SPC gives support to Memorial Cup bid

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on July 12, 2024.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

The Economic and Finance Standing Policy Committee of Lethbridge city council has given the financial green light for a bid to host the 2026 Memorial Cup in Lethbridge.

The SPC, which consists of all members of council, accepted a revised motion by councillor Rajko Dodic to support the bid which will cost the City $1,250,000 if it’s successful.

An original motion put forward to the SPC City called for rejecting the bid due to the pressures it would put on the Municipal Revenue Stabilization Reserve if it were successful.

The winning bid will be announced in December. No money will be paid unless the bid is successful.

With no money remaining in the Major Community Event Grant program, the money will have to come out of the MRSR which the City’s Chief Financial Officer and treasurer Darrell Mathews expressed concerns with.

Commitments made from the $50 million – including support for a bid to host the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts national womens curling championship – would leave the reserve with less than $3 million if all are fulfilled, Mathews told the SPC which consists of the mayor and all members of council. Deputy mayor Jeff Carlson was absent from the meeting.

Councillor Belinda Crowson voted against the bid saying she would prefer seeing a lot more focus on needs like housing and water rather than wants and because money is tight, she couldn’t support it.

Councillor Jenn Schmidt-Rempel said “one of my commitments to this community was to support things that increase economic development to our community” and stated she would support the resolution, apologizing to Mathews for causing sleepless nights for what council was doing to the MRSR.

Mayor Blaine Hyggen also voiced his support, and gave a shoutout to the bid organizers for putting the proposal together, adding he was looking forward to seeing the Cup here.

Councillor Mark Campbell said there have been fantastic prior bids made for the Memorial Cup and it’s never been staged here while Lethbridge has hosted everything curling has to offer.

“We do have an ability to host events like this, bringing us once again to the national front,” noting millions of dollars could be made from the event, said Campbell.

“I have no doubt should Lethbridge be successful in getting this bid, we’ll have a very successful tournament,” Campbell added.

Councillor John Middleton-Hope called the bid a great opportunity for the city, saying it enhances the quality of life of the city and its residents.

The bid says the total projected economic impact to Lethbridge is $10,486,455 and to the province $12,182,816.

The projected direct and indirect economic input for Lethbridge is $9,253,136.

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