“Pic of the Week”, April 6, 2018: The world’s largest TeePee, Medicine Hat

04 Lethbridge Saamis TeePee (1)

When you drive through the city of Medicine Hat in east-central Alberta, you’ll encounter an enormous steel structure on the western outskirts of the city.  This is the Saamis Teepee, the city’s most prominent landmark. At 65.5 meters high, the Saamis Teepee is the tallest teepee in the world (about as tall as a 20 story building).

Originally built for the 1988 Winter Olympics, it was erected in  McMahon Stadium in Calgary where it housed the Olympic Flame during the games.  After the Olympics, the teepee was subsequently moved to Medicine Hat and erected here in 1991 due to the generosity and ingenuity of Amerigo (RickĀ) Filanti. 

The Saamis teepee now stands on the edge of an old Blackfoot buffalo jump (place …

Read More

Karl on Apr 5, 2018 | Comments Off on “Pic of the Week”, April 6, 2018: The world’s largest TeePee, Medicine Hat

“Pic of the Week”, October 20, 2017: Paradise Valley, Alberta

06 Paradise Valley, Lethbridge (2)

There are probably more places that go by the name “Paradise Valley” than by any other.  This particular one is situated on the western outskirts of Medicine Hat, just off the TransCanada Highway in eastern Alberta.

The valley was home to the native peoples of Alberta for thousands of years.  They lived here, gathered wild berries, and hunted buffalo (chasing them off a cliff at a nearby”jump”).  They valley has a rich archaeologic record documenting this history which has been extensively explored. 

Today this Paradise valley is home to a public park and golf course, and has this pretty floral wagon situated within it.

(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance)

Karl on Oct 19, 2017 | Comments Off on “Pic of the Week”, October 20, 2017: Paradise Valley, Alberta