Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen said his message at this year’s state of the city address was simple; focus on community needs before wants.
Hyggen said the message reflects what he and other council members heard repeatedly from residents during last fall’s municipal election campaign and since.
“Especially with what’s happened north in Calgary on infrastructure, let’s make sure we focus on that before we move forward with some of the wants,” Hyggen said. “What I don’t want to do is have them recommend something to us and have something go wrong with our infrastructure and us not listening to those experts.”
Hyggen pointed to a recent water main break in Calgary as an example of why he asked city administration to provide regular updates on the condition of Lethbridge’s infrastructure. He said those updates will help ensure council stays informed about priorities moving forward.
“Doesn’t sound really sexy for the state of the city, but I think it’s important that we know that we’ve got to focus on those needs with rising costs,” he said.
During his address at the Jan. 22 event put on by the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce, Hyggen also referenced repair work on Whoop-Up Drive following an incident last summer in which a semi-truck struck the underside of the bridge, damaging several girders. The incident led to traffic disruptions and temporary lane closures while repairs were completed.
Hyggen said he raised the issue to emphasize that some infrastructure problems are unavoidable and require quick response and clear communication.
“So when that happened, you do with what you’ve got,” he said. “So reaching out and dealing with the staff that we’ve had and some of the work that they’ve been able to do and experts around the country that came in to fix that.”
Hyggen said he has emphasized the importance of consistent communication during emergencies, noting how residents want clear explanations when issues arise.
“People are wanting to know reasons to why things have happened and I think it’s a big part,” he said.
Hyggen said overall the city is in a strong position, despite ongoing challenges, and he believes progress is being made as council looks ahead to the rest of 2026.
Other highlights of the address included improvements in public safety, physician recruitment and retention, city finances and preparation for the upcoming budget cycle. Hyggen also discussed the city’s encampment strategy and shelter expansion efforts, saying work continues to support Lethbridge’s most vulnerable residents.
The mayor also touched on the city’s relationship with other levels of government, noting that funding pressures are affecting all jurisdictions. He said rising costs mean council will need to be more selective when advancing major capital projects.
“A performing arts centre, a third bridge, some of these different things that are in the capital improvement program, but are unfunded,” Hyggen said. “Anytime you’re building new infrastructure, operating costs come from taxation.”
Hyggen said some unfunded projects may move ahead when additional funding becomes available, but for now the city is looking to other levels of government to help avoid passing costs on to taxpayers.
He said he looks forward to working with council and city administration throughout 2026 to do what is best for the city.
