July 2026 Mayor's Column
Public safety is always City Council’s top priority.
Earlier this week at our regular meeting, we adopted the new Community Safety Action Plan (CSAP) as a guiding framework to inform the coordination, implementation and evaluation of community safety initiatives.
Previous initiatives, including the Downtown Clean & Safe Strategy (DCSS) and the Downtown Lawlessness Reduction Task Force (DLRTF), helped identify emerging pressures and highlighted the limits of short‑term, siloed responses. The CSAP reflects a deliberate shift from reactive, issue‑specific actions towards a more coordinated, city‑wide approach that aligns policy direction with implementation.
It will support Administration’s use of existing, previously-approved, unspent, funding allocations to Clean and Safe initiatives to advance short and medium-term actions identified in the plan. These one-time investments will support pilots, studies, program reviews, additional research, training, public education, and other one-time initiatives that do not commit the City to additional ongoing operating costs.
The nature of community safety challenges continues to shift. Frontline services are increasingly responding to complex, non‑criminal situations related to housing instability, mental health, addiction and social disorder. The City’s intention for how it responds to these challenges has evolved. Change takes time and effort, but by all metrics things are headed in the right direction. This plan supports being a healthy and diverse city under Council’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan. Read the full CSAP news release here.
Last week at City Hall, we had a community safety roundtable with MP Ruby Sahota, Canada’s secretary of state for combating crime. It was a great meeting. Huge thanks to Minister Sahota for coming in and hearing our concerns. One of the big things we chatted about was bail reform. We have had situations in our community where prolific offenders have been released then rearrested within short periods of time for another crime. This must stop. Hearing what I did at the meeting, bail reform is being looked at closely in Ottawa. This is encouraging. This is an issue of great importance for the continual safety of our community. Working together at our Municipal level, alongside Provincial and Federal levels, will be essential moving forward.
I recently attended several events and met with the Premier and several Provincial and Federal Ministers during the Calgary Stampede. These meetings yielded some great conversations about future planning for our community. As always, City Council will continue to advocate for the supports we need in our city to best serve the residents.
On June 30, MP Rachael Thomas, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) office and myself hosted a citizenship ceremony at City Hall. Nearly 80 people took their oath in Council Chamber that morning and then celebrated their first Canada Day as Canadian citizens the next day.
It has been great to see all the summer events and festivals going on throughout the city in recent weeks, with more to come. I hope to see you all at the Mayor’s Community Barbecue, set for Tuesday, August 18, outside City Hall following the Whoop-Up Days parade. More information is coming soon and we are planning some added surprises for the 2026 edition!
City Council is proud to support the Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP) as we welcome its first cohort of students to Lethbridge. This milestone reflects the strength of our partnerships and the dedication of local physicians who are teaching and mentoring while continuing to provide care across the region. Their leadership is helping to train the next generation of doctors in community and rural settings - an approach proven to improve long-term physician recruitment. Council is working to create a welcoming environment for learners and professionals that strengthens access to health care and reinforces Lethbridge’s role as a regional hub for medical education.
The first half of the annual exchange with Saint-Laurent, Quebec, just took place as a group of students visited Lethbridge. The Lethbridge delegation will travel to Saint-Laurent in August. Our two communities entered a formal city-to-city twinning arrangement in 1967 as part of a Canadian Centennial project to promote cultural and social relationships between Eastern and Western Canada. Exchanges occur annually, alternately involving seniors and students.
Of course, summer means construction season across the city. Residents are encouraged to check the online WebMAP and allow for additional time to get to their destination to help reduce road construction frustration. The map provides residents with accurate and up-to-date information on road closures, facility closures and City projects and initiatives. I’d also encourage all drivers to be aware while behind the wheel. There are more pedestrians, as well as more motorcyclists, so please be mindful of everyone else as they are just trying to get to their destination safely – the same as you.
As we head deeper into the hot months of July and August, the City of Lethbridge is sharing a reminder of resources available to help residents stay cool and safe. We have information online regarding public water stations, local fire bans, voluntary water conservation efforts, additional resources and a city-wide water drive.
And lastly this month, some community members may recall various coffee talk sessions I have had in recent years. These are designed to be casual drop-ins where we can sit and chat respectfully – without the toxicity that online comment sections can have – about the topics and priorities of the day. I’m starting this back up again with ‘Listening to Lethbridge’ and will be at the Little Nicaragua Coffee Company at 10 a.m. on July 31.
As always, please be safe and kind to one another.