Lethbridge Minute: Event Grants, Ag Expo, and Assessment Notices Mailed

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

This Week In Lethbridge:

• The Downtown Lawlessness Reduction Task Force will meet at 7:30 am on Thursday. The Task Force will receive a proposal from HelpSeeker Technologies regarding data analysis technology. The Task Force will also review their revised terms of reference and review some questions that have been directed their way.
  
  
• Lethbridge property owners will soon get their latest assessments. The City mailed notices on January 3rd and e-notice subscribers will receive theirs via email. If you haven’t received yours by January 17th, the City wants you to call 311.
  
  
• The 2024 Community Event Support Grant (CESG) is accepting applications. The CESG aims to benefit new and existing events that enhance quality of life for Lethbridgians. Eligible events include sporting competitions, community festivals, conferences, and advocacy gatherings, with a focus on community engagement and economic benefit. The CESG covers expenses like City services, transportation, event infrastructure, marketing, and safety. The total funding available for 2024 is $97,500, with grants split into three intake periods, each with a maximum grant of $7,500 or 50% of the event budget, whichever is lower.

Last Week In Lethbridge:

• Vendor space has already sold out for Ag Expo 2024. This year will mark a new beginning for the Expo as it moves to its new home, the Lethbridge & District Exhibition Agri-food Hub and Trade Centre. The event, scheduled for February 27th to 29th, will feature over 300 companies showcasing the latest farming equipment, technology, irrigation systems, and more.
  
  
• Statistics Canada released new data showing that, in December 2023, Lethbridge experienced a slight increase in its unemployment rate, reaching 4.5%. While higher than the previous month, it was still below both provincial and national averages. The Labour Force Survey revealed that while the unemployment rate across the country remained unchanged at 5.8%, Alberta saw an increase from 5.9% in November to 6.3% in December.
  
  
• The Chief and Council of the Piikani Nation have declared a state of emergency for the reserve just west of Lethbridge, due to a surge in drug-related overdoses leading to several recent deaths. The Piikani Nation is aiming to combat the issue by focusing on drug prevention initiatives, supporting agencies dealing with drug use, improving emergency treatment, and collaborating with local RCMP to address supply sources. Chief Troy Knowlton said that all actions taken during the state of emergency will align with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

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