The Canada Games Sportsplex first opened to the public in the fall of 1974. Construction of this modern facility (known later as the Enmax Arena) ushered in a new era for the City of Lethbridge. From sports franchises to major cultural and entertainment events, this building has played an important role within the community for half a century. Building a Legacy: The Sportsplex at 50 celebrates the 50th anniversary of this important facility and the many events that have taken place there.

Through a combination of objects, archival sources, newspaper articles and oral history interviews, this exhibition portrays the American Hotel and its history as a contact zone from the 1950s to the 1980s through changing ownership, exploring patron interactions and examining police intervention.

Using moccasin designs as an identifier, this exhibit highlights Niitsitapi strength and resiliency.

Although balancing service and cost has been an ongoing challenge, streetcars and buses have provided Lethbridge residents with mobility, and access to work, shop, play and engage with their community.

For women, finding a good set of pockets in clothing is similar to finding a needle in a haystack—but this pocket dilemma is not new. The exhibit traces issues of gender and fashion through to the mid-twentieth century, exploring how pockets became symbols of independence for women.

Through the lens of his own musical journey, education and career, guest curator Ira Provost delves into the significance of Blackfoot music, its origins and its influence on his life story. This exhibition explores the winter count of his music, biocultural heritage, education, career, culture and its place within the Southern Alberta landscape.

Between 1939 and 1945 Lethbridge was absorbed into the “home front” culture of the Second World War. Despite wartime restrictions and visible reminders of the war in the city, live music brought people together for some welcome entertainment and a lively social dance scene. This exhibition highlights collections and stories from some of the region’s big names in big band during the early 1940s.

This collaboration with the Lethbridge Historical Society presents personal stories of labour in the early twentieth century, a time when the work environment was rapidly changing in North America. The exhibit highlights residents of southwestern Alberta whose work changed the way they and others laboured.