September 2025 Mayor's Column

While the days are getting shorter with autumn officially starting next week, I want to begin by looking back at some of the late summer events in Lethbridge.

I want to thank everyone who attended the fourth annual Mayor’s Barbecue outside of City Hall following the Whoop-Up Days parade last month. It was such a pleasure to walk up and down the lineup, meet people and thank them personally for coming to this community event. Thank you, as well, to all the amazing sponsors who helped feed more than 1,600 people.

Speaking of Whoop-Up Days, this year marked another new modern paid attendance record – with a total of 54,865 people attending the event. This showed a 36 per cent increase over the previous record set in 2024. Great job, Lethbridge! What a fantastic job by all the organizers.

It’s these types of attractions that make Lethbridge vibrant, not just for our residents but for visitors who come here and stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, shop and explore our beautiful community. This builds both the culture and economy of our city. I’m already counting the days to Whoop-Up Days 2026.

The 20th annual Mayor’s Luncheon for Business and the Arts earlier this week at the Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge. This wonderful event recognized and honoured individuals, organizations and companies who significantly contribute to the vibrancy of the arts in our city.

Art continues to be the heartbeat of our community – it inspires, challenges, and connects us. The Allied Arts Council and our local artists bring colour, creativity and meaning to our shared spaces and stories. Their work not only enriches our lives but shapes the identity of Lethbridge. Thank you for championing the arts and helping culture thrive in our city.

For those Lethbridge residents wanting to make a difference in their community – I would encourage you to apply to be on one of City Council’s Boards, Commissions and Committees (BCCs). A recruitment campaign for a variety of positions is now underway and applications will be open until October 24.

Serving on a Board, Commission or Committee is a worthwhile and productive experience. Each public role provides an opportunity to participate in the present and future direction of the city. Whether they are advisory, decision-making, quasi-judicial or governing roles, all of City Council values the input of residents appointed to these groups.

Those interested can visit www.lethbridge.ca/bcc for more information.

As this term of City Council is set to wrap up, I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues for the positive and collaborative relationship developed in the past four years. I am so honoured to be a part of this wonderful assembly of nine people from different backgrounds, who have come together with the common goal of the betterment of Lethbridge for our residents.

This Council has been incredibly respectful. We may disagree on certain topics, or ways to approach something, but we value each other’s opinions and recognize that a decision becomes the decision of Council – and we collectively stand behind that. I would like to offer a specific shoutout to Councillors Carlson and Paladino, who have announced they will not seek re-election in the upcoming municipal election. I thank them for their service to this great city and wish them all the best in their next chapter! 
Lethbridge is the Gateway to Opportunity. We are the agricultural, commercial, financial, transportation, industrial and sporting centre of southern Alberta – let’s make sure everyone knows it!

I want to remind our residents that we also have many ways for community members to stay informed. They include: 

• Our City of Lethbridge website, which includes the news subscription and closures pages
• Our City of Lethbridge engagement website at GetinvolvedLethbridge.ca, which seeks feedback and has information about coming projects
• 311, via call or chat, to have your questions answered

Please note that due to the 2025 Municipal Election, there will not be a Mayor’s Column in October.
As always, please be safe and kind to one another.