how to fix the problem. After earning some grant funding, they decided on as solution that involved upgrades to just under a kilometre of Highway 5, as well as a new intersection on Highway 5 and Township Road 60. They earned grant funding for those upgrades last year, they put the project out for tender in February, and they hope to start construction in spring and finish up by the end of the year. Joe Thomas is a project manager and development officer with Cardston County, and he’s personally played a key role in the process. As part of the project, he explains that they are also developing some of the land they own there for commercial and light industrial use. They believe it’s a good fit for that kind of industry due to how close it is to the Town of Magrath. In general, Joe says, Magrath has a lot going for it – not just for industry, but also for people. “One of the best parts about Magrath is its only 10 minutes away from Lethbridge,” Joe says. “So it’s the best of both worlds – you don’t have to be in the city, you can be out in the country, but you can still be really close to a city center. That makes Magrath a very appealing area for a lot of people.” Expanding the spotlight a little, Joe says all of Cardston County is very appealing – in fact, he says “there are very few places in Alberta that are as nice.” “The scenery is amazing,” he says. “Anywhere you go within Cardson County, you have beautiful views. It’s not overpopulated. The people are amazing out here. It’s just a whole different type of lifestyle than it is anywhere north of here” “We’re in a nice location,” Murray adds. “Within three hours, we can be in Calgary. Within twoand-a-half hours, we can be in Kalispell, Montana. Within one hour, we can be at the ski hill in Westcastle Valley. We’ve got all the scenes here – we’ve got mountains, we’ve got foothills, we’ve got prairies, we’ve got lakes. There are so many things to see and do, all within driving distance.” MARCH 2025
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