Lethbridge College students to design new city flag pole

Students will compete in teams as part of the design process and present their design ideas to the city’s Reconciliation Lethbridge Advisory Committee.

Funding for the project has been approved by Lethbridge City Council.

“Through this design process, we’ll add up to four new flags, so we’ll have capacity to fly at least one if not two community flags,” said Perry Stein, Lethbridge’s Indigenous Relations Advisor.

He noted that this is the first time they’ve worked with students on a project like this.

“Reconciliation is a community project…everyone has a role to play. We’ve been trying to be quite intentional in terms of building these networks and partnerships to advance projects like this. So, this is a great opportunity to give students a real-world example,” Stein said, noting they’re also working with the U of L on another project.

He explained that symbolism is important and is a step in the reconciliation process.

“Recognizing the territory of the Blackfoot people…these community symbols – this as well as the motion that was passed Monday (Sept. 16) to recognize Oki as the official greeting of the city – symbolism is important, language is important and it’s all these small reconciliation steps that we take as a community that culminate in something big.”

Chair of Lethbridge College’s School of Engineering Technologies Bill Smienk said it’s an exciting opportunity for the college and its students.

“Students will have the opportunity to work together in teams and to submit the project,” he said.

He added that students will have to gather a lot of information before submitting their proposals.

“There’s not only the esthetics but there’s also the design challenges that you’d be faced with on any sort of construction project, which may include the site design, the actual location, there’s actual flag protocols we will have to follow in terms of the heights of the flags and so on.”

Smienk said there are a number of factors to consider when planning the proposals, including lighting, the importance of the location and the effect on the surrounding site. He added there will be an artistic component to the project, in addition to the structural and design component of the pole.

“The important part about this project is the process. It’s the process of students going through the thought process of understanding the City’s design requirements. Sitting down, we’ll have a cultural orientation with elders from the college,” added Stein.

“These are all meaningful things to help understand what the client’s needs are on a project. Ultimately who wins the competition is less important than the process of going through it.”

Projects will have to be submitted to the city by January 31, 2020. Student pitches will take place on February, and the winning submission will share in over $250 worth of prizes.

The goal is to unveil the chosen design next spring. Construction of the new structure is targeted for completion before September 2020, in time for next year’s Reconciliation Week in Lethbridge.

by Justin Goulet

Lethbridge College students to design new city flag pole

What's Happening