Lethbridge Minute: Tourism Campaign, Federal Election, and Exhibition Financial Reporting

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

This Week In Lethbridge:

• A meeting of the Assets and Infrastructure Standing Policy Committee, originally scheduled for Thursday, is cancelled due to a lack of agenda items.
  
  
• The City of Lethbridge is updating its Public Art Master Plan and is seeking input from residents to help shape the future of public art. Originally adopted in 2012, the Plan is being revised to reflect the city’s growth, evolving public expectations, and trends in urban art and planning. To encourage community engagement, the City will host four “Public Art Idea Labs” in April, starting with a film night on April 7th at the Movie Mill. Additional engagement opportunities will include an online survey, artist-led events, and town hall meetings. More information is available online.
  
  
• Lethbridge voters will have two chances to hear from federal election candidates in April. The Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce will host an all-candidates forum on April 8th at the Yates Memorial Theatre, with doors opening at 5:00 pm and the event running from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Attendance is free, and registration is available online. The Lethbridge Public Library will also hold a forum at its downtown branch, with the date yet to be confirmed.

Last Week In Lethbridge:

• VisitLethbridge.com launched the "Experience Lethbridge Longer" campaign to encourage visitors to stay longer and explore more of the city's attractions. The digital marketing initiative will promote local experiences, such as the Paradise Canyon Golf Resort and the Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens, along with nearby day trips like Waterton Lakes National Park. Special packages, including golf and concert deals, are being offered to incentivize longer stays. The campaign follows a strong growth in tourism, with hotel occupancy rising by 8.6% in 2024, and Lethbridge being recognized as a top domestic destination.
  
  
• Numbers showed that, in 2024, the Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) responded to nearly 32,000 calls, with 99.4% resolved without the use of force. Of the 248 instances where force was applied, there were no fatalities or hospitalizations, and most individuals sustained no visible injuries. The majority of these incidents involved people in mental health crises, with 80% of cases related to agitation or intoxication. LPS continues to prioritize de-escalation tactics and crisis response training, including partnerships with the Police and Crisis Teams (PACT). While force use remained low, officer injuries nearly doubled.
  
  
• Council has reversed a decision to change the financial reporting schedule for the Lethbridge and District Exhibition (LDE). On March 13th, the Economic and Finance Standing Policy Committee voted 7-2 to shift from monthly to quarterly reporting. However, Councillor Jenn Schmidt-Rempel, who originally opposed the change, successfully brought the issue back for reconsideration. In a 5-4 vote on March 26th, Council rejected the proposed change, keeping the existing monthly reporting system.

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