Lethbridge is changing – and our strategies must evolve to meet new challenges and diverse community needs. A comprehensive update of the Community Wellbeing and Safety Strategy (CWSS) has recently been completed and will serve as an important guiding document in the advancement of community wellbeing and safety.   

Lethbridge City Council will return to having staggered years for its Capital and Operating Budget deliberations. At its May 28 meeting, Lethbridge City Council voted unanimously to approve changes for the 2027-2030 Capital and the 2028- 2031 Operating budget process.

Plan addresses future growth and development as well as current needs. 

On behalf of Lethbridge City Council, I want to thank Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips for her dedicated public service to our community and to our province.

Residents and visitors can wet their whistles around the city once again this summer as the City’s public drinking stations have returned. The water outlets are in Nicholas Sheran Park, Legacy Park, Henderson Lake Park and in Galt Gardens downtown.

The City of Lethbridge’s updated Water Rationing Action Plan (WRAP) is ready to deploy, if necessary. Council approved a necessary amendment to the Water Bylaw to update the WRAP from the 2016 version.

The women’s national curling championship could be heading back to Lethbridge. Lethbridge City Council on Tuesday voted 8-1 to provide a letter of support, as well as $400,000 in cash and in-kind services, to support the Lethbridge Curling Club in its bid to host the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. The event would be held from January 23 to February 1, 2026, at the ENMAX Centre and feature the top 18 women’s curling teams from across Canada, including at least two or three Alberta-based teams.

Fire safety awareness, graffiti abatement, crime prevention through environmental design, using data collection and outlining roles of various City of Lethbridge departments are among the topics that have been explored by the Downtown Lawlessness Reduction Task Force to date. At the Safety and Social Standing Policy Committee meeting on Thursday, Hunter Heggie, Chair of Downtown Lawlessness Reduction Task Force, issued a submission to showcase a recap of the work to date.

The cycling lanes in Downtown Lethbridge will be staying in place. On Tuesday, Lethbridge City Council directed Administration return to an SPC meeting in summer 2025 with an update on the Downtown bike lane usage – then also return in summer 2026 with a report on bike lane usage, safety, and modifications to address other issues that may arise.

With a direct tie-in to the 2023-2026 City of Lethbridge Operating Budget, approved in November 2022, property tax rates for 2024 have now been set and notices will soon be sent to property owners in the city.