“This has been my best day yet!” exclaimed one young student after participating in the educational program at historical Fort Macleod. Thanks in part to a grant from the Lethbridge Community Foundation, museum staff now hear these kinds of comments on a regular basis! Using money granted from the foundation, along with funds raised through other partners, the Fort museum has been able to give new life to programming that needed updating.

Project Coordinator, Denise Calderwood, has created an exciting and challenging educational program that brings to life the history of the museum with cultures working side by side. The interpretive program, titled The Red Coats are Coming, employs ten young men and women from southern Alberta as cast members. The cast comes from various cultural backgrounds including Blackfoot and Métis. This enjoyable play is full of enthusiasm, energy and good fun.

Over 1600 school children, along with their parents and teachers, benefited from the start up funding from this community grant, and the Fort itself has enjoyed additional exposure for all of its programs and exhibits.