[PyramidsofMars]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

PyramidofMars - I'm a little unsure what points you're trying to make. Seems you are just getting a bunch of thoughts out there, which is fine.

yeah, that's really it.

I agree with BlackArcher101, and recommend that you spend some time on the other side of the Oldman River. It is a lot different, especially the downtown and older residential areas. It's not as vibrant and intense as Calgary's downtown and older areas of course, but you will definitely get a different impression of the City of Lethbridge as a whole. This is mostly due to the built form as compared to the west side. You're correct that the West side is a lot like any generic Calgary (or anywhere in North America) suburban community. This is because the entire west side was built from the 1970s onward, after the University opened in 1967.

As for attractions outside of the west side, there's quite a few. There's the Yates Memorial Centre, Galt Gardens, Galt Museum, Henderson Lake Park, Japanese Gardens. 4th Ave./downtown area can be pleasant to stroll, same with the older residential areas on the north and especially south sides. There's some decent hangouts too like the Penny Coffee House (haven't been there in years, so not sure if it is still good), Average Joe's sports bar (if that's your bag), and I hear the new (a few years old now) restaurant in the old water tower is good.

Thanks for all these suggestions. I guess a proper exploration of Lethbridge is due. I have walked around downtown a fair bit, mostly near the bus terminal, to the Greyhound station, and to the public library, and walked from the downtown bus stop to SaveonFoods several times because they deliver your groceries for free (and I prefer walking that distance to catching another bus). I have meant to check out some of the cafes downtown, they look nice. The only one I've been in was Round St. which had very good coffee and cake, I sat there waiting because I was a bit early for the Greyhound (which as you know is pretty much right next door).

If you're outdoorsy in any way, I highly recommend heading down into the coulees sometime. I gather you don't have a vehicle, but you'd be surprised how easy it is to take a walk or bike down using the pathway system and there's lots of picnic benches and shelters down near the river. You can be down there for a walk, jog, dip in the river (stay away from the weir) and be back in no time, all on your own two feet or by bike.

I have been planning to do this probably in the summer since I plan on doing at least one term of study.

As far as your comments about natives, growing up there I found that they are a much more prevalent part of everyday life in Lethbridge than in Calgary. I don't have the numbers, but they seem to be fairly evenly distributed throughout the city and just proportionally more of them. There is some negativity toward them, you're right. I found this especially true amongst second or third (or more) generation Lethbridgites.

Do you live on or off campus?

I live off-campus but very near-by.

I agree, they are more prevalent here, but while I think that it's sad that racism against natives specifically is the cultural norm almost even in Calgary, it seems a lot more vicious down here. On my first day here the one point people seemed to stress was to avoid 'all the drunk natives infesting the city', some said avoid downtown entirely because the natives ruin it, I heard countless Indian jokes (hey, I don't mind racist jokes sometimes, but these were often more cruel than amusing), and just a ridiculous number of derogatory and clearly racist comments about them. I also see people outright glare at any white/native couples, while the city doesn't seem to particularly care either way about Blacks, Indians, Arabs, Asians, etc. in a similar situation.