One of the commemorations undertaken was the burying of a time capsule in
Lest We Forget Park in front of the city's
Memorial Place. Lacombe became Alberta's 17th city on September 5, 2010, with celebrations taking place through the day in the park.
It was in 2005 that Lacombe's population surpassed 10,000, the point where city status is usually considered. However, there were ongoing negotiations with the province over upgrades to Hwy 2A, which had been under discussion since the 1980s. Lacombe, if it were to become a city before a deal was finalized with the province, would have had to foot a greater percentage of the cost, so put off any change in the town's status pending finalization of an agreement. Said agreement was signed in October of 2009 and Lacombe became a city the next year.
The time capsule wasn't actually buried as part of the original celebration, this taking place a year and ten days later, on September 15, 2011, to be opened 50 years later, in 2060.
Text from the plaque at the time capsule follows.
City of Lacombe
Time Capsule
To be opened on Lacombe's 50th
Anniversary of becoming a city.
Buried: September 15, 2011
Opened: September 15, 2060