SPC recommends LDE finance reporting quarterly

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on March 14, 2025.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Monthly reporting on the Lethbridge and District Exhibition finances will be changed to quarterly if city council accepts a recommendation from its Economic and Finance Standing Policy Committee.

The SPC voted on Thursday to recommend council have City administration provide quarterly reports starting with its June 12 meeting.

The SPC consists of the mayor and all members of council.

During the meeting in council chambers, the SPC heard from the LDE’s Director of Community Engagement Paul Kingsmith that 129 events have been confirmed for this year – including 25 in the past several weeks – and two new events have been booked for 2026. In response to a question from councillor John Middleton-Hope, Kingsmith said the venue is booking events into 2028.

Kingsmith noted the LDE is “well ahead” of last year’s pace with 55 per cent of its projections already reached three months into its current fiscal year.

In response to a question from Mayor Blaine Hyggen as to whether the LDE is losing less money, the City’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Darrell Mathews agreed.

During debate on the motion, councillor Rajko Dodic said he supported the change in reporting but noted he felt the LDE would likely never be self-sustaining, pointing out previous cost recovery estimates that have been brought before council.

Councillor Jenn Schmidt-Rempel voiced opposition to the change in reporting schedule, saying that “lack of oversight” put the City in its current position.

Hyggen supported the reporting change saying he was happy to see the LDE losing less money while suggesting the Exhibition won’t be self-sustaining “as much as we wish it would.”