City committee, policy on track to be upgraded soon

By Lethbridge Herald on November 29, 2025.

Alexandra Noad
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Two policies may be updated to make the City more film friendly and transition the Historic Places Advisory Committee into an Administrative Committee, after passing unanimously at the first Governance Standing Policy Committee (SPC) of the new city council term Thursday .

The Parkland and Roadway Special Event will be updated to The Parkland and Roadway Special Event and Filming, and will include policy on film production for television series episodes, features, documentaries, commercials and trailers on municipally owned land and property.

Brock Skretting, director of creative industries for Economic Development Lethbridge, told the SPC that the updated policy will have all departments on the same page when it comes to filming and make the process run more smoothly.

“We had one kind of test run earlier this year with the Dairy Farmers of Canada (who) came and shot a short commercial, so that was very well contained and very small shoot, but the process was really fast and administration just really moved that and made it happen.”

In related news, the Historic Places Advisory Committee may transition into an Administrative Committee, upon city council’s approval, meaning they would report to City administration rather than to council.

Ross Kilgour, senior community planner for the City of Lethbridge, says in practice it won’t be a huge change, but may allow some flexibility if members do leave the committee early.

“In terms of recruitment, the positions have stayed the same and the terms of each member have stayed the same; the difference now is we wouldn’t go through the annual recruitment process through the city clerk’s office, (it) might be a little bit more flexible in terms of how quickly we can bring on new members if someone leaves the committee.”

In addition, the new committee won’t immediately make a financial impact, as it would use the allotted $5,000 annual budget the Advisory Committee currently has.

Both policies will be sent to council for a final vote.

It was also decided at the meeting that Acting Mayor Belinda Crowson will serve as chair for the Governance SPC and Deputy Mayor Jenn Schmidt-Rempel will serve as vice-chair.