Working with the city’s most vulnerable is something the city’s mayor is highlighting when looking back over the past four years.
City of Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen says the city’s Encampment Strategy is one of the biggest achievements that stands out to him. Hyggen says this program is not to take away people’s homes but to help connect those in need with the services and programs that can support them.
“We’re hearing that overdoses are down dramatically,” Hyggen says. “We’ve dropped in crime severity index, the third biggest drop in Canada, which is really exciting.”
Hyggen says these wins show that not only has the council focused on housing and what to do with the housing strategy moving forward, but it has also put an emphasis on safety.
When it comes to housing, the mayor says there has been a boom in population.
“We want to make sure that we do have those homes in place,” Hyggen says.
When it comes to what he will remember most from sitting around the horseshoe over the past four years, Hyggen says it will be the respect that the councillors have constantly shown for one another. He says even though there are differences of opinion, they are shared and discussed respectfully.
“What they have to say and the passion that they share is something that I will always remember from this council,” Hyggen states.
When City Council returns after the municipal election, there is the chance all nine chairs around the horseshoe could be filled by someone new; however, two faces will for sure be leaving municipal politics, with City Councillors Jeff Carlson and Nick Paladino announcing they will not be running for re-election.
Hyggen says over the past three terms, he has had the opportunity to work with Councillor Carlson, and in that time, he has brought forward different ideas and thought patterns on why he supports or does not support different items brought to council. Hyggen says there have been several times over the years where the pair have come into a discussion with separate viewpoints, but after discussion have come out on the same side. This is not fence-hopping or jumping from one side of a debate to another, but according to the mayor, it is coming out with a different perspective following a discussion.
“This is what we need to do as colleagues, is get together and share why we’re passionate about something, because so often we’ll find ourselves saying, you know what, taking a second look at it,” Hyggen says. “Councillor Carlson is someone who always wants to sit down and chat about these things with me.”
While Councillor Paladino has only sat on council for one term, Mayor Hyggen says the knowledge he has brought forward about land use and zoning from his previous work with the county has been a welcome wealth of knowledge.
“If we have questions around that, that we’re able to touch base with him and get that information. He’s always prepared.”
“Both of them are incredible assets on council, but again, it’s going to be a big change.”
However, Hyggen says even though there will be changes around the horseshoe when the next council takes over, he knows the past four years have set the groundwork for a great community.
