Planning a trip to Alberta? If so, you may want to take advantage of the free, new History Check app that makes it easy to discover the great spots the provinces offers.
Described as the ultimate heritage and travel companion app, History Check is a collaborative project that brings together the resources of municipalities, organizations, Indigenous communities, historical societies, businesses, and non-profits to help promote Alberta and its tourism opportunities.
History Check allows travellers to access thousands of historical points throughout the province in 648 communities — even if you stay home.
The official launch took place Friday at the Provincial Archives of Alberta.
The app is available from the History Check website for Apple iOS and Android devices.
This app is a great idea but is not what I expected at all and am very disappointed with it.
It seems to be sponsored by a group promoting Northern Alberta – the “Friends of Historical Northern Alberta Society”, which in itself is OK. What this seems to translate to however, is that there is very little info on anything in southern Alberta. I live in Calgary and when I would click on an icon on their map in my area, it just came up with the location and then said there was nothing there.
Then, to add to my chagrin, after I found out there was nothing listed under that particular icon, when I click the “back” icon, and want to check out other things around that same area (I was looking in the Lethbridge/Milk River area), it took me back to my location in Calgary. This then forces me to zoom out, yet again, to the Lethbridge/Milk River area and guess at another icon. It also had nothing listed. Not user-friendly!
I have contacted them about my thoughts here and await their response. Perhaps it’s due to them being new and/or being a northern-oriented source? I won’t be using it and won’t be recommending it.
Just thought I’d let you know my experience.
I agree that the website is confusing and needs to be updated to reflect what is described as an expanded app. Initially, the app was only for Northern Alberta. Last Friday, they expanded it to include the entire province, or so they said. Please keep me posted. Thanks!