Lethbridge Minute: Shelter Expansion, Funding Endorsement, and a Youth Engagement Project

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

This Week In Lethbridge:

• On Tuesday, at 12:30 pm, there will be a meeting of City Council. Mayor Blaine Hyggen will bring forward an Official Business Motion to endorse the Green Acres Foundation’s funding application to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. The Foundation wants to apply for the funding to help build affordable housing for seniors. Councillor Belinda Crowson will also bring forward an Official Business Motion. She wants Council to oppose any coal developments that “risk damage to the Oldman Watershed, including the Grassy Mountain Coal Project” and would like the Mayor to issue a public statement about the issue. At 3:00 pm, there will be a Public Hearing to address a land use bylaw amendment at 1401 28 Street North.
  
  
• The Governance Standing Policy Committee will meet on Thursday at 1:30 pm. The Committee will receive a presentation on the Parks Master Plan, as well as a submission from the Lethbridge School Division Board of Trustees in support of ratifying the Joint City of Lethbridge and Lethbridge School Boards Committee as a regular and formalized committee. Also on the agenda is a discussion about transitioning the Youth Advisory Committee to an Administrative or Council working group.
  
  
• The expansion of the Lethbridge Wellness Shelter is progressing, though there is no firm completion date. Director Suzanne Buchanan says the exterior of the new section is finished, and work is now focused on completing the interior, including wiring, plumbing, and internal structures. The expansion will add 109 spaces to meet the rising demand. The current facility often exceeds its 91-space capacity due to the critical need for shelter during extreme temperatures.

Last Week In Lethbridge:

• Installation of a new mural in West Lethbridge has been set for June as part of the Youth Engagement Pilot Project. Edmonton artists Lacey Jane and Layla Folkmann will collaborate with students from Father Leonard Van Tighem School to create the design. Through workshops and direct participation, students will gain experience in large-scale public art, with senior students taking on more active roles in painting. The design process will begin in March.
  
  
• If you haven’t noticed, the weather warmed up significantly! But, this rapid temperature shift could impact City infrastructure. The cold weather from the past few weeks has already caused two water main breaks, with repairs needed on 23rd Street and 15th Street. Heating and plumbing experts warn that the warm-up can also lead to issues with windows, pipes, furnaces, and home foundations. Residents are advised to monitor potential water pooling in their yards and ensure proper furnace maintenance. As temperatures rise, the risk of further water main breaks increases, and residents are being asked to report any issues to 311.
  
  
• Jason Dobirstein, a long-serving member of the Lethbridge Police Service, has been appointed as the new Chief of Police for the Lacombe Police Service, effective June 1st. Dobirstein brings over 35 years of law enforcement experience and has served in various roles within the Lethbridge Police Service, including Inspector for the Criminal Investigation Division. Dobirstein grew up in Lacombe, and his appointment follows the retirement of the city’s previous Chief, Lorne Blumhagen.

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