Galt Museum & Archives | Akaisamitohkanao’pa ready for the next chapter in its history

If it’s been a while since you visited the Galt Museum & Archives | Akaisamitohkao’pa, you may be surprised by what’s happening. The museum offers nationally-acclaimed exhibitions, creative community programming and meaningful experiences that connect people with the histories and stories of Lethbridge and southern Alberta. The commitment has guided the museum for more than 60 years and will continue to shape its work for generations to come.

The Galt Museum & Archives staff works alongside our community to preserve, interpret and share stories that shape Lethbridge and southern Alberta, while celebrating our region’s history and responding to the ever-evolving needs of the community. To support that ongoing work, recent changes to the museum bylaw were enacted to optimize the Galt’s governance structure and relationships between the museum and broader City of Lethbridge organization.

What has changed with the Galt Museum?

In June, the new Galt Museum & Archives Bylaw 4890 was passed by Lethbridge City Council. This has updated the governance structure and sees the Galt Museum officially become a City department within the Community Services division. 

“This change means greater collaboration, communication and partnership between the City and the Galt and a commitment to truly being a community museum for all residents and tourists alike,” says Carly Kleisinger, Director of Community Services.

This amendment will allow Galt Museum governance to remain aligned with the museum sector’s best-practice standards as per the Alberta Museums Association Recognized Museum accreditation program.

The operational impacts of enhancing the long-term sustainability of the museum’s governance structure will strengthen the oversight of the Galt’s collection and strategic planning. It will also build a more effective conduit to community partners, City Council and members of the public.

“Council should be proud that we have a national-class museum in our mid-size city and one that is recognized as a leader in Canada for community connection, collections management and historical interpretation,” says Sarah Newstead, Galt Museum & Archives CEO and Executive Director. “A great museum is forward-thinking and the recent bylaw changes represent a leap forward in our strategic governance. These changes will reinforce links to the City of Lethbridge, and to the community and ensure that we continue to effectively fulfil our mandate as a dynamic and sector-leading museum.”

“This decision clarifies the relationship between City Council, City Administration and the Galt Museum Board,” says City Councillor Belinda Crowson. “It also reaffirms one of the pillars – being a culturally-vibrant city – of City Council’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan.”

What is the role of the Galt Museum Board?

An engaged Board of Directors, meeting regularly with the Galt Museum CEO, provides a cost- and socially-effective solution to oversight of the strategic direction of the Galt Museum, its community advocacy and its collections management.

Because the Galt Museum Board is appointed by City Council, Council retains overall control over museum-specific strategic direction, and collections management. 

“Boards, especially volunteer boards, are reluctant to tackle legacy issues,” says Dennis Fitzpatrick, Galt Museum & Archives Board Chair. “The City encouraged the Galt Board to revisit and recognize the increased complexity of the museum management and modernize our bylaws. They supported the review, providing context, templates and legal advice. Working together strengthened the Galt-City relationship.”

Enhanced administrative and operational connection to Community Services will also facilitate the museum’s contribution to fulfilling goals set within the Civic Culture Plan 2024-2033 by ensuring increased awareness and collaboration between the museum and other Community Services departments.

How does the Galt Museum serve the community?

• Rotating and permanent exhibits.
• Tours of the collections and archives departments featuring more than 17,000 artifacts and more than one million archival documents.
• Annual events such as the Lethbridge Independent Film Festival
• The Galt is a spectacular building, a blend of new and old, allowing guests to immerse themselves in an experience where history meets the natural landscape. The museum is uniquely designed to seamlessly connect indoor and outdoor spaces, offering breathtaking views of the High Level Bridge, the Battle of the Belly River National Historic Site, the Galt No. 8 Mine, and the stunning Oldman River valley—a spectacle in every season.
• The Galt is surrounded by a walkable mature Indigenous prairie garden, where sacred native plants attract monarch butterflies and other pollinators, and shrubs provide shelter for small wildlife. The area blends harmoniously into the natural southwestern Alberta landscape, walkable or bikeable via a fantastic network of paths, which makes the Galt an ideal stop for those exploring the region.
• The Galt Museum gift shop is a must-see, widely regarded as one of Western Canada’s best, featuring a carefully curated selection of local artisan goods, classic toys, and regionally produced literature. 

What comes next for the Galt Museum?

Strategic planning for the Galt Museum and Archives is planned for fall 2026, to look towards 2027 and beyond.

The Galt is always listening to the interests and ideas of its community. One of the ways those voices have shaped the Museum is through a new addition to its permanent exhibition offerings: From the Collection, opening in Fall 2026.

The exhibit builds on the success of the popular Treasures & Curiosities exhibition, which invited community members to explore the Galt's collection and select an object for display, accompanied by a personal story explaining its significance. Treasures & Curiosities featured contributions from more than 100 volunteers, including members of City Council, community leaders, residents and youth from across the region.

Installed in the Galt's Hallway Gallery, From the Collection, will become a permanent feature, with objects and stories rotating seasonally.

More than just a new exhibit, From the Collection represents the kind of community-centered approach that these governance changes are designed to support. By creating ongoing opportunities for the public to engage with the Museum's collections and share their own perspectives, the exhibit reflects a renewed commitment to collaboration, transparency and community connection.