Taber | Coaldale | Nobleford | Vauxhall A special part of the

The Gem of the West Museum is on Hwy. 845,
two blocks north of the Birds of Prey Centre
Taber | Coaldale | Nobleford | Vauxhall
A special part of the Canadian Badlands.
One of the galleries at the Gem of the West Museum
In April 1995, the Town of Coaldale purchased the old Mennonite Brethren Church for a museum site – after extensive
clean-up and restoration, it was officially opened as the Gem of the West Museum in May 2001
potatoes, welcome visitors to Vauxhall,
the Potato Capital of the West. This is
a town that loves the game of baseball so
much it opened its own Vauxhall Acad-
Look for the Cornfest in Taber every year in late August
emy of Baseball in 2006. The program is
connected to Vauxhall’s high school so
students can fulfill their baseball dreams
while completing their academics. Baseball is big in the Canadian Badlands.
Nearby Lethbridge is home to the Lethbridge Bulls of the Western Major Baseball League, Canada’s pre-eminent summer collegiate baseball league.
Crossing the Oldman River north of Coaldale
Taber
Main street in Picture Butte
photo: courtesy of the Vauxhall Academy of Baseball
The Oldman River flows roughly west to east from the Rocky Mountains, through the communities of Fort Macleod, Lethbridge, Taber, and on to Grassy Lake. There it joins with the
Bow River to form the South Saskatchewan River, and eventually drains into the Hudson Bay
5
Taber Coaldale Nobleford Vauxhall
|
Coaldale
|
Nobleford
|
Vauxhall
Any town that claims to have THE best
corn on the cob is definitely worth visiting, especially in corn season. Across
the province, Albertans swear by Taber
Corn. It is so well-loved that Taber has
had to issue certificates of authenticity
to local farmers for their roadside stalls
and markets. So why is the corn so good?
We’re told that it’s the weather conditions, soil type and irrigation. This re-
gion receives more sunlight than most of
Canada, and its cool summer nights increase the corn’s sugar content. Travelers
can try authentic Taber corn at the Taber
Cornfest, held every year in late August.
The “Gem of the West” is what an
early settler coined the little town of
Coaldale just east of Lethbridge. It’s also
the name of the town museum which
is housed in an old Mennonite church
famous for its acoustics and its annual
Christmas Choral Festival. But that’s not
School kids pile into the Owl’s Nest Nature Store at the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre
Taber Coaldale Nobleford Vauxhall
Eagles – up close and personal
Charles Noble designed the Noble Blade during the 1930s to reduce soil erosion from southern Alberta winds
Abandoned barn near Barons, north of Nobleford
If there’s water, the Pelicans will find it
all you’ll find in Coaldale. This is the
home of the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre,
a must-stop in the Canadian Badlands.
This family-friendly site rehabilitates
and releases injured birds of prey back
into the wild. It has an endangered species breeding program and it studies and
monitors wild birds of prey populations.
You can get close to all kinds of birds here
including golden eagles and bald eagles,
various species of hawks and several different types of owls including the Great
Nobleford, located about 32 km northwest of Lethbridge, has its roots in agriculture. Today, it also attracts residents and visitors looking for quiet country living
A common chore for young and old – stringing a barbed wire fence
Magpie
Horned Owl, Alberta’s provincial bird.
Charles Noble can be credited with
putting Nobleford on the map just
north of Lethbridge. In the early 1900s
this farmer and early soil conservationist
understood what it took to get the most
food from his land without harming the
“Kitesurfing in the Canadian Badlands you say?”
soil. He was so good at getting top yields
from his crops that in 1912, he was recognized as the World Flax King and in
1915, he was named the World Oats
King. But that wasn’t all. In 1930, he created the Noble Blade which became one
of the most important agricultural inventions of the 20th century. You can learn
more about Nobleford and Charles Noble at the Nobleford Heritage Museum.
Windsurfing and kitesurfing in the
Canadian Badlands you say? You bet!
Check out Keho Lake, with its big waves,
big air and big wind! Lake amenities include campsites, camp kitchen, and restaurant. You’ll find Keho Lake north of
Lethbridge, near the town of Barons.
Sammy and Samantha, two giant
Colin Weir, Director of the Birds of Prey Centre, poses
with his buddy the Vulture, and a few humans too
www.canadianbadlands.com
Taber & District Chamber of Commerce – www.taberchamber.com Town of Taber – www.taber.ca
Town of Coaldale – www.coaldale.ca Village of Nobleford – www.village.nobleford.ab.ca
Town of Vauxhall – www.town.vauxhall.ab.ca Vauxhall Academy of Baseball – www.vauxhallbaseball.com
Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation – www.burrowingowl.com Town of Picture Butte – www.picturebutte.ca
The elevators and railroad at Barons
Getting ready for a run at the Aquafun Centre in Taber
Owls like this have very sharp talons
Taber Coaldale Nobleford Vauxhall