Annual Report Highlights

Meaningful Milestones

From something as significant as a Memorandum of Respect, Understanding and Partnership being signed between the City and the Kainai/Blood Tribe, to simple actions like adding vibrant Indigenous art in the community, 2021 saw a number of meaningful milestones in the area of Indigenous relations. Work over the past year also included the implementation of City Council's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Work Plan, the development of Indigenous Awareness Training and efforts to increase the visibility of Indigenous peoples within public spaces (something we call Indigenous Placemaking). The Blackfoot Confederacy flag now flies permanently outside City Hall and the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation was observed by the City on September 30, 2021.

For the Love of Lethbridge

The City of Lethbridge's new brand, introduced in the spring of 2021, was motivated by the desire to build community pride while attracting new visitors, investors, businesses, students and residents. The visual aspects of the brand combine the elements of a progressive city with local perspectives while tying in the movement of the Oldman river located in heart of Blackfoot territory. These all work together to tell the City of Lethbridge story. Lethbridge is Alberta's blueprint for success, the solution that integrates community strength, strong roots, ingenuity, opportunity and purpose-built to serve and grow an evolving community.

Transit Transformation

In August 2021, Lethbridge Transit implemented the CityLINK network, completely redesigning transit service in Lethbridge. The new system incorporated fixed route service to increase efficiency in areas with high ridership and a flexible demand response option for areas with lower demand. CityLINK was designed to provide the best possible transit service to the largest number of people. Since implementation, on time performance has substantially increased with over 80 per cent of buses being on time versus 69 per cent pre CityLINK. Overall transit ridership has increased to over 3,000 transit riders per day, 30 per cent higher than pre CityLINK.

How can we help you?

In just its second full year of operation, Lethbridge 311 had some impressive stats in 2021.

Total number of calls:

107,468

Calls answered in 30 seconds or less:

100,683

Total number of cases:

128,330

Top 3 Information Requests:

Utilities, Transit, Waste & Recycling

Top 3 Service Requests:

Large item service (regular), Missed pick-up black, Blocked or backed up sewer

Taking Flight

2021 was a year of big change and big investments at the YQL airport. The City's $2.6 million airport investment was used to leverage an additional $23 million in Provincial and Federal grant funding for a variety of important enhancements - including washrooms after security. Game changer. Council also approved a new Airport Incentive Framework to help in negotiating agreements for potential new routes. Watch for more big things taking flight at the Lethbridge Airport.

Would you like fries with that vote?

The 2021 Municipal Election saw new and innovative ideas like the City's first-ever drive through voting station. Although they didn't serve up any burgers and fries, they did have democratic duty and civic pride on the menu. This was initiated to help during a time of COVID restriction but proved so popular that it will be considered in future elections as well. Also new was candidate videos on the City's YouTube page that had thousands of views and helped increase voter turnout to 35 per cent compared to the last five elections that have averaged just 31 per cent.

Walking on Broken Glass

Annie Lennox may have been speaking metaphorically in her hit song - Walking on Broken Glass, but Lethbridge residents are now literally walking (or running, cycling, etc.) on broken glass. A made-in-Lethbridge solution, has seen the new pathway create using recycled glass as part of its crushed subbase. This environmentally-friendly method uses glass collected at the City's recycling centres. This new pathway which connects a trail from Temple Boulevard to north of Whoop-Up Drive. If found to be effective, this method could be used in other paths and even roads in the future.

What's Going Down(town)

Downtown Lethbridge had grit, grace and determination. Not even a global pandemic can damper their spirit. It was full steam ahead for 3rd Ave Reconstruction in 2021. This project which will boast Lethbridge's first streetscaped design is now nearing completion. Another huge boost for the vibe of Downtown was the approval of the Festival Square Market Plaza. This $1.7 million project will transform a former parking lot on 6th Street South into an active and engaging public space for people and the local businesses. Stay tuned for fun times ahead at Festival Square - coming summer of 2022!

Red Hot New Fire Station

In June 2021, the City proudly opened its second Fire Station in west Lethbridge. Fire Station #5, in the Watermark community, boasts three drive-through apparatus bays and sufficient space for living quarters, training, administrative and support areas. Since 1980, Station #2 located on Whoop Up Drive has been the lone west Lethbridge fire station. At the time of Station #2 opening, the population in west Lethbridge was 4000, today it's nearing 40,000. The addition of a second location improves safety by reducing the time it takes to assemble resources when responding to both residential and wildland fires in west Lethbridge.

Planning Priorities

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, it takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan and although it isn't flashy, planning is vital to the success of our city. Our Municipal Development Plan (MDP) guides the future development of Lethbridge. After two years of reviewing and updating, the new MDP was approved in June 2021. This project engaged thousands of residents and stakeholders as we look to grow our community in a positive way. We also took a deep dive into recreation and culture approving a new Recreation and Culture Master Plan. This work connected with the community to ensure programming, events, services and facilities meet the needs of Lethbridge residents.