Lethbridge Hopes to Preserve Bow on Tong Apothecary with Competition Winnings
LETHBRIDGE – A major piece in Lethbridge’s history is gathering attention in a national competition.
The National Trust For Canada’s This Place Matters Main Street asks for project requests in two different categories, with the goal of preserving historic landmarks across the country.
Town Spotlight features nine communities with a population of 50,000 or less. Lethbridge’s Bow on Tong Apothecary will compete against four other communities, that have more than 50,000 residents, in the City Beacon group.
One winner from each category with the most votes and donations will win $40,000.
The Bow on Tong has set a goal of $3,000 in the crowd-funding aspect of the competition. The Lethbridge Main Street Project wants to use the funds to purchase display items as they transform the building into an interpretive centre.
Ted Stilson, Executive Director for the Main Street Project, says Chinese immigrants played a huge role in the city’s history.
“They worked on the railway, they worked on the mines, they did a lot to support businesses. It was an important part of our early growth and formation. That story needs to be preserved and told for future generations to know.”
Stilson explained that if the project wins, the $40,000 will be used to restore the more than 100-year old building’s infrastructure, including the ceiling and floor.
“It’s definitely unique within Alberta. It may be the only [apothecary] in existence in Canada, and perhaps in North America,” he noted. “It’s exactly the way it was when it was first established in the early 1900’s. Those types of businesses don’t usually survive. Not only the infrastructure, but all of the early cabinetry, ginger jars, all of the contents are still in place.”
You can vote once a day at thisplacematters.ca (https://thisplacematters.ca/project/lethbridge-main-street-project/). Every dollar donated also counts as an additional vote.
The competition is open until November 15.
