The Oliver Block building in 1920. (Image: Galt Museum & Archives)

By David Opinko

Oliver Block designated a Municipal Historic Resource

Sep 27, 2022 | 2:49 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A 122-year-old building in downtown Lethbridge has received a historical designation.

At the regular meeting of Lethbridge City Council on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, members voted unanimously to declare the Oliver Block building a Municipal Historic Resource (MHR).

Buildings with an MHR designation are legally protected by the City of Lethbridge from “inappropriate changes and alterations.” Owners can also access provincial grants to assist with the costs of conservation, preservation, and restoration.

A release from the city states that the Oliver Block is one of the earliest symbols of economic prosperity in Lethbridge.

It was constructed in 1900 at 316 5 Street South.

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The building was originally owned by William Oliver, the mayor of Lethbridge at the time. It is technically comprised of two separate buildings as it was constructed in phases so Oliver could open his own business sooner.

Some of the earliest business tenants include a billiards hall in 1914, the Bank of Toronto from 1913-1915, White Lunch, and the Stokes Drug Store.

Senior Community Planner Ross Kilgour says it was saved from demolition after being purchased and extensively restored by owner Hunter Heggie in 2017.

“The Oliver Block is significant for its association with early commercial development in Lethbridge and for its design,” says Kilgour. “It is one of the finest buildings remaining from the early 1900s in our city and today’s approval will ensure it will continue its storied history.”

In 2020, the municipal Heart of Our City Committee provided a total of $90,000 in grants to renovate three residential units in the Oliver Block.

The Oliver Block building has been declared a Municipal Historical Resource, September 27, 2022. (Image: Lethbridge News Now)

READ MORE: Breathing new life into the Oliver Block in Lethbridge