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Stories of Alberta: Pincher Creek’s Lebel Mansion

Vision Credit Union • Sep 03, 2021

Preserving history and shaping the future through a Southern Alberta cultural hub

“It’s really about supporting people who are building, making and creating.” 

The Lebel Mansion has been part of the town of Pincher Creek for over 100 years and, with the recent care it’s been receiving, it may very well be there for 100 more. While the old home on the top of the hill still holds much of its original charm, it’s evolved throughout the years; serving the needs of the town from generation to generation. And if the walls behind the Lebel Mansion’s red brick exterior could talk, they’d sure have some stories to tell.


Originally built in 1910 by one of the town’s founders, Timothee Lebel, the mansion was privately owned for 14 years before becoming a Catholic hospital in 1924. 50 years later, the Alberta Government purchased the building and reopened it as a municipal hospital. In 1976, after lobbying by local citizens, the mansion was declared a provincial historic resource. 


Despite its historic status, the Lebel Mansion was abandoned in the early 80s and laid dormant for two years. That’s when the town of Pincher Creek stepped in, purchasing it from the government for one dollar in 1984. It was this year that the Allied Arts Council (AAC) proposed to manage the building as a community and cultural centre. To this day, they remain the stewards of the building, responsible for the preservation and restoration of the Lebel Mansion. 

“It [the Lebel Mansion] needs someone to continue to love and care for it and to be used all the time,” says Stacey Mcrae, Executive Director of the AAC. With a major focus on supporting artists and bringing together the community, the AAC has transformed a once decrepit building into a flourishing cultural hub — simultaneously preserving the town’s history while also shaping its future. 


“We’ve done a lot of work over the last six years,” says Stacey. Some recent projects the AAC has initiated include implementing an elevator, renovating the verandah, upgrading the kid’s art classroom and exploring the goal of an outdoor performance space on the Lebel grounds. “We’ve put together a community amphitheatre proposal,” shares Stacey. “There’s a lot of unutilized lawn space that we could definitely be doing more with. That’s why the amphitheatre would be great.” 


The amphitheatre project is one of many efforts to maximize community support within the grounds. “I think our biggest goal is to always have ears and eyes in the community and always be looking to what they need,” explains Stacey. “It’s coming up with those ideas that would bring a little more vibrancy to the community.” 


The AAC also promotes and supports local artists of all mediums through bi-monthly exhibits, art classes and their unique gift shop. “That’s what the gift shop is all about,” says Stacey. “Not dictating what artists make but having us support what they are making at the time.” From fiber art, glass and jewelry to sculpture, woodwork and painting, the Lebel Mansion hosts a variety of artists and their work with a special emphasis on supporting local. “It’s really about supporting people who are building, making and creating.”

The AAC is a non-profit arts organization. If you would like to support one of their upcoming projects, such as the Amphitheatre Project, visit thelebel.ca to see how you can donate money or time toward their community initiatives. 

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