One chapter has closed and a new one is set to open with the Lethbridge and District Exhibition separating into two different organizations, and the Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre gets a new name.
The formerly known LDE will be split into the Lethbridge and District Agricultural Society, which will focus on promoting agriculture in the region and Excite Lethbridge, which is a municipally controlled corporation that will focus on bringing events to the city. Excite Lethbridge will focus on highlighting the community by operating the Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre, which will now be known as the Lethbridge Trade and Convention, and bring events to the facility.
The discussion of splitting the LDE into two different organizations was brought up in May, part of the months-long discussions had about the organization and facilities’ future. Mayor Blaine Hyggen says he is excited to see what this move will mean and how Excite Lethbridge will continue the work that has been done over the past year and a half.
“What’s important is we know an event centre like this is it serves the community in a way that sometimes these things do cost, and I want to make sure that the community knows we’re doing all we can to be the most efficient use of this property as possible,” Hyggen says. “The center is absolutely amazing, there’s a lot of space here, we want to keep it filled, and as we continue to do that, we’ll be able to take that off from taxation in the future, so it’s an important thing to be busy for sure.”
Hyggen says by establishing the Lethbridge and District Agricultural Society, it is going back to grassroots and “what Southern Alberta is.”
Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation for the Province of Alberta, RJ Sigurdson, was at the announcement Thursday afternoon. He says the partnership between Excite Lethbridge and the Lethbridge and District Agricultural Society stemmed from a lot of conversation that created something new and fresh. He adds that these two organizations represent both the agricultural society, along with the other events and functions that are a benefit to the Lethbridge region.
“Agriculture is at the heart of Alberta, and agriculture here in southern Alberta is very, very important. Having this hub right here and the opportunities that could come out of this are going to benefit the entire province,” Sigurdson says. “When we have the chance to showcase the world, that we have the best farmers and ranchers in the world, farming in the most sustainable practices, growing the highest grade commodities in the world, of course, it’s going to be a massive impact for our entire province and our entire ag industry.”
With the separation of the two organizations, all LDE employees will be moved under the Excite Lethbridge banner. The Lethbridge and District Agricultural Society, which is a return to the original 1897 Ag Society’s name, will be made up of community shareholders and be run by a new board of directors.
The two organizations will also partner together to develop and host agricultural events for the region, including farmers’ markets, the Ag Expo and Whoop-Up Days.
With these announcements, it was also announced that Kim Gallucci, who has served as interim CEO of the Lethbridge and District Exhibition, will take on the permanent role of Excite Lethbridge CEO.
Related story: City Council to discuss possible plans for the future of the LDE
