living history
asked to open the Manual Training School (now known
as the Bowman Building). The building wasn’t completed
yet, but when a Governor General comes to town, it is
essential to have some grand gesture and event. The Duke
focused his trip in 1912 on schools and the military. While
in Lethbridge he inspected the 25th Battery, under Major
Stewart, and spoke with a group of Lethbridge veterans
and local cadets.
Governors General continued to visit Lethbridge and in
the 1920s and 1930s alone there were three such visits and
many more since. Each Governor General had a different
reason for visiting, often to do with issues that were near
and dear to them. Lord Willingdon visited in 1928. Though
a week too early for the offi cial unveiling of the Sheran
monument that highlighted the coal industry in Lethbridge
and area, the Governor General was able to see the
monument. Additionally, he reviewed an honour guard
of RCMP and First World War veterans. Lord Willingdon
ensured his visit was memorable, at least to the local
school children. At the end of his visit, Lord Willingdon
requested from Mayor Barrowman that an extra holiday
be tacked onto the end of the vacation period for the
school children. This was said to have earned the loudest
cheer from the audience – a tough act to follow.
the building had been in use for a couple of months already).
The Herald estimated that 3,000 people came to see Laurier
and listen to the speeches, even though it was a raw and
chilly day. Somehow bad weather and wind often seemed
to accompany dignitarys’ visits to Lethbridge!
For Laurier’s visit, an automobile procession was held
around the city, and the prime minister was able to view
a city decorated with fl ags and buntings. Perhaps the most
amazing structure was the arch built on the corner of
Fifth Street and Third Avenue South that in both English
and French welcomed the prime minister. This incredible
structure was made from hay and straw.
When you have the prime minister in town, you do your
best to take advantage of the opportu