Written for the Lethbridge Herald by Mayor Bob Tarleck, August, 2010

Nine years ago, as I composed my first Mayor’s column on my Dell computer, I had no idea whether readers would be interested in a column about City Hall.  However, I believed there was a need for a community dialogue on important issues shaping the future of our community.  Perhaps that function has been filled in part today by social media, but Twitter was not even on the horizon when the Lethbridge Herald published that first column.  This column, then, is a backwards glance rather than a glimpse into the future.

The theme of this, my final letter to you, is acknowledgement of the many people in the City of Lethbridge and in the community who have worked with energy and passion to make this a vibrant, caring, prosperous city.  There are many more of you than I can acknowledge in one letter, but I am going to make the attempt nevertheless.

It is only to be expected that I would begin with members of City Council, with whom I worked during my three terms as your municipal leader.  The mayor may be the face of City Council, but bylaws and resolutions are actually crafted and agreed upon by nine Members of Council, each of whom has one vote.  Aldermen also serve on City and community committees, answer numerous e-mails, and frequently meet with citizens and community groups.  I have been fortunate to work with aldermen who were enthusiastic, talented, and hard-working.  They brought different skills and interests to City Council, but they had one trait in common: they were driven by a desire to make Lethbridge a better community.

Within the Lethbridge style of government, the Mayor works on a day-to-day basis with the City Manager and members of his Leadership Team.  The Leadership Team is a highly-talented group of men and women who are focused on understanding where Council wishes to take the community and then helping Council to turn its strategic vision into reality.  From my first day in office, I have been overwhelmed by their support and assistance.

I have also been proud to meet many of the highly-motivated City workers from every business unit.  One of the unique characteristics of the City of Lethbridge is that we try to extend leadership opportunities throughout the organization.  Every employee is encouraged to develop leadership capacity, regardless of his or her position in the organization.  As a result, many City employees take seriously the notion that their jobs provide them with an opportunity to build a stronger community.

Many of the people I wish to acknowledge are neither City employees nor elected officials.  But the many citizens who serve on community committees, commissions, and boards help to define Lethbridge as a caring, vibrant city.  Economic Development Lethbridge, the Downtown Redevelopment Committee, Social Housing in Action, the Sports Bid Committee, the Lethbridge Aboriginal Council, Lethbridge Foundation, Communities in Bloom, the Public Library Board, and the Youth Council come to mind, but there are many more.  The common factor in each instance is that citizens are making a difference.

I need to thank the two people in my office who worked most closely with me over the last nine years, my two administrative assistants, Karen Carney and the recently-retired Debrah Scott.  These talented professionals played key roles in my office, keeping track of my overly-busy schedule, assisting with e-mails and telephone calls, organizing special events, and, on occasion, giving me wise advice.  I am deeply thankful for their support.

And finally, thank you to the citizens of Lethbridge who allowed me to work on your behalf for nine memorable years.  It was an honour I will always hold close to my heart.