Plenty to talk about in Lethbridge
As readers know, Lethbridge suffers no scarcity of music, drama, cultural and historical celebrations . . . and so much more.
But the spoken word can be entertaining as well as thoughtprovoking. And with a university and college in our midst, southern Albertans are privileged to hear many viewpoints, and share many stories.
The Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs provides a forum for some of those speakers, of course, and so does the Galt Museum and Archives. And in recent years, the University of Lethbridge has stirred lively conversation with its PUBlic Professor series.
Take this month’s presentation, for one. Religious studies professor Tom
Robinson has titled it “Sex, Drugs, Jesus and Gin.” Got your attention? On Feb. 15, he’ll describe the stark religious and cultural conflicts of “The Roaring 20s” in North America, close to 100 years ago.
A Canadian, Aimee Semple McPherson, played a pivotal role in that era. Heading to the U.S. she became a Pentecostal evangelist who — capitalizing on the growing impact of radio — became a media celebrity who surpassed even famous evangelist Billy Sunday in popularity.
With her wealth, she built the 5,300seat Angelus Temple — possibly the first American ”megachurch” — in Hollywood. She later became the focus of scandal when she claimed she had been kidnapped.
But there was more: Prohibition advocates battling it out with whiskey manufacturers, atheists and revivalists condemning each other to Purgatory or worse. And not to forget the famous “money trial,” aimed at disproving evolution.
Amidst all that, Hollywood produced some child stars of the silver screen who turned many people’s attention away from all that. Robinson will also describe their impact of North Americans of that day.
His no-charge presentation is set for 7 p.m. at the Lethbridge Lodge, with seating on a first-come basis. Snacks and a cash bar will be offered.
••• Another university-sponsored series, “Finding Hope in Troubled Times,” continues Monday and a
week later at the downtown library.
Lethbridge ecumenical chaplain Erin Phillips, who serves students at both the university and college, organizes the public series each winter. It’s sponsored by the city’s Ecumenical Campus Ministry organization, by the university president’s office and by the library.
U of L Art Gallery curator Josephine Mills will present “Art + People = Activism: Understanding the World Around Us” on Monday. Then on Feb. 12, stand-up comic Mav
Adecer will offer “StandUp Alchemy: Transforming Personal Grief into Public Laughter.”
The no-charge events start at 7:30 p.m. in the Theatre Gallery.
••• Later this month, the Lethbridge and District Horticultural Society will host a presentation on “urban farming,”‘ Feb. 26 in the Theatre Gallery. “Permaculture” designer Josh
Hellawell will be the featured speaker. The society’s 7 p.m. session follows on the heels of a recent presentation by Lethbridge College instructor Sam Walgama on tea, “from field to cup.”
••• For local history buffs, the Lethbridge Historical Society will host “Stories of Hardieville,” including the Galt No. 6 mine, on Feb. 27 in the library’s Theatre Gallery. Speakers have been invited to share their stories during the 7 p.m. gathering.
••• And just announced, awardwinning author and researcher James
Daschuk will speak here Feb. 21, as Lethbridge residents continue to address issues raised by the nation’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Daschuk has received a number of awards for “Clearing the Plains: Disease, Politics of Starvation and the Loss of Aboriginal Life.”
His no-charge presentation, to be followed by coffee and discussion, is set for 7 p.m. at Southminster United Church. It’s co-sponsored by the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs and the Ecumenical Campus Ministry, along with McKillop and Southminster Churches. All are invited.
••• The following weekend, the Blackfoot Canadian Cultural Society will host its International Peace Powwow, Feb. 24 and 25 at the Enmax Centre. It’s offering two full days of powwow dance and music competitions, along with arts and crafts.
Doors will open each day at 10 a.m., with grand entries set for 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, then noon on Sunday. Tickets are available online at www.enmaxcentre.ca.
••• For other styles of music, the university’s no-charge “Music at Noon” series continues Feb. 6 with Akiko Tominaga on piano, Feb. 13 with Peter MacLellan on tuba and Feb. 27 with Nick
Sullivan on bassoon. Piano accompanists will be Deanna Oye and
Bente Hansen, respectively. The music begins at 12:15 in Recital Hall.
••• The Lethbridge Folk Club will feature The Bix Mix Boys next Saturday, Feb. 10 at The Cave in Lethbridge College, with tickets available at Blueprint Records or at the door.
And on Feb. 16, Whitney Rose will be the guest at the Geomatic Attic, with tickets at Blueprint as well.
••• Downtown at The Slice, this month’s lineup includes Major Love, with Joel Stretch of The Utilities, on Feb. 17; Mostly Wanted, with Every
Ounce on Feb. 17, Craic the Lens, with Junkmans Quire on Feb. 23 and Skinny Dick and the Chicken Catchers on Feb. 24.
••• And our last-minute mentions: Tonight is the final performance for “Vienna, City of Dreams,” a sprightly collaboration between the Lethbridge
Symphony Orchestra, the Vox Musica choral ensemble and the Opera
Workshop at the University of Lethbridge. It’s set for 7:30 p.m., with any remaining tickets at the door.
And the Playgoers of Lethbridge will be staging their latest dinner theatre presentation, “Beyond a Joke,” Wednesday to Saturday at the Italian Canadian hall, with doors open at 6 p.m. and tickets available at Casa.