Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Genealogy

Lethbridge
Lethbridge is the largest city in southern Alberta, Canada. It is also the fourth-largest city in Alberta by population (after Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer), and the third-largest city by area (after Calgary and Edmonton). Alberta's southernmost city, Lethbridge lies 205 km southeast of Calgary and 90 km north of the United States border. It is roughly mid-way between the borders with Saskatchewan on the east and British Columbia on the west.

Lethbridge straddles the Old Man River, and its most magnificent characteristic is its coulees — a network of large rolling hills that were formed by glacial spill water over ten thousand years ago. Crossing the coulees and river is the world's largest High Level Bridge — an impressive structure at 314 feet.

Lethbridge is the commercial, financial, transportation and industrial centre of southern Alberta. The city's economy developed from drift mining for coal in the late 19th century and agriculture in the early 20th century. Half of the workforce is employed in the health, education, retail and hospitality sectors, and the top five employers are government-based.

Cultural and recreational venues in the city include performing art theatres, a symphony orchestra, museums, sports centres, a Japanese Garden, and Henderson Lake Park. Virtual Field Trip of Lethbridge

Attractions
During the Second World War, Japanese Canadians were forcibly relocated from the west coast to the Lethbridge area where they were made to work as farm labourers. This accounts for a strong Japanese cultural presence today, a fine example being the impressive Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden. Also standing as a symbol for amends now made, the garden's name means Japanese and Canadian friendship.

Education
University of Lethbridge

Lethbridge Community College

Reeves College, Lethbridge Campus

Cemeteries
Lethbridge Cemeteries

Church Records, Historical
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1912-1948

Knox Presbyterian Church, 1886-1908

Knox United Church of Canada, 1928-1941

Saint Patrick Roman Catholic Church, 1874-1911

Southminster United Church of Canada, 1938-1952

Wesley Methodist Church, 1896-1919

Wesley United Church of Canada, 1928-1941

These are all available on film through the Family History Library

Some Lethbridge church records are on microfilm at the Family History Library

Climate
Lethbridge is known as a windy city — in fact it is the second most windy city in Canada. It is dry and sunny, and receives the second most sun of any city in Canada.

Lethbridge enjoys an unique phenomenon known as the Chinook winds. Characterized by a highly visible "Chinook Arch" in the western sky, warm Pacific winds flow over the Canadian Rocky Mountains onto the Alberta prairies. These winds can raise the temperature from freezing to melting in a matter of hours, providing welcome relief from the rigors of the Canadian winter.

Genealogy
Alberta Family Histories Society

Alberta Genealogy Society

Lethbridge &amp; District Branch AGS

Alberta GenWeb

Galt Museum &amp; Archives

Lethbridge FamilySearch Center

History
Fort Whoop-Up National Historic Site

Sir Alexander Galt Museum &amp; Archives

Newspapers
The Lethbridge Herald