CultureLINK bus pilot project concludes

By City of Lethbridge on September 8, 2022.

Herald file photo CultureLINK, a pilot project for a free transit service that connects all cultural destinations in the city has wrapped up.

This past weekend saw the wrap-up of the CultureLINK bus pilot project. This fare-free bus connected the river valley, downtown core and cultural attractions. 

CultureLINK ran from June 27 until September 4 and connected Helen Schuler Nature Centre, Fort Whoop-Up, Galt Museum & Archives | Akaisamitohkanao’pa, Southern Alberta Art Gallery Maansiksiksitsitapiitsinikssin, Casa and Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden.

“Some of our staff and volunteers’ favourite memories from this summer are linked to CultureLINK, as we had the opportunity to engage with residents who had never been to or cannot easily access the river valley,” said Coreen Putman, Helen Schuler Nature Centre manager. “Hearing about their experiences at the other cultural attractions gave a real sense of how CultureLINK opened doors to adventure and discovery for so many.”

The bus had more than 3,300 boardings, about 52 per day and more than 50 per cent of all ridership started or ended their trip in the river valley.

“Lethbridge Transit was happy to partner with the Galt Museum and Archives for CultureLINK this summer,” said Tim Sanderson, Lethbridge Transit General manager. “We are committed to improving mobility in the community and were happy to provide increased access to these cultural destinations.”

“CultureLINK provided us at the Galt and Fort the opportunity to connect art, history, culture and nature in one visitor directed program and collaborate with our partners across the City of Lethbridge,” said Darrin Martens, Galt Museum and Archives CEO.

“Creative initiatives like CultureLINK provide a unique way to discover the amazing attractions in our city,” said Erin Crane, Tourism Lethbridge CEO. “Both visitors and locals used this service to explore new experiences and learn about Lethbridge and what makes our city so special.”

The city’s cultural attractions offer a variety of programming throughout the fall and winter season. Be sure to check their websites, or visit lethbridge.ca for more information.