Many in the community make Lethbridge a better place to live

By Lethbridge Herald on December 24, 2021.

Shannon Phillips
MLA Lethbridge West

It’s hard to believe, but another year has ended. There can be no doubt that 2021 was challenging for so many of us. From our province’s continued existential fight with COVID, to our city’s troubling doctor shortage and the ever-increasing cost of living, this year stretched many of us to our ends. 

Now, as the holidays approach and a new viral variant emerges, we are preparing for another festive season characterized by careful interactions and precautions to protect our neighbours. If there is comfort in any of this, it’s that we have come together before and I have no doubt that Lethbridge and southern Alberta will rise to the occasion again. 

Despite the gloom many of us are feeling this season, I wanted to take time this holiday season to thank the countless individuals and organizations in our community for the incredible work that they do to make Lethbridge such an incredible place to live. 

By reflecting on the uniquely-Albertan spirit of generosity and compassion that characterizes our community, I think we can all assure ourselves that we can get through this latest wave of the virus the same way we’ve always had to: together. 

While most of us think about the spirit of giving, compassion, and generosity that animates this season, there are so many groups in Lethbridge and southern Alberta for whom these same principles are alive and well each and every day through the entire year.

 Whether it’s faith groups living out the highest ideals of their traditions, neighbours working together to make sure that the family down the street has enough to get by, or our Indigenous neighbours coming together to right the wrongs of racism and colonialism, folks in our community are doing the work that makes our City and region a model to the province and the country – and are some of the most important reasons why I’m so proud to represent this community. 

I wanted to single out the amazing work that has been done this year by groups led by the Indigenous community. 

Given the incredible flood of historic events this year, it might be difficult for many of us to remember back to the early summer when wave after wave of horrific discoveries were made at residential school sites throughout the country, highlighting the truly tragic and cruel legacy of that system. 

While many of us grappled with the full reality of residential schools for the first time, so many of our Blackfoot neighbours continued the hard work of addressing the intergenerational trauma caused by that system, all while grappling with a national conversation that no doubt reminded them of just how cruel our country has been. 

In particular, I wanted to recognize Opokaa’sin (“all the children” in Blackfoot) Early Intervention Society for their continued work to strengthen our community by making sure that every child and family feels supported and nurtured. Their work is fundamental to ensuring a world in which the promises we all made this summer that every child matters comes to fruition, and we meaningfully and seriously come together to ensure that our community is doing everything in our power to support kids – no matter their cultural background. So, to everyone at Opokaa’sin: thank you for your work. It is meaningful not just to the Blackfoot community in our region, but to all of us who want to see a better, fairer, and more beautiful world. 

Of course, Opokaa’sin is just one of the remarkable organizations that has sprung up to make our community a better, fairer, and safer place. 

I have also been impressed by the efforts of Sage Clan to make sure that our unhoused neighbours feel a greater sense of belonging, Sik-Ooh-Kotoki which has been promoting friendship in Lethbridge since 1969, and so many individuals and institutions that are doing the toiling work of reconciliation, and unspooling the decades of injustice that have led us to this point. 

To all of you, and from myself and everyone else in our City that cares about a brighter and more resilient future: thank you for your work in 2021, and your continued presence. 

2021 has been tough – there’s no getting around it, and for many of us, the holiday season is tough in the best of years. 

Please take care of yourself through the remainder of the year, and know that you live in a community that, while we have our challenges, is at its core a remarkable collection of people that are striving to do our best by our neighbours. I fundamentally believe that Lethbridge and southern Alberta is a light to the rest of our province. 

If you need some extra resources this time of year – and many of us do – there are a few numbers you should know. If you are experiencing family violence, the province has an info line at 310-1818. 

If you require assistance with income support, you can access 1-866-644-5135 to help address any issues with that or other programs. Finally, if you need mental health support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the province’s Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642.

It has been an honour to continue serving the residents of Lethbridge through 2021, and I look forward to continuing that work in 2022. 

I wish everyone in our community a safe and warm holiday season and a prosperous new year. 

As always, please reach out to my office by calling 403-329-4644 or by emailing lethbridge.west@assembly.ab.ca if there is anything that I or my staff can do to help.