This holiday season, the lights on the High Level Bridge won’t be shining brightly.
Del Allen, president of DA Electric, hasn’t lit the bridge in over a year for one simple reason – there is no support.
Standing over 300 feet in the air, the High Level Bridge is an iconic image for the city of Lethbridge.
“It was mentioned that the bridge would look really good lit,” explains Allen. “There had been people who talked about it, but nobody had done anything about it.”
“I paid to light the bridge, it’s an expensive endeavour,” says Allen. “It cost me, this company, $300,000 to light the bridge. I haven’t had any support from the citizens of Lethbridge in regards to funding.”
Allen contacted Canadian Pacific Railway and together they came up with a system that would satisfy both the CPR and Allen.
“They agreed, although I have to have permission for when it will be lit and there is criteria I have to follow,” he explains.
A committee was formed and funding came from organizations and businesses throughout the community.
“The Allied Arts Council supported his idea and provided support to the bridge,” explains Suzanne Lint, executive director of the AAC. “I think we light it because the bridge is such an important part of our identity.”
In honour of the bridge’s centennial, a festival took place in 2009. The bridge was covered in $132,000 worth of lights and was lit for the first time in history.
Though the lighting began with the centennial, the bridge has been repeatedly lit during significant holidays. The last occasion was Remembrance Day of last year.
“We lit the bridge in honour of all the fallen soldiers,” says Allen. “The legion even sent down a piper who played on a platform.”
Allen says any new committee hoping to light up the bridge would have his full support.
“If we can get a committee built again that can approach different organizations for support, I’d be happy to work on it with them,” he explains.
“To me, it is a wonder of the world and it’s gorgeous when it’s lit,” says Allen. “It’s unfortunate but I’m not prepared to go out there and keep lighting it for Lethbridge.”