Sports and History -- A Winning Combination
One of the great things about history is that it touches every aspect of life -- fashion history, art history, history of science and inventions, architectural history and so much more. There's no area of study that is not connected to history.
There's also very few aspects of life that can't be enhanced by a better understanding of history. As I've said before, people who say they don't like history probably don't really understand what history is or were poorly taught history.
So when I was asked to provide some research and information for the official Bid Selection Tour in the quest for Lethbridge to be awarded the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games, I was honoured.
The Sports Bid Committee has chosen as its slogan The Past is our Foundation; The Future is Ours! Lethbridge 2015! and is using information related to Lethbridge's sports past as part of the tour.
So in anticipation of the Big Selection Tour on Monday, May 30, I thought I'd share a few fun facts about Lethbridge's sports history. And I hope to see many of you during the tour on the morning of Monday, May 30th! Community support, enthusiasm and energy is essential! You can find out more from the Lethbridge Sports Council -- http://www.lethbridgesportcouncil.ca/.
Some Lethbridge Sports History
Lethbridge's first baseball game was played in December 1885. It was a warm winter.
In January 1906 a baseball game was played on The Square (now Galt Gardens) between Lethbridge and Calgary. Lethbridge won 13 to 1 that day. That was another very warm winter.
On May 15, 1919, H.A. McKillip, at the Henderson Golf Course, scored one of the first holes in one reported in North America.
The Lethbridge Maple Leafs, representing Canada, won the World Amateur Hockey Championship in 1951.
Lethbridge worked with thirteen surrounding communities to plan and deliver the 1975 Canada Winter Games of 1975. Not surprisingly the games slogan was “Unity Through Sport."
Some events held at Henderson Lake since its construction 100 years ago have been: canoe capsizing events, canoe racing, rowing boat races, swimming competitions, and greasy pole contests.
The first curling club in Alberta was started in Lethbridge.
In the early 1960s Lethbridge had a ski hill -- on the west side of the river valley in the coulees below the Galt #8 mine. It only lasted two seasons because the chinook winds won out.