City needs to keep Bowman Building as a community hub

By Lethbridge Herald on May 18, 2022.

Editor:

On behalf of the Lethbridge Historical Society (LHS), I am writing to you today regarding the potential sale of the Bowman Building by the City. Our society has a deep connection to that building which started in the mid-1960s before the Allied Arts Council occupation. It is where the Lethbridge Historical Society started the Civic Museum, which eventually became the Galt Museum.

The Bowman is one of the early buildings to receive provincial heritage designation. Additionally, the Joliffe Academy of Dancing, the Lethbridge Sketch Club, Oldman River Potters’ Guild, Lethbridge Camera Club, Lethbridge Handicraft Guild and Playgoers of Lethbridge were all housed there during the years that the Allied Arts Council used the space. Most recently, the BLAST program found a home in the Bowman. 

After Casa opened in 2013, the City invested money into the Bowman with the idea to use it as a place for non-profit organizations that needed a physical space. 

As then City of Lethbridge Rec and Culture Manager, Ashley Matthews, stated, “…It is [the Bowman] an important building to our community, and that’s why we are putting money in to preserve it. It is going to continue to provide a service for non-profit organizations.” (Lethbridge Herald, May 14, 2012)

 It is our understanding the City still uses the “Community Service” indirect delivery operational model. This operating model allows community organizations to deliver program opportunities to our community with the direct support of the City.

Nevermore is this needed than now! The critical role not for profits plays in our community should be remembered! 

Not-for-profit groups step in and volunteer to help ensure we can have limited government. We need them in our community. 

Vibrant and diverse not-for-profits provide various programs and services that help attract people to and retain people in the City. 

If these groups disappear, would that mean that the City would have to step in and cover the costs of the services these groups are providing? 

The Bowman has a long history of serving the City of Lethbridge in many community and cultural capacities. 

The City should continue this legacy. Developing a building such as Bowman into a hub for not-for-profit groups has had great success in many other communities. They can work together and find efficiencies if they are in one place.

The Indigenous Resource Hub for providing resources to other organizations to help them better work with the Blackfoot is only one use. Many other service organizations could use this historic building before the City should consider divestment of the property! 

The Lethbridge Historical Society understands the fiduciary responsibility the mayor and city councilors have to the citizenry, and the divestiture of excess or underused city-owned property is necessary. 

However, city council has supported businesses throughout the pandemic, but many not for profits also need support. 

Doing so by providing them with a space like the Bowman, would help ensure a strong economy and a strong community coming out of the pandemic. 

We implore Mayor Hyggen and city council to reconsider the potential sale of the Bowman Building and keep the previous council’s promise to use it as a community hub and a way to support Lethbridge’s diverse citizenry.

Bobbie Fox

Secretary, Lethbridge Historical Society