Lethbridge – Today, Greg Weadick, MLA Lethbridge West, joined Mayor Robert Tarleck, and Chief Brian Cornforth in a sod turning that signals the start of construction for the new Fire and Emergency Services Headquarters. 

“The Province of Alberta recognizes the provision of Fire and Emergency Services as core municipal services vital to the health and well being of the people of Alberta,” says Weadick. “The Province is investing a $17.7 million from the Alberta Municipal Infrastructure Program (AMIP) to build this new facility in Lethbridge, and making a further investment of $2.1 million from the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) for the purchase of land.”  

“This is the first new Fire and Emergency Services facility to be built in Lethbridge in over 30 years,” says Mayor Robert Tarleck. “Funding from provincial programs is key to the City’s ability to move forward with this project now, and better serve a growing community.”

“When the new headquarters building opens in 2010, the City will have in place the high-quality, modern emergency response infrastructure required to support fast and effective emergency response among all four fire halls,” says Brian Cornforth, Chief, Fire and Emergency Medical Services.

The central location of this site near the downtown core places EMS services in the highest call volume area within the city. Its location on Scenic Drive will also improve traffic safety when emergency response vehicles leave and return to the fire hall in response to a call.