Lethbridge is the largest city in southern Alberta. It is the third largest following Edmonton and Calgary, and the 4th largest in population after Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary. Called the "Cultural Capital of Canada" for the 2004 to 2005 seasons, the city is home to venues and events for promoting the arts. The Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge is the biggest organization which is dedicated to preserving the local arts. Southern Alberta Art Gallery houses contemporary and modern pieces of art; the Bowman Arts Centre consists of three galleries, and the University of Lethbridge Art gallery has contemporary exhibitions that include works from its many Europeans, American and Canadian art collections. Music is likewise an essential part of the city's culture, and the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra has been existing since 1960. Its spin-off music groups are the Lethbridge Musical Theatre and the Southern Alberta Chamber Orchestra. A part of University of Lethbridge's choir is Vox Musica, whereas the university's theatre division is New West Theatre. The Genevieve E. Yates Memorial Centre consists of two theatres: the 180-seat black box Sterndale Bennet Theatre and Yates Theatre.
There are a lot of historical tourist attractions within the city of Lethbridge. The Lethbridge Viaduct, which is a steel tressle bridge also known as the High Level Bridge, is among the more common attractions. There is a commemoration for the last battle between the Cree and the Nations of the Blackfoot that occurred in the year 1870. This particular battle is honored at the Indian Battle Park, within the coulees of the Oldman River. Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden (south of Lethbridge) was opened in the year 1967 to celebrate the centennial event which was attended by Prince and Princess Takamatsu of Japan. Galt Museum and Archives is considered to be the biggest museum in the Lethbridge area, and its building was previously utilized as a hospital through the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Other popular structures comprise the water tower and the Alberta Terminals grain elevators.
Fifty percent of Lethbridge's occupations come from trade and service industries, with emphasis on food processing, finance/insurance, construction, real estate, construction, and public sector services. Some national companies are based within the city of Lethbridge. They include Taco Time Canada, the Canadian Freightways, H&R Transport and Minute Muffler. During the year 2006, the Economic Development Lethbridge had a joint partnership along with Alberta SouthWest Regional Alliance and SouthGrow Regional Initiative to create the Southern Alberta Alternative Energy Partnership. Their merging supports alternative energy, like biofuel, solar power, and wind power. During the year 2007, it was ranked as fourth amongst Canadian economic development groups for "volume of capital investment and job creation" by Site Selection magazine, and during 2007-2008, it won first place at the Economic Developers Association of Canada Awards.