The Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre has been in the making for more than 20 years and now that dream has become a reality. The centre had its grand opening on Thursday after more than two years of construction. A special ceremony was held with local, provincial and federal dignitaries providing speeches. Video Journalist Micah Quinn has more on the new centre which is expected to contribute more than $90 million annually to the regional economy.
With the cut of a ribbon and the raising of the Blackfoot Confederacy flag, the new Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre is now officially open.
According to Mike Warkentin, the CEO of the Lethbridge & District Exhibition, the project cost $76.6 million to complete.
RJ Sigurdson, the Alberta Minister of Agriculture & Irrigation, says the provincial government contributed $27.8 million to the centre.
Staff with the Lethbridge & District Exhibition explained to us that nearly 300,000 hours of trades work have gone into construction of the new centre, with Alberta contractors providing 100 per cent of that labor.