The importance of building strong, caring communities
By Lethbridge Herald on February 22, 2025.
FROM THE HALL Mayor Blaine Hyggen –
A belated Happy Family Day to everyone – a day meant to celebrate the love, support, and connection that make our families strong. Whether you spent time with your immediate family, friends, or chosen loved ones, it was a reminder to the importance of building strong, caring communities.
It was an extra special Family Day for me as it was the first one with our new grandchild, Miles.
Of course, the cold temperatures limited any prolonged outdoor activities that day and for the past few weeks. I want to thank all of our City staff who have been working in the frigid conditions in efforts to keep all of our systems on track and minimize any and all impacts as much as possible.
From fleet services, to electric and water crews working to keep the lights on and the taps flowing to our snow removal folks, to our transit drivers, to our facility services team and to, of course, our first responders including Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services and Lethbridge Police Service.
We truly have some amazing and dedicated staff who help keep our city running every single day of the year. Thanks to everyone who has put in the extra effort during the cold spell to keep others safe and comfortable. It is noticed and appreciated.
As we segue into more tolerable temperatures, we want resident feedback on snow route network changes that began in the 2023/24 winter season, as well as the windrow assistance pilot. The changes affected 80 kms of roadway around the city and the Transportation Operations department would like to hear the community’s thoughts and experiences.
An online survey is now open until March 23 and is intended to collect input from anyone affected by the changes, including residents who live along snow routes, subscribers to the Windrow Assistance Service pilot, and those who used affected roadways for getting around the city. The information from this survey will be included in public reporting and considered in planning for the next winter season.
Lethbridge City Council will meet next week to discuss several agenda items. The full meeting agenda is online. All City Council meetings and SPC meetings are livestreamed on the City of Lethbridge YouTube channel.
Looking ahead to warmer months coming, we had some big news to share recently for a bigger, better and more accessible Canada Day on July 1 in Lethbridge.
Beginning this year, the City of Lethbridge and Lethbridge District & Exhibition (LDE) will combine forces to host Canada’s birthday. While some activities will stay at Henderson Lake Park (including the popular Kid Zone), many others will shift across the street to LDE. As the crowds have grown, so have some of the challenges, like overcrowding and security.
The benefits of this new collaboration will include more parking, more food trucks, better security sightlines, plus more open space to enjoy the celebrations and the park, and indoor amenities at the Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre, like washrooms and concession areas.
This new partnership will also bring significant financial benefits for both organizations, because shifting some events away from the park will help reduce the City’s operational costs and provide LDE more revenue opportunities. It is truly a win-win for everyone involved. It will help preserve the beauty of Henderson Lake Park and allow LDE to showcase their amazing spaces. I applaud our Administration and LDE for making Canada Day a more enjoyable event.
The Canada Day team is hoping to work closely to coordinate events with all organizations hosting Canada Day functions, including the Lethbridge Bulls, Henderson Outdoor Pool, RibFest, Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden and the Rocky Mountain Turf Club.
Speaking of Canada, what great timing for Flag Day on February 15 coinciding with the 4 Nations Face-Off hockey tournament game between Canada and the United States. Our flag is a symbol of unity and pride, so it was a great reminder to honour the values and freedoms that bring us together as Canadians. I hope everyone took a moment to reflect on our shared heritage and the diverse communities that make up our great nation.
That tournament was also sure fun to watch. As a giant fan of hockey, I really hope this begins a new wave of major international hockey events for the next generation.
Speaking of hockey, I’m having a fun giveaway in support of our local WHL Hurricanes team as they head towards the playoffs. As a local business owner for more 30 years, I know how important it is that we all support local. So as a team supporter, I will have two tickets (courtesy of my local business) up for grabs for every home game until end of the regular season. All you must do is find my social media posts in the lead-up to games, then, for a chance to win, comment with your pick on who will score the first Hurricanes goal. All correct picks will be put in a draw and one lucky winner will win two vouchers good for any upcoming home regular season game.
Another way to get involved with the community is through MP Rachael Thomas’ 2025/2026 Youth Advisory Board. Those between the ages of 16 and 24, who are passionate about the community, wish to grow in leadership, and want to learn more about federal politics, are encouraged to apply through her website.
Switching to provincial politics, I will be making trips to Edmonton next week for the 2025 Alberta Budget, then again for the Alberta Municipalities conference March 4-7. We look forward to working with the Provincial Government in the coming weeks and months to learn more about what this budget will mean specifically for Lethbridge. As always, City Council and I will continue to advocate for the supports we need in our city to best serve our residents.
On March 8, I plan to attend the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards, which recognizes outstanding women in our community. Each year, YWCA Lethbridge & District honours women who have made substantial contributions to the social fabric of our community.
And last but certainly not least this month, three weeks ago I had the privilege of attending the Bringing Hearts Home Gala fundraising event in support of cardiac care in southern Alberta. The gala exceeded all expectations and raised an impressive $644,000. On behalf of the Cardiac Sciences Advisory Cabinet, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all the sponsors, donors, and guests who generously supported this remarkable event.
As always, please be safe and kind to one another.
23-22
While the provincial government ultimately holds jurisdiction over mining, the City of Lethbridge bears the direct responsibility of ensuring safe, potable water for its residents, businesses, and agricultural sector. This is not just a bureaucratic issue—it’s a matter of public health, economic stability, and long-term environmental sustainability. City council cannot afford to be passive bystanders, deferring to provincial decisions while the risks to the Oldman watershed remain unresolved. Instead, they must take a firm, proactive stance by demanding clear, evidence-based answers from both the province and mining companies. Anything less is a failure of leadership.
At this point, council needs to have its heels to the fire—the stakes are too high for vague discussions or uninformed decision-making. The public must hold elected officials accountable, insisting on full transparency, rigorous research, and an unwavering commitment to safeguarding Lethbridge’s water supply. Without this pressure, council risks making decisions in the dark, putting the health and future of the entire region at risk.