Earlier this week my detailed photo series of Medicine Hat High School officially became "archival" as demolition began on the north side of the school. Last year I shared some of the early interior demolition as the modernization project began. It's something entirely different to now see old portions of the building coming down though.
With my photo book of the former high school due to be released in the fall, and my "5 Things We'll Miss" post about MHHS still circulating, there's no doubt that there's a lot of nostalgia in the air. Despite knowing that this demolition was on the horizon for several years, it's still a bit surreal to see the entire north gym come down in just a few days.
Originally built in 1875, Fort Walsh was an outpost for the North-West Mounted Police that was in operation until 1883. Located on the Saskatchewan side of the Cypress Hills, the fort was established to curb the illegal whiskey trade, protect Canada's nearby border with the United States, and aid with native policy in the region.
It was the Cypress Hills Massacre, where at least twenty natives and one trader died, that lead the Canadian government to accelerate the deployment of the NWMP in the west. Fort Walsh became a key part of preventing further conflict and from 1878 to 1882 it was a NWMP headquarters. Although dismantled in 1883, the site was eventually designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1924. It was later reconstructed in the 1940s and was used to breed horses for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and their iconic Musical Ride.
Today, this remote site is a beautiful spot to learn about the North-West Mounted Police and their impact on the region. From touring the fort buildings and trading posts to watching a live cannon firing demonstration and taking in the scenic views of the surrounding Cypress Hills, Fort Walsh (near Maple Creek, Saskatchewan) is a fascinating place to experience and explore.
