Room to grow for Canada Day

By Lethbridge Herald on February 3, 2025.

Travis Grindle, City of Lethbridge recreation services manager, speaks to reporters on Monday at the Agri-food Hub and Trade Centre about the new partnership with the Lethbridge and District Exhibition for Canada Day. Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – apulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The City of Lethbridge is partnering with the Lethbridge and District Exhibition to make this year’s Canada Day celebration bigger, more accessible and sustainable for the future. 

Travis Grindle, recreation services manager, told reporters Monday morning that because Canada Day celebrations continue to grow in attendance every year, this has presented some logistical challenges they hope to address through this partnership. 

In 2024, Canada Day saw an estimated 12,000 attendees, which presented challenges such as overcrowding, park damage and security. Which this partnership and expansion of the event into the LDE grounds is addressing this year. 

“This partnership will help manage the growing crowd by providing more space for more patrons,” said Grindle. “It will allow us to enhance safety, improve our emergency preparedness and will help protect Henderson Lake Park grounds from general wear and tear.”

He added that the partnership will also bring financial benefits for both organizations by reducing some of the city’s logistical operating cost and providing LDE revenue opportunities. 

“The main components of Canada Day will remain the same, but some of the larger functions will shift to the LDE grounds, including the food truck vendor alley, as well as the main stage and entertainment,” said Grindle. 

The city will continue to operate the kid’s zone, family zone and fireworks display. Grindle added that through this partnership they can showcase the Agri-food Hub and Trade Centre and continue to grow the Canada Day celebration in the future. 

Paul Kingsmith, director of community engagement at LDE, said that when the city approached them with an opportunity to partner with them for Canada Day, they jumped on it right away. 

“This is a partnership we are thrilled to be a part of,” said Kingsmith. “Canada Day is one of our city’s signature celebrations and we know that Lethbridge and District Exhibition can add our flare to this event and make sure this is a party that the city continues to look forward to every year.”

He said their large outdoor spaces will be perfect to host some of the high-traffic things that lead to wear and tear on the Henderson Lake Park grounds. 

“We want to make sure that park stays a feature of our city and stays in great condition, so with the land and the space we have we are excited to welcome the food trucks and the entertainment aspects,” said Kingsmith. 

This in turn will allow attendees to access the amenities inside the Agri-food Hub and Trade Centre to make them more comfortable. 

“Who doesn’t love flushing toilets, running water and a little bit of shade in a hot summer day?” said Kingsmith. 

In terms of where the food trucks will be parked, Kingsmith said they are still working through those details, but they are hoping to use the front lawn area. 

“To make sure accessibility is top of mind, keeping all the event tied right into Henderson Lake Park on the East side of the park and into the front area of LDE, with the food trucks lined up on the road and lining up towards the LDE area.”

He said they are aware that parking is always a big issue and of big interest to everyone, and therefore, they are making sure they are maximizing the parking area around LDE as best as they can. 

Vendor applications for Canada Day 2025 are now open and being accepted for food venders, food trucks, main stage entertainment, kids and family fun zone, and youth market at https://leisure.lethbridge.ca/COL/public/category/browse/canadaday