Lethbridge

The largest city within Alberta's southern area is Lethbridge. It is the 3rd largest city in the province following Edmonton and Calgary and the fourth biggest population in the province. During 2004 to 2005, the city became known as the "Cultural Capital of Canada," the city is home to various venues and events used for advertising the arts. The Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge is the biggest group that is devoted to preserving the local arts. Southern Alberta Art Gallery houses contemporary and modern art pieces; the Bowman Arts Centre has three galleries, and the University of Lethbridge Art gallery has contemporary exhibitions which comprise works from its many Americans, Canadians and European art collections. Music is also an important part of the city's culture, and the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra has been around since the year 1960. Its spin-off music groups are the Southern Alberta Chamber Orchestra and Lethbridge Musical Theatre. A part of University of Lethbridge's choir is Vox Musica, while the New West Theatre is the university's theatre division. The Genevieve E. Yates Memorial Centre comprises two theatres: the 180-seat black box Sterndale Bennet Theatre and Yates Theatre.

The city of Lethbridge has a lot of historical highlights. Among the most common ones is its steel trestle bridge: the Lethbridge Viaduct (likewise commonly called the High Level Bridge). The last battle between the Blackfoot First Nations and Cree during 1870 is honored at the Indian Battle Park, in the coulees of the Oldman River. Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden (south of Lethbridge) was opened during 1967 so as to celebrate the centennial event that was attended by Japan's Prince and Princess Takamatsu. Galt Museum and Archives is considered to be the biggest museum in the Lethbridge area, and its building was utilized before as a hospital during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Various well-known structures comprise the Alberta Terminals grain elevators and the water tower.

The majority of the jobs based in Lethbridge is based in the sector of trades and services, with a larger emphasis on finance/insurance, food processing, real estate, transportation, construction, and public sector services. There are several national companies that have their head office in the city of Lethbridge. They comprise Taco Time Canada, the Canadian Freightways, H&R Transport and Minute Muffler. In the year 2006, the Economic Development Lethbridge had a joint partnership with Alberta SouthWest Regional Alliance and SouthGrow Regional Initiative to create the Southern Alberta Alternative Energy Partnership. Their amalgamation promotes alternative energy, such as solar power, wind power and biofuel. In 2007, it was ranked as 4th amongst Canadian economic development groups for "volume of capital investment and job creation" by Site Selection magazine, and in 2007-2008, it won first place at the Economic Developers Association of Canada Awards.