Lethbridge Minute: Traffic Safety, Candidate Nominated, and School Boundary Changes

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

This Week In Lethbridge:

• The Downtown Lawlessness Reduction Task Force will meet on Thursday at 7:30 am. The Task Force will discuss the overall Community Clean and Safe Strategy, as well as a confidential item simply listed as “Summary and Recommendations”. Also on Thursday, at 1:30 pm, the Assets and Infrastructure Standing Policy Committee will meet. The Committee will receive a presentation on the Transportation Safety Plan. According to the presentation, the City has taken several steps to improve traffic safety, including hiring a new Traffic Safety Engineer, making intersection upgrades and safety improvements near schools, enhancing road markings and signs, undertaking a residential speed limit pilot, harmonizing school and playground zones, and implementing school travel planning efforts.
  
  
• The Galt Gardens SW Corner Landscaping Project is underway. The goal is to enhance the area with improved hardscaping, two new entrances to the pergola, and upgraded lighting. The landscaping project is budgeted at $437,000, with most work slated for completion by the end of October, while some tasks will extend into Spring 2025. The City aims to attract more visitors to Galt Gardens, thereby reducing undesirable behaviour in the area.
  
  
• Our friends at Project Confederation are hosting an exclusive event, "A Conversation With Ted Morton," offering attendees a unique opportunity to engage with one of Alberta's prominent political figures. Morton will discuss key moments from his career and share insights from his new book, Strong and Free: My Journey in Alberta Politics, highlighting critical turning points in Alberta’s political landscape. The event will take place on Thursday, October 10th, at 6:00 pm at the German Canadian Club. While attendance is free, donations are welcome to help cover costs, and RSVPs are required. Guests will also have the chance to purchase copies of Morton's book at the event. Secure your spot by RSVPing here.

Last Week In Lethbridge:

• The United Conservative Party (UCP) has nominated John Middleton-Hope as their candidate for the upcoming Lethbridge-West by-election. Middleton-Hope, a current Lethbridge City Councillor and former Chief of the Lethbridge Police Service defeated Erin Leclerc and Shauna Gruninger. Premier Danielle Smith expressed confidence in Middleton-Hope's ability to reclaim the seat for the UCP. He will face Rob Miyashiro, the Alberta NDP's candidate, in the by-election, which must be held before the end of the year. The seat was vacated by former MLA Shannon Phillips, who resigned in June.
  
  
• The Lethbridge School Division has proposed boundary changes for elementary schools in west Lethbridge to accommodate the opening of the new West Coulee Station Elementary School in Garry Station next fall. This new school will serve up to 900 students in Grades K-5 and aims to alleviate capacity issues at nearby schools, particularly Mike Mountain Horse, which currently operates with 21 modular classrooms for around 600 students. If approved, the new boundaries will limit Mike Mountain Horse's catchment area to the Indian Battle Heights and West Highlands neighbourhoods while shifting students from The Crossings neighborhood to West Coulee Station. Additionally, the proposal includes relocating the Spanish bilingual program from Coalbanks Elementary to the new school. Parents can provide feedback through an online survey until October 18th, 2024, with a school board vote scheduled for October 29th. If accepted, these changes will take effect in the 2025-26 school year.
  
  
• The Lethbridge Police Service hosted the inaugural Social Disorder and Urban Crime Conference, bringing together frontline workers from police, justice, health, and social services across Alberta. Proposed by Sgt. Ryan Darroch, the event aimed to foster collaboration and share best practices for addressing issues like addictions, mental health, and urban crime. Deputy Premier Mike Ellis opened the conference, highlighting the importance of partnerships in developing sustainable solutions. With around 130 attendees from Western Canada, Darroch noted that common challenges, particularly related to methamphetamine use, were prevalent across regions. A key focus was the successful Clean Sweep Program, which addresses social disorder and encampment cleanup, drawing interest from other municipalities looking for effective strategies.

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