Special ceremony for Galt statues
Statues are being torn down in some parts of North America. But it Lethbridge, we’ve just put a new one in place.
Two, actually, honouring Sir Alexander Galt and his son Elliott. They’ll be officially unveiled on Sept. 4 at 1 p.m., recognizing Galt senior as one of our nation’s “Fathers of Confederation” and his son as the financial founder of Lethbridge.
And then everyone will be invited to enjoy music, cupcakes and more as a celebration of Sir Alexander’s birthday, 200 years ago in Chelsea, England.
The statues will be clearly visible near the east entrance to the Galt Museum — located on the site of the hospital they built. Their installation comes 124 years after Galt senior’s death, and nearly 90 years after Elliott’s.
••• Fifty years, by comparison, may sound a little brief. But that’s how long the University of Lethbridge has been contributing to the life of our city. Now, in addition to the “Shine On” events being held over the Labour Day weekend, the university has announced plans for 50 Years of Music and Music-Making.
Master classes, a workshop, panel discussions and, of course, a concert are all part of the 50th anniversary symposium, Sept. 28-30. A reunion choir has been formed — folks who have been part of the U of L Singers over the years — and special guests will include now-retired music professors including George Evelyn, Ken Hicken, J-P Christopher Jackson and Linda Pimentel.
The big “Faculty Artists and Friends” concert is scheduled for Sept. 30 at Southminster United Church. ••• It’s been 57 years for the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra, which makes its home in Southminster.
The organization’s new season begins on Oct. 16 with “The Lark Ascending,” a celebration of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ work along with the fifth symphony by Dmitri Shostakovich.
The main series will continue this fall with “Adventures on Film,” selections from Hollywood movies, on Nov. 20. That will be followed Dec. 15-17 with a seasonal treat, “The Nutcracker” ballet, with four performances in University Theatre.
Additional symphony-sponsored events this fall include a Canada 150 concert by string quartet Musaeus on Oct. 27 at Le Cite des Prairies, and four “Kids’ Choir” presentations, Nov. 29 and 30 at Southminster.
Tickets for specific performances (as well as season subscriptions) are now available from the symphony association’s ticket kiosk in Southminster Hall, off 11 Street South. You can also pick up the full year’s concert brochure.
••• The Lethbridge Folk Club is also ready to launch its new season, with two well-known entertainers heading here in September and October. Garnet Rogers — brother of Canadian music icon Stan Rogers, who died tragically in an aircraft fire — will perform Sept. 17 in The Cave at Lethbridge College.
Then on Oct. 15, Saskatchewan singer/songwriter Connie Kaldor (now living in Eastern Canada) will pay a return visit. She first attracted nation-wide attention as the featured artist, all summer at the Saskatchewan pavilion at Expo 86 in Vancouver.
Tickets and club memberships are available at Blueprint Records on 4 Avenue downtown.
••• There’s also a promising lineup of musicians heading to the Geomatic Attic. The Sadies will perform Sept. 18, followed by Whitehorse (at Southminster United) on Oct. 17. Then on Oct. 29, music fans will head west to Chinook High School for an appearance by Shane Koyczan. Wrapping up the fall, Barney Bentall’s Grand
Cariboo Express will be on stage at Southminster on Nov. 1, before Gordie MacKeeman and the Rhythm Boys play the Attic on Nov. 8. Tickets and details are offered online at geomaticattic.ca.
••• Free “First Friday” concerts continue yearround at Casa, and a local duo is ready to perform on Sept. 1. Pianist Joel Goodfellow and percussionist Joe Porter will present “Keys in Rhythm” at the bring-your-lunch session, starting at 12:15 p.m.
••• Just a few last-minute reminders: Tonight is the last evening for Whoop-Up Days, with nocharge concerts by Dory and the Weathermen, hockey legend Theo Fleury with the Death
Valley Rebels, and country star Jess Moskaluke closing down the Gas King Stage.
And downtown, today’s Caribbean Festival wraps up a full summer of attractions at Galt Gardens. Organizers are promising “an exciting visual cultural explosion of music, dance and cuisine, expressed in the usual Caribbean revelry.”
The no-charge event, running from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., also includes children's activities, costumes and a beer garden.