Lethbridge Minute: Trending Destination, Tartan Purchase, and a Pedestrian Safety 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. Councillor Belinda Crowson will bring forward an Official Business Motion to consider a $3,000 purchase of scarves and ties in the City's official tartan to mark its 25th anniversary. The Lethbridge Handicraft Guild is placing a bulk order and has invited the City to participate. The items could be used as gifts or sold. Mayor Blaine Hyggen will also bring forward an Official Business Motion. He is requesting to declare April 7th, 2025 as "Green Shirt Day" in honour of Logan Boulet, a Humboldt Broncos player who saved six lives through organ donation. This day aims to inspire more Canadians to register as organ donors, continuing Logan’s legacy. The City has declared Green Shirt Day every year since 2019 and seeks to do so again in 2025. Several confidential reports are also on the agenda, including one regarding a St. Laurent Exchange Trip, another regarding Public Member Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees, a Provincial Budget & Tariff Report, and a Capital Improvement Program Update.
  
  
• The Governance Standing Policy Committee will meet on Thursday at 1:30 pm. The Committee will receive several submissions, including a Physician Recruitment Final Report, information on adopting the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) Transit Code, and amendments to the Council Code of Conduct.
  
  
• Lethbridge Polytechnic will host Stone Pipe Days from March 24th - 28th, to celebrate Blackfoot culture and traditions. This year’s theme, "Coming together in a holistic way," emphasizes unity, cultural understanding, and shared learning. The event will feature various activities, including a powwow, a healing round dance, a cultural speaker series, and an Indigenous film series. More information is available online.

Last Week In Lethbridge:

• The Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) and Alberta Sheriffs have launched a pedestrian safety project aimed at educating both pedestrians and drivers. The initiative, especially focused on students and their guardians, will emphasize safe crossing practices and rais awareness about pedestrian risks. LPS has noted an increase in safety issues caused by both pedestrian and driver behaviour, such as inattentiveness. Drivers are encouraged to avoid speeding, distracted driving, and blocking crosswalks, while pedestrians are reminded to use designated crosswalks, make eye contact with drivers, and eliminate distractions. The project will run throughout March, with a goal of improving safety in school and playground zones.
  
  
• Lethbridge has been recognized as one of the top trending domestic destinations for Canadian travellers, according to AirBnB insights. The city is attracting visitors for various reasons, including conferences, sports events, outdoor activities, and its food scene. Lethbridge’s affordability, especially during the cost-of-living crisis, is making it an attractive choice for Canadians from cities like Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto.
  
  
• The Alberta government said it credits its recovery-oriented care model for a significant decrease in drug overdose deaths in Lethbridge, which fell by 63% from January to October 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Dan Williams, criticized the previous NDP government’s harm reduction policies and emphasized that the UCP's recovery-focused approach, initiated in 2019, has led to positive results. The opening of the Lethbridge Recovery Community in 2023, a 50-bed residential treatment facility, is seen as a key factor in the decline. The province has also introduced a Therapeutic Living Unit at the Lethbridge Correctional Centre for addiction treatment. Williams is optimistic that the positive trend in overdose death reduction will continue.

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