University of Lethbridge
Department of Geography
Spatial Organization of Economic Activity - Geography 2210
The Urban Landscape of Downtown Lethbridge
The purpose of this assignment is to sensitize you to the richness of the economic and cultural
landscape that we take for granted simply because it is so familiar. Along the way you should
observe and question many things that you have never seen before. In Yogi Berra's words, "You
can see a lot by looking."
But be sure to confine yourself to passive observation. Please do not intrude on any private
property; do not interview or question any merchants or residents; and do not voice any audible
opinions about people, their property or homes. To prepare for the field trip, especially if you are
not very familiar with Lethbridge, you may wish to read “Industrial Development of Lethbridge:
A Geographical Interpretation” which is linked to the course web page.
Dress for the weather, wear comfortable footgear, and bring a pad and pencil. (Pens do not work
well in wet or cold conditions.) Each person should take detailed field notes. Start the trip early
enough that it can be completed in daylight, be careful crossing streets and be sure not to do the
trip by yourself.
The field trip starts at the extreme west end of 4th Avenue South at the south-west corner of the
parking lot behind the Lethbridge Lodge. This self-guided field trip must be done in groups of
two or three at any convenient time, ideally on a weekday. The guided field trip is scheduled for
Sunday, September 21, starting at 2:00 and lasting until about 5:00.
The Human Imprint on the Coulees
1. From the south-west corner of the parking lot behind the Lethbridge Lodge, scramble down
the little beaten path to the very edge of the coulee slope. Observe the panorama to the west,
south, and east from the near distance to the far distance. Discussion at this point will centre on
the importance of perspective on landscape interpretation, the early history of Lethbridge, the
human impact on the coulee landscape and the multiple nuclei theory of urban residential
structure.
2. Walk back up the little rise to the parking lot behind the Lethbridge Lodge and go north
around the west end of the Lethbridge Lodge over the low concrete wall and across to the northwest corner of the Day’s Inn parking lot. Pause at the bench to view the cottonwoods in the
valley at the former site of the Coalbanks mining camp and the tree beds above the brewery
garden. Which trees are a natural part of the landscape and which are the result of human
activity? Note the high level railway bridge and the tipple that marks Galt #8, Lethbridge’s last
operating coal mine. When was the bridge completed? When was the mine closed?
3. Continue north across 3rd Avenue, along the wall of the River Ridge condominium which runs
behind Wendy’s and the Shell gas bar, pausing again at the gate of the condominium. Why is the
condominium protected by these walls? Discussion here will centre on walled and gated “adult
lifestyle” communities.
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Functional Change in the "Zone in Transition"
4. Walk east on 2nd Avenue, crossing Scenic Drive. Observe the remaining houses on the south
side of 2nd Avenue. The roofline of Number 214 has a distinctive saltbox shape. Consider the
front and side yard setbacks, floor area, foundations and windows of these houses. How do they
compare to more modern suburban houses? Can you observe evidence of functional change in
these dwellings?
5. Continue to the corner of 2nd Avenue and 3rd Street. Observe the three storey building on the
northwest corner. Known as the Castle Hotel, it was considered to be a "first class commercial
hotel" when it was built in 1909. It was a run-down rooming house in the 1970s when demolition
was considered. Describe its present function and condition. What evidence leads you to these
conclusions? Look at 200 and 202 3rd Street. Is residential land use invading office land use? Or
vice versa? What complementary land uses might have influenced the location of number 200?
(Hint: that big low building just beyond Liquidation World is the County Courthouse.)
The Central Business District
6. Continue east on 2nd Avenue and cross 3rd Street. Observe the parking for Chancery Court
tenants and Lethbridge's one block Chinatown. (Chancery Court is the brick office building at
the south-west corner of 3rd Street and 3rd Avenue.) The building at 310 2nd Avenue (1924) has a
recessed second storey balcony reminiscent of turn of the century architecture in South China.
(This feature can also be seen on some of the older buildings in Vancouver's Chinatown.) The
upper storey is the meeting house of the Chi Kung Tong (Chinese Freemasons). Can you see any
masonic symbols on the building? What is the general condition and commercial function of the
buildings on this street? Discussion at this point will centre on the concentric zone theory of
urban social structure and the “Restricted Area” (West of 4th Street from 1st to 6th Avenues).
7. Continue south on 2nd Avenue. When you reach 4th street, look south and note how 4th Street
was blocked off when the Lethbridge Centre was built. Observe the fire hall (1909) and note its
new plaque. What is its present function? What other ethnic groups seem drawn to this area?
Discussion at this point will centre on historical preservation and conservation.
8. Continue east and cross 5th Street into Galt Gardens. Note the block front from 4th Street to 3rd
Street. What is the condition and function of these structures? What was the former function of
302 1st Avenue? Are these land uses reminiscent of the process depicted in Fig. 10.22 of your
course text book?
9. Walk through the Pergola and over to the water feature: Rotary Centennial Plaza. How might
these structures help to revitalize Galt Gardens? Discussion here will centre on urban renewal
initiatives for Lethbridge’s largest downtown park.
10. Walk north, observing the exterior of Park Place Mall.1 The mall has an eclectic style of
architecture that some have described as post-modern. Does the mall appear to be an integral
part of the commercial streetscape? Discussion at this point will centre on the Centresite
Should you venture into Park Place Mall, be sure to examine the old photographs around the
entrances to the public washrooms near the food court.
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concept, Lethbridge Centre and Park Place as downtown retail “anchors” and on the
private/public spaces created in downtown shopping malls.
11. Turn left at 7th Street and make your way across 1st Avenue. Walk between Chapters and the
Lethbridge Health Unit (formerly Union Station, 1906). Explore this heritage structure. Imagine
the landscape and land uses that once lined the railway yards. What sort of new land uses now
occupy the former site of the railway yards? Read the plaque facing the T intersection of 1st
Avenue and 8th Street. What sort of municipal inducements encouraged the CPR to build Union
Station and the railway yards complex? Discussion here will include the sector theory of urban
residential structure and railway yards relocation.
The Commercial Core
12. Cross 1st Avenue and walk south on 8th Street. Note the Holiday Inn Express. This is the first
hotel that people will see coming into downtown Lethbridge from the west – a good example of
an “intervening opportunity.” Continuing south on 8th Street, consider white brick wall on the
west side of the street and the setback buildings on the east side of the street to make room for
perpendicular off-street parking. What effect does the wall and parking have on the interest and
vitality of sidewalk life on 8th Street? Keep walking south across 3rd Avenue and turn right into
the alley beside Slice. Use this alley to reach 4th Avenue. What is the function of alleys in a
commercial district such as this? Note the abandoned construction site which has been in its
present condition for over 15 years. Can you read and interpret any of the graffiti? Discussion
here will focus on the risks of pitfalls of urban redevelopment in capitalist society.
13. Turn right at 4th Avenue and walk west. Stop at 6th Street where you will see the former S.S.
Kresge store building (south-west corner) and the former F.W. Woolworth store building (northeast corner). Are building renovations apparent? The south-east corner, which is now a Bank of
Montreal, was previously occupied by Eaton’s. Why were these department stores located so
close together? Do any other commercial activities favour such a clustered locational pattern?
Until 1985 this intersection was the hub of downtown retailing in Lethbridge. How has its
function changed? Where is the downtown retail centre today?
14. From where you are standing, observe the building on the north-west corner of 4th Avenue
and 5th Street. What do you suppose was its previous function? What evidence leads you to this
conclusion? How does this structure's previous function compare with the building on the southwest corner? What is the principal function of the land uses at this intersection? Discussion here
will include the Peak Land Value Intersection concept.
15. Cross to the south side of 4th Avenue and walk back east. Stop outside the Royal Bank and
observe the Beaux Arts post office. When was it built? How has its entrance been modified to
make it more accessible? Evaluate the grey addition to both ends of the building. Does the
design and building material of the Royal Bank branch complement the post office?
16. Turn right on 7th Street and walk south. Describe the property immediately south of the
parking structure. Discussion here will return to the zone in transition.
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17. Continue south on 7th Street and pause to look in at The Lethbridge Herald’s press room.
Until the 1970s, newspaper offices and printing facilities typically required downtown locations.
The heavy printing presses tended to be in the basement overlooked by plate-glass windows at
sidewalk level to let window shoppers observe the massive paper spools and printing machines
running at full speed. Upper stories were reserved for the newsroom and other editorial and
advertising functions. Downtown locations gave good access to reporters gathering the news and
a central location to distribute the printed papers. In most of Canada’s largest metropolitan
centres, daily newspaper operations have relocated away from the downtown area. Recently
decentralized newspaper offices include The Ottawa Citizen facing the Queensway on Ottawa’s
west end and The Calgary Herald overlooking the Deerfoot.
18. Continue south on 7th Street. Can you detect any functional change at number 520? This may
require a little of your geographical imagination! Look east at Galt Manor. Would you describe
this as residential invasion or office invasion?
19. Cross 6th Avenue, turn left and walk east to 8th Street. Compare the land uses that you
observe on the north and south sides of 6th Avenue. The city’s land use by-law zones the area
south of 6th Avenue as Residential while the north side of the street is zoned Commercial. Does
the zoning by-law impose a southern boundary on the CBD?
20. Turn right on 8th Street and walk south to 7th Avenue. Pause at 631- 8th Street and read the
plaque. Does this home have heritage value? Look across the street and note the mixture of
housing types and the medium density projects such as Jade Court at 638 - 8th Street. This was
intended to provide more affordable rental housing yet not have a negative impact on this mature
residential neighbourhood. Does it succeed? Comment on the architecture of the Bel-Aire at the
corner of 7th Avenue.
21. Walk east on 7th Avenue and turn left on 9th Street. There are several interesting housing
types in this area but we shall conclude with the big red house between 814 and 812 - 9th Street.
This would commonly be described as a “monster house.” Why?
Once you reach 6th Avenue, you are done! You can walk straight back to Scenic Drive; however,
5th Avenue makes a nicer stroll than 6th due to traffic generated by Whoop-Up drive.
Ruminating
A field trip report is not required. But you and your group may benefit from some post-field-trip
discussion of what you have learned from this experience and how downtown Lethbridge
compares to your home town or city. Can you integrate concepts that have been taught in class,
described in the course text book and experienced first-hand in the field?
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