A contrast to his address nearly a year ago, Lethbridge’s mayor shared several what he calls positives for the community during this year’s State of the City.
Mayor Blaine Hyggen touched on topics such as the Lethbridge and District Exhibition Agrifood Hub and Trade Centre, water and wastewater concerns, and taxation during his speech. He says he wanted to focus on what he believes are the positives because it is easy to go out and find the negatives but says, “we’ve got so much good going on in our community.” Many of these topics are similar to those brought up a year ago, however this year he was able to come back with an update on how these topics were addressed in 2024.
“To be able to come back and report on, you know, water strategies and physician recruitment was a huge one as well and public safety. To see those changes and how they’ve gotten better over time really, puts a smile on my face and I’m sure many others as we see crime severity index numbers [dropping].”
Hyggen says since 2022 Lethbridge has seen over 70 doctors come to the community. He adds since recruitment efforts started, per capita Lethbridge has brought in the most doctors in the country.
“There’s always people that still do not have doctors [and] you can always have more. But again, we need to celebrate these successes and to be on that national stage as being, you know, highest per capita in recruitment.”
Cyndi Crane CEO of the Lethbridge and District Chamber of Commerce says she appreciates the positivity the mayor brought to this year’s presentation. She says over the past three years there have been hard conversations that have needed to be had with this council and to see the progress is a fantastic thing. Looking forward though, Crane says this year there is a municipal election on the horizon so now those questions are coming about as to what the next four years look like, along with what needs to be addressed at the municipal level.
“You know, a lot around what do we want our city to look like five years down the road, 10 years down the road, 20 years down the road. Those will be some of those conversation builders.”
Crane says the past year for many has been a positive one, which is evident in the results of the Brighter Together survey, and the mayor’s presentation gives what she thinks is a positive outlook for 2025.
