Picture Butte, Alberta (Canada)

Lethbridge County

Last modified: 2012-08-09 by rob raeside
Keywords: alberta | picture butte | chinook arch | wheat stalk | barley stalk |
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image contributed by Darrell Neuman, 3 July 2008

• Description of the flag

See also:

• Lethbridge County
• Municipal and County Flags of Alberta
• Alberta
• Canada

Description of the flag

The following is a description of the town crest of Picture Butte, Alberta and which is featured on the municipal flag. This description is kindly provided by the Town's municipal staff with the permission of Town Council.

Description of the Town's crest:

The Town crest consists of a shield which shows:

The curve of the lettering representing a Chinook arch over the Rocky Mountains. The arch announces the arrival of a Chinook wind.

The landscape lines denote the Butte, the coulee at Picture Butte and the farm land of the region.

The wheat stalk on the left and the barley stalk on the right depict the agricultural area around Picture Butte.

The irrigation ditch and the falling water recognize the importance of the irrigation system in the centre of which the Town of Picture Butte is located.

Flag: 3 feet x 6 feet
Black 001
Yellow 109
Green 361

Two historic events were largely responsible for the founding and development of Picture Butte - the building of the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation System in 1923 and the building of a railroad which would provide access to markets in 1925. These two events precipitated an influx of settlers from the dry land areas of Southern Alberta. A post office was opened in 1926 and the hamlet sprang to life. Another milestone was marked with the turning of sod for a sugar factory in 1935. In 1943, the hamlet attained village status and was incorporated as a town in 1960.

Today, Picture Butte has a population of a little more than 1500, approximately 60 business establishments, excellent schools, churches of several denominations, medical and dental clinics, two senior citizens' residences, a library and a recreation complex.

The Butte, after which Picture Butte was named, has long since disappeared in the name of progress, but, as the hub of an intensive livestock feeding and diversified farming area, the town continues to grow. Picture Butte has many attributes, among them a blending of cultures and an effervescent spirit that provides an atmosphere of neighborly hometown living.
Darrell Neuman, 15 June 2008