The Galt Museum explores the plight of refugees in Canada in their new travelling exhibit “Refuge Canada,” which runs until Jan 10.

The exhibit was created by  the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.

“These first person accounts really call into the question of Canada’s attitudes towards refugees,” said curator Aimee Benoit,” noting the exhibit focuses on first person accounts of refugees moving to Canada through panels, artifacts and video testimonials.
“The goal is to start a discussion about refugees,” she said.

The oldest item is a star of David, which belonged to a Jewish refugee who was in a POW camp in Germany during the Second World War.

Piikani musician, educator and storyteller Ira Provost tells the story of his life with a new exhibit at the Galt Museum.
Piikanikoan: Living Under A  Blackfoot Sky: A Modern Winter Count opened Sept 26 and  runs until Feb. 7.
“ When people ask me  to write a book about my life, this is it,” said Provost, who embraced the Piikani tradition of the winter count, by creating his own winter count–an autobiography about his life on a buffalo robe.

“It’s a  Blackfoot concept. It’s very personal. Families, clans and tribes would record important moments in their lives, he said adding people often consider the Blackfoot culture  to be a non written  culture.
“ But it isn’t true. We’re a very visual people, you can see that in petroglyphs,” he said.

 He focused in five different  themes for his  winter count— heritage, culture, music, career and gratitude.

 There are five panels  adjacent to the winter count, explaining the meaning of specific petroglyphs.
 To emphasize each theme, song lyrics accompany each panel, including a QR codes so anyone with a smartphone can listen to the songs themselves, which are also available on his albums “Under a Blackfoot Sky” and “Evermore.”

“ It’s very fluid, so I can add to it as well,” Provost continued.

Lethbridge has a fascinating history, which  the Galt Museum/ Fort Whoop Up and New West Theatre are bringing to life with Trader Tales. They are celebrating the 150th anniversary of Fort Whoop-Up this year.

 The last Trader Tales of the season is from 6-9 p.m., Friday, Aug. 21 at Fort Whoop Up.
“Due to Covid 19, we only had two this season, one in July and the last one on Aug. 21.

They’re completely different stories,” said Galt Museum Resource and Development Co-ordinator Chris Roedler, noting they are also completely different from last year’s Trader Tales.
 There are 60 tickets available for the Aug. 21 show.

Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens opened their gates, Thursday, June 11, albeit a month late, but staff wanted to ensure they were following Alberta Health’s post Covid guidelines.
“We’re excited to reopen the Garden experience according to Alberta Health guidelines. While we’re mostly outside, there are inside exhibits,” said Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens executive director Michelle Day.

“ We took the extra time to retool and wash and clean and to get the supplies and glass shields in place,” she continued.
Changes include sanitization stations inside the main gates and in the main building and  hours have been reduced to Thursdays through Mondays from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.. A maximum of 50 people will be permitted per hour and 10 people permitted inside the visitors centre as well as the tea pavillion. Guests are asked to stay two metres from other guests.

“We’re closed Tuesday and Wednesday, but we’re open on those days for private functions,” she continued, adding they are planning to be open until the end of September, and may stay open into October.

“That depends on  the weather and staffing. And we need to get started planning on the festival-of lights then,” she said.
There will no longer be guided tours, however patrons will receive comprehensive self guided tour tour brochures and signs have been inobtrusively posted next to the main features of the gardens.

“We didn’t want to disturb the natural beauty of the gardens,” she continued.