by old Christmas trees and putting greens made of indoor/outdoor carpeting. I'm told you don't have to be an especially skilled golfer because you are only allowed to use two irons and a putter. You're not even required to have an eagle eye to spot the little white golf ball on the snow because coloured balls are used.

The tournament draws around 200 people for golf, dinner and a chance to thumb your nose at Old Man Winter. Are you game?

Check out some of the creative costumes and methods of transporting beverages around the course.

A Fruitful Endeavour: Alberta's Cottage Wineries

When people think of wine, they don’t usually think of Alberta. Two local cottage wineries are changing people’s minds using Alberta-grown organic fruit to craft a surprising range of fruit wine.

I think most people assume that wines made from fruit like wild cherries, apples, strawberries, and raspberries are sweet and syrupy dessert wines. Although many are fine examples of dessert wine, the surprise is that many of the wines are medium-dry or off-dry and pair nicely with meals of pasta, Asian food, pork, red meats and salad.

In central Alberta, Brosseau’s en Sante Winery is using some unusual ingredients to make their refreshing fruit wines. In addition to typical fruits like apples and saskatoons, they use rhubarb, honey and even alfalfa hay!

Lovers of port will appreciate the fortified dessert wines made by Strathmore’s Field Stone Fruit Wines. For tastings of their entire selection of wines, drop in to their on-site wine store between May and September or call during the off-season to make an appointment.

You can find these wines at some Alberta farmers’ markets and in select liquor stores. Vendor information is listed on each winery’s website.

Try Alberta’s fruit wines tonight and sample a taste of Alberta in a way you thought you never would.