A modern image in downtown Lethbridge, compared with an image at the same spot circa 1907 (Glenbow Archives NA-3213-8 & On This Spot)

By Justin Goulet

Historical walking tour app takes deep dive into Lethbridge’s past

Jun 26, 2021 | 8:05 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A mobile app is available for residents and visitors to learn more about the history of Lethbridge.

The On This Spot historic walking tour app allows users to see historic photos of the city and stand in the footprints of the photographers who took them. The photos date back to the early 1900s through to the 1960s and showcase the transformation Lethbridge has undergone over the years.

The photos can be seen through the mobile app, available for free for iOS and Android devices, as well as at onthisspot.ca.

CEO of On This Spot Andrew Farris said the first thing users will see is a list of partner cities involved in the initiative. He noted that, “it’s sorted by distance from you, so if you’re in Lethbridge, the first city you’ll see is Lethbridge.”

Other Alberta communities involved include Fort Macleod, Okotoks, Lacombe, Edmonton and Calgary.

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“Once you open the Lethbridge city page up, we have a nearby list there, which shows you a selection of then and now photos that we’ve mapped out to where the photographer was originally standing when they took that historic photo and we’ve gone there and taken our own photo, so you can compare the then and now.”

Photos are also accompanied by a write-up explaining the history of the scene. Farris remarked that it’s a “really cool way to see how the city has evolved over time.”

“We’re very soon hoping to launch our camera feature, which will allow you to go to those spots and recreate your own historic then and now photos. You can effectively use your own camera to line up the historic photo, take a shot with it and then edit the two together, so you can effectively superimpose yourself into a historic photo.”

He added the On This Spot team also hosts historic walking tours, however, there are none in Lethbridge at time, but Farris hopes they can get to work on that soon.

He said that, “we try to take a really modern approach to history – [we] don’t shy away from, obviously difficult subjects.” There have been tours in nearby communities like Vulcan and Fort Macleod.

Farris added that, “I think a lot of Canadians think our history is quite boring, but that’s really not the case and until recent events, [it’s] obviously not just boring but there’s a lot of dark, unexamined chapters in our history.”

A subject that is top of mind across the country is the recent discovery of unmarked child graves at the sites of former residential schools. Farris hopes by encouraging people to learn more about Canada’s history, more conversations can be started on difficult topics such as the discoveries at former residential school sites.

READ MORE: “Unthinkable” – 215 child graves found at former Kamloops Indian Residential School

READ MORE: 751 unmarked graves at Saskatchewan residential school: First Nation

On This Spot was founded in 2016 in Vancouver. Over 50 cities across the country have joined in the initiative so far to provide historical photos to its residents and guests, including Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax, and the aforementioned communities in Alberta.

This summer, On This Spot plans to launch content into even more communities across Canada.