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Would Hatters be willing to pay to dome Kin Coulee Park and sidestep the perennial issue of rain during the Spectrum Festival?
Probably not, but many were initially taken in by the April Fools Day joke story that appeared in the spring of 2000 … and that number included at least one federal government official.
The News is looking back at notable coverage and community issues over the years in the lead up to the paper’s 140th publishing year.
Just ahead of the Spectrum Festival’s opening day on Friday, we examine what’s one of the best-remembered pranks put together by News staff over the decades.
A “Kin-Dome” was in the late planning stages by the Spectrum board, the News supposed on a top-front story on April 1, 2000, complete with an artist’s rendering and details of the proposed super structure that would create a year-round oasis in the coulee park.
An early stage budget was stated at $1,042,000 to erect a lattice of light-weight but super strong aluminium built over the bandshell greenspace. Vertical glass panels – capable of withstanding 137 km/h winds – would give it a “city hall look.” Lasers would replace fireworks and additional phases might include a snowmaking system.
That was on page A1.
The importance of following “See A2 for details” (where the gag was revealed) became clear the next month when the project appeared on a federal government report detailing infrastructure spending and the employment outlook for the Medicine Hat.
“I thought ‘this is bizarre,’ but then again ‘you never know’,” said the Lethbridge official who compiled the report largely from newspaper clippings.
“She wasn’t the only one who we fooled,” replied News readership director Gord Wright of the gaffe. “We hope she takes it in the spirit it was intended, which was in fun.”
