Lethbridge Minute: Issue 258

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

📅 This Week In Lethbridge: 📅

• The City of Lethbridge has joined the Strong Cities Network, a global coalition of over 270 municipalities focused on reducing hate, extremism, and polarization. The network provides training, expertise, and practical tools to help local governments prevent division and strengthen community resilience. Lethbridge is among only 10 Canadian communities invited to the inaugural Prevention Academy Canada, which offers free resources to address local hate, build partnerships, and develop long-term prevention plans. City leaders emphasize that participation complements existing initiatives, including the Community Wellbeing and Safety Strategy, Family and Community Support Services programs, and the federally funded Building Safer Communities program. Officials say that the collaboration encourages proactive, preventative approaches rather than reactive measures, aiming to address root causes of violence and social tension. The City plans to provide an update on these community safety initiatives at an upcoming Standing Policy Committee meeting.
  
  
• Lethbridge police are reporting encouraging results from their 2025 holiday Check Stop campaign, with fewer impaired drivers detected despite more vehicles being stopped. Over the month-long initiative, officers checked 1,768 vehicles and charged 4 drivers with impaired driving, down from 10 impaired-driving sanctions during last year’s campaign, which involved fewer stops overall. Police say the results suggest a positive trend, pointing to a roughly 60% reduction in impaired drivers apprehended year over year. Alongside impaired-driving charges, officers issued 7 roadside cautions and more than 100 violation tickets, and laid several additional charges related to traffic compliance. The campaign combined enforcement with education and relied on cooperation between local police, Alberta Sheriffs, the RCMP, and community volunteers. Officers stated that visible Check Stops are intended not only to catch impaired drivers, but also to deter risky behaviour in the first place. Police also thanked the vast majority of drivers who complied with the law and drove responsibly throughout the holiday season.
  
  
• Speaking of the Lethbridge police, they are using the start of the year to remind both drivers and pedestrians about the importance of intersection safety. According to the Lethbridge Police Service, the city’s 10 highest-risk intersections saw 86 collisions in 2025, including 15 injury-related crashes and one fatality. Police say that while they take these incidents seriously, it is not practical to have officers stationed at every busy intersection. As a result, tools such as red-light cameras are being used to encourage safer driving behaviour, particularly stopping at red lights and reducing speed where collisions are more likely. LPS also says that enforcement alone cannot solve the problem and that safer intersections depend on everyday choices made by drivers and pedestrians alike. Officers are urging motorists to slow down, leave adequate following distance, come to complete stops, and remain alert to road conditions and pedestrians.
  
  
• The City of Lethbridge has announced that the Stan Siwik Pool will remain closed longer than planned due to unforeseen issues with the basin. Originally set to reopen on December 22nd, 2025, the reopening was first delayed into January and is now scheduled for January 26th, 2026. All swimming lessons originally planned from January 12th to March 21st will be rescheduled to run January 26th to March 28th. Other City pools, including Fritz Sick, Nicholas Sheran, and Cor Van Raay YMCA, remain open for public use. 
  
  
• The Lethbridge School Division is hosting a town hall on Tuesday, February 3rd, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Victoria Park High School, inviting students, parents, staff, and community members to share feedback on local education. Board Chair Christine Light said that input from all participants is vital for shaping strong public schools and guiding the division’s strategic planning. Trustees will be present to listen, and feedback collected both in person and online will inform future decisions and help ensure the division meets community needs. Registration will be required, with details and discussion topics to be announced soon. 

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Join the Common Sense Lethbridge Facebook group to stay informed about what’s really happening in the city and connect with others who want to bring transparency, accountability, and common sense back to local government. 

Be part of the conversation, share your ideas, and help shape the future of Lethbridge.

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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