Chess Club Plays Giant Exhibition Game Downtown

Visitors exploring the giant chess set at the Galt Museum & Archives.
Photo courtesy the Galt Museum & Archives | Akaisamitohkanao'pa (eternal gathering place)

Lethbridge — On Tuesday, August 15 at 11 am in the Galt Museum’s Nurse’s Garden, a battle between two Lethbridge chess masters will take place. Garth Dunn and Paul Viminitz will face off utilizing a giant chess set donated to the Galt by Chinook Woodturning Guild in 2013.

The set is hand-crafted from 152 metres or 500 square board feet of maple and walnut. Volunteer guild members devoted over 500 hours to creating the chess pieces. Klaus Jericho, a longtime member of the Lethbridge Chess Club says “We are thrilled to use this giant chess set outdoors at the Galt and showcase this remarkable sport to the community. Each piece is so unique and intricately carved—more people need to know that this exists.”

A visitor is pictured lifting a giant chess piece at the Galt Museum.
Photo courtesy the Galt Museum & Archives | Akaisamitohkanao'pa

Chess is a growing sport for Lethbridge residents of all ages. The game builds an abundance of life skills including concentration, strategy, and patience. The Lethbridge Chess Club meets at the Galt Museum on Sundays from 1 – 5 pm and at Lethbridge College on Mondays from 6-10 pm. All are welcome.

 “Activating our space in Lethbridge’s downtown core is critical to serving our community,” notes Galt Museum & Archives CEO Darrin Martens.

“Combining physical activity with mind-challenging games such as chess in our Nurse’s Garden provides us with an opportunity to showcase our beautiful garden and demonstrate that we are a safe place to visit and participate in outdoor activities.”

 —30—

This media release can be found at www.galtmuseum.com/news.

Media Contacts

Darrin J Martens, Aaká óóhkotoki (Many rocks) (he/him)
CEO/Executive Director
darrin.martens@galtmuseum.com
403.329.7300