Ray Waddle of the City's parks department found the key just moments ago on a power box in the parking lot of the newly renovated Southern Alberta Art Gallery.

 

"From the first day, I have been looking," says Waddle. 

“I knew from the first clue that it had to be in Galt Gardens and then from there, I figured out it had something to do with the art gallery. I had checked this area before but didn't find it until today.”

 

On Sept. 1, 1910, Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier attended the grand opening of the Galt Hospital building in Lethbridge - now the Galt Museum & Archives - where, after some scrambling to locate the misplaced key, he opened the doors to the brick structure with the deserving fanfare. 

"We're re-creating the fanfare on Sunday, Sept. 26 at 11 a.m," said Lori Harasem, Special Events Coordinator for the Galt Museum. 

 

"Waddle will be attending the festivities and, as the first person to find the key, will open the doors of the Galt Hospital building in a recreation of the 1910 event, as he asists Sir Wilfred Laurier and the Vice-Chairman of the Galt Hospital Board, Mr. Naismith. 

 

“Thanks to the Southern Alberta Art Gallery for allowing their site to be the location,” added Harasem.

 

“We know of quite a number of people who have been around their building these past few weeks looking and appreciate that they were willing to be part of our game.”

 

Clues were released weekly at www.galtmuseum.com as well as Twitter and Facebook, hinting at where the key to the Galt Hospital was hidden.

The idea originated from a Katimavik student who was assisting the organizing committee during event preparations this summer.

The September 26 Museum Community Day centennial celebration event also includes the official opening of the new exhibit "Galt Hospital: 100 Years", a Galt Babies Birthday Party, tours and birthday cake compliments of the Galt School of Nursing Alumnae Association, a teddy bear hospital and children's games, entertainment and more. Admission is free, thanks to the Friends of the Galt Museum Society. A streetcar shuttle to the Galt from the former IGA parking lot in downtown Lethbridge is sponsored by Exhibition Park. 

A detailed schedule is available online at www.galtmuseum.com