Lethbridge Minute: Bike Lanes, Temple Designs, and a Street Layout Survey

Lethbridge Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Lethbridge politics

This Week In Lethbridge:

• A meeting of the Safety and Social Standing Policy Committee, originally scheduled for Thursday, is cancelled as there are no agenda items.
  
  
• The Lethbridge & District Exhibition’s financial update is showing an improved budget deficit of $2,524,271 - a smaller shortfall than the initially forecasted $3,275,313. The deficit reduction is attributed to increased rental revenues, higher partnership income, profitable food services, and savings on utilities and event expenses. The organization expects the deficit to shrink to just over $354,000 by November. Despite slightly lagging behind its goal of hosting 350 events in 2025, the Exhibition has booked 138 events so far, with plans to boost numbers through a new salesperson. This progress comes after a new board took over in February 2024.
  
  
• Lethbridge MP Rachael Thomas is now accepting applications for her 2025/2026 Youth Advisory Board, open to youth aged 16 to 24 within the Lethbridge riding, including surrounding areas. Eight applicants will be selected to serve on the Board from September 2025 to June 2026. The Board offers a non-partisan platform for youth to share their perspectives on federal legislation and key issues, with the agenda set by the members themselves. Thomas emphasized the importance of empowering young people to engage in their communities and bring fresh ideas to the table. Applications can be submitted online until March 21st.

Last Week In Lethbridge:

• The Lethbridge Police Service's Downtown Policing Unit (DPU) has expanded by four new members, increasing the team to six constables and one sergeant. These additions are aimed at improving police presence and visibility downtown, helping to tackle issues like open drug use and social disorder. The DPU has been active since the start of 2025, continuing proactive enforcement efforts similar to 2024, which saw over 300 arrests for open drug use and the seizure of significant amounts of drugs. The expanded team will collaborate with other units, such as the Crime Suppression Team, to further enhance enforcement and community safety.
  
  
• The Economic and Finance Standing Policy Committee endorsed funding for three local housing projects by MyCityCare, SettleEase Canada Foundation, and Green Acres Foundation. A total of $1,814,137 is available, but the funding will not fully meet the organizations’ needs. They are also expected to match the City's contribution with provincial or federal funding. The projects include affordable housing units targeting vulnerable groups such as women, families, seniors, and new immigrants. A request from the BIPOC Foundation was not supported due to a lack of secured land.
  
  
• A recent Fraser Institute study revealed that Lethbridge has the highest property crime rate among Canada’s large urban areas, with over 5,500 crimes per 100,000 people, more than double the national average. The city also recorded Alberta’s highest rate of violent crimes, surpassing Calgary and Edmonton. Lethbridge police, however, report a decline in property crime since 2020, with expectations of a 20% reduction in 2024. While crime rates across Canada have generally dropped by 30% since 1990, there has been an uptick in the last five to seven years, largely attributed to the opioid epidemic.

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