Categories: Travel

This Alberta town is the ‘Corn Capital of Canada’ and has a 36-foot-tall corn stalk

Photo Via Phoenixns/Shutterstock

If you’ve ever stopped at a roadside stand in southern Alberta for a bag of corn, you’ve probably heard of Taber. The small town is known for its famous sweet corn, earning it the nickname of “Corn Capital of Canada,” and it even has a 36-foot-tall corn stalk to prove it.

But Taber offers more than its famous crop. The town also has roots in coal mining, a history shaped by irrigation and agriculture, and a handful of places worth stopping at if you’re passing through.

Here’s what makes Taber worth a visit.

What to expect during a visit to Taber

How did Taber become known for its corn?

Corn wasn’t what put Taber on the map in the first place. According to the Town of Taber, homesteaders settled the community in the late 1890s, and it initially developed as a coal-mining town. Coal mined in the area was shipped to Medicine Hat, first by steamers on the Oldman River and by narrow-gauge railway.

Coal mining declined dramatically in the late 1920s, but the town’s fortunes changed with the expansion of irrigation in southern Alberta. The Town of Taber says extensive development in the 1930s helped the community recover and laid the foundation for the agricultural industry that still surrounds Taber today.

With irrigation making it possible to grow crops, farming became a huge part of Taber’s economy. Over time, sweet corn became one of the crops most closely associated with the community, thanks in part to the area’s long sunny days and cool nights.

The connection is so strong that Taber corn has its own certification program. According to the Town of Taber, growers can use certificates of authenticity to show that their corn was actually grown in the area.

What is the Giant Corn Stalk?

No trip to Taber would be complete without seeing the town’s most obvious tribute to its favourite crop.

According to the Town of Taber, the Giant Corn Stalk was installed in 1994 after a fundraising effort by the local Kiwanis Club. The structure took approximately a year to complete, and the entire stalk stands 36 feet tall, while each ear of corn is about four feet tall.

What else can I do in Taber?

Visit the Tank 77 Museum
- If you want to understand how Taber became the farming community it is today, the Tank 77 Museum is a good place to start. The museum focuses on the cultural and natural history of Taber, including the development of irrigation and the role it played in shaping local agriculture
  - Where: 4702 50th St., Taber, Alta.
Take a stroll around Confederation Park
- Confederation Park sits in the centre of Taber, and it’s one of the town’s main gathering spots. According to the Town of Taber, it’s also where much of the action happens during Cornfest.
  - Where: 50th Ave. and 50th St., Taber, Alta.
Cool off at the Aquafun Centre
- The Aquafun Centre is Taber’s indoor aquatic facility, with a swimming pool, hot tub, steam room, and sauna. There’s also a shallow pool area for younger kids, so it’s a great spot if you’re visiting with kids, or want to spend a few hours indoors.
  - Where: 4500 50th St., Taber, Alta.
Spend some time at the Trout Pond
- The Town of Taber’s Trout Pount and campground sits on the west side of town, offering a spot to fish, camp and spend some time outdoors.
  - Where: 3200 Trout Pond Ave., Taber, Alta.

When is the best time to visit Taber?

If the main reason you’re visiting is to try Taber corn, aim for August. August also lines up with Cornfest, so it’s when you’ll see the town at its busiest.

Where is Taber?

Taber is located in southern Alberta along Highway 3; it’s about 50 kilometres east of Lethbridge and roughly 270 kilometres southeast of Calgary.

Taber may be known for its sweet corn, but the town offers much more than what you’ll find at the roadside stand. From the stories preserved at the Tank 77 Museum to the Giant Corn Stalk, the town has its own collection of places worth stopping for.