Lethbridge Minute: Issue 234

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

📅 This Week In Lethbridge: 📅

• There will be a City Council meeting on Tuesday at 12:30 pm. Councillor Belinda Crowson has submitted an inquiry regarding the use of artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI, by City staff. Her inquiry highlights both the potential benefits - such as improved data management and task automation - and the risks, including privacy concerns, bias, lack of transparency, and environmental impacts like energy and water consumption. Crowson is asking whether the City currently has any guidelines or procedures in place for staff regarding AI use. She also wants to know how the City evaluates new technologies to ensure they are used responsibly and whether there are plans to create or update a policy on AI. Administration will provide a formal response at the Regular Council Meeting on September 16th, 2025.
  
  
• City Council is being asked to approve up to $100,000 from the Parks Capital Fund to amend the Canyons Outline Plan in West Lethbridge to accommodate a new K-5 school. The Province announced funding for the school in March 2025, but no available school sites currently meet the Lethbridge School Division’s requirements within the necessary timeline. Although the Canyons neighbourhood was originally planned to include a school site, it was removed in 2017 due to low anticipated demand at the time. A 2024 study showed that West Lethbridge’s population is growing faster than the rest of the city, renewing the need for a school. The developer is open to amending the plan but unwilling to cover the cost, and provincial funds cannot be used for planning work. The proposed amendment would include engineering work and community engagement through a public open house. 
  
  
• Lethbridge Police have issued a public reminder that bicycles and e-bikes are not allowed on Whoop-Up Drive due to safety concerns. This follows an incident where a 29-year-old man was caught riding an e-bike on the busy roadway, disrupting traffic and putting himself at risk. He was ticketed for careless driving under the Traffic Safety Act and for violating the City's Bicycle Bylaw. Cycling is also prohibited on parts of Mayor Magrath Drive, but bikes are allowed on most roadways, multi-use pathways, and bike lanes. Children 14 and under, or adults accompanying them, may ride on sidewalks, but must yield to pedestrians. Cyclists are required to use a bell or horn, have proper lighting at night, and wear a helmet if under 18.
  
  
• Robin James has announced her candidacy for Lethbridge City Council in the upcoming municipal election, taking place on October 20th, 2025. With nearly 20 years of experience as Chief Administrative Officer of the Lethbridge Housing Authority, she says she brings firsthand knowledge of the City’s housing and social challenges. Her campaign is focused on three key priorities: improving affordable housing for residents at all stages of life, reducing and preventing homelessness through effective housing strategies, and advocating for better access to healthcare by strengthening partnerships with the provincial government. James emphasizes her practical experience working within government systems and aims to deliver results through collaboration and accountability. 
  
  
• Suketu Shah has also entered the race for Council. He previously ran in 2021 and says his motivation remains the same: to ensure community voices are genuinely heard and represented. With a background in mortgage financing, insurance, and leadership roles with the Lethbridge Hurricanes and the Gujarati Society, Shah emphasizes fiscal responsibility, adaptability, and compassion. His top priorities include holding biannual town halls to boost transparency, addressing downtown safety and social challenges, protecting green spaces and waterways, and supporting small businesses. Shah says he brings a people-first, business-informed perspective and wants to make Lethbridge a city where all residents feel included and valued. 

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

The City of Lethbridge has launched its latest Community Satisfaction Survey to gather feedback from residents on municipal services and priorities.

Responses will be accepted until August 15th, 2025.

Make your voice heard by taking the survey today:

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