Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

This year marks the 24th ATB Financial Lethbridge Rotary Dragon Boat Festival. The speakers will share some of the festival’s early beginnings. What is it about, and how did it start? The abreast of Bridge Dragon Boat Team has, for 25 years, provided a social and recreational environment that embraces a full and active lifestyle for cancer survivors. An overview of their history and how that helped to inspire the development of the Lethbridge Dragon Boat Festival will also be discussed. Speakers: Karen Johnson and Wendy Aitkens Karen Johnson is the Festival Chair for Dragon Boat Canada, President of the Dragon Boat Association of Southern Alberta, and coaches the Coulee Cruisers and the u24 Junior Cruisers. She joined the sport as a team-building activity with other City of Lethbridge employees in the first year of the festival, 2002, Dragn’ R Butz. Finding a new passion for the sport, Karen was instrumental in starting Team ID just after the 2003 festival in hopes of paddling through a longer season and trav

An inclusive and engaging journey that brought together all aspects of its internal and external communities has culminated with the recent release of the new strategic plan for University of Lethbridge — a shared vision that addresses the changing landscape of post-secondary education provincially, nationally and globally. The new plan for Iniskim; the Blackfoot name gifted to the University of Lethbridge, defines its values and commitment, and sets the course for the next 10 years. The values, as enunciated in the Strategic Plan, informs what the University does and supports strategic directions such as relationships, belonging, respect, courage, quality, access and sustainability. The speaker will discuss how the plan provides for a long-term framework to enhance academic excellence, research innovation and community engagement, setting the University on a path to continued success, one that will create an even better student experience and enrich the University’s substantial contributions to bettering soc

This talk will give a brief history of Environment Lethbridge, the Living Cities initiative, the Lethbridge Living Cities Pathway (and why we need it), and Environment Lethbridge’s role in pursuing the Pathway through education and engagement with citizens in the community. Speakers: Kathleen Sheppard and Amber Murray Kathleen Sheppard joined Environment Lethbridge as Executive Director in November of 2015. Originally from southern Alberta, Kathleen has more than 25 years experience working for non-profit organizations in BC and Alberta. Prior to coming to Environment Lethbridge, she was the Executive Director for Social Planning Cowichan, located in Duncan, BC. Her previous experience includes work in land conservation, wildlife rescue, wilderness protection and environmental sustainability. Amber Murray is an Urban Watershed Ambassador with Environment Lethbridge. She has over 20 years of experience in landscape management and design in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario, including turfgrass management,

Lethbridge and southern Alberta are considered particularly vulnerable to a trade war with the United States, especially due to their strong trade ties with the US, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce identified Lethbridge as the 10th most vulnerable city in Canada to potential U.S. tariffs. To mitigate the negative effects on this region, a Lethbridge Region Economic Resilience Task Force has been established, focusing on developing strategies to support businesses in the region and ensure they can navigate the challenges posed by the tariffs, implemented by US President Donald Trump. The Lethbridge Region Economic Resilience Task Force is made up of nine organizations, including Economic Development Lethbridge and SouthGrow Regional Initiative, that are looking to find ways to navigate the impact of these tariffs. The speaker will define the role of that task force, including the gathering of information specific to this region and hear from industry what their co

Many Canadians may be seeing red, but nearly as many are seeing blue. Nevertheless, Prime Minister Mark Carney will form a new minority government in Canada after his Liberal Party secured the most seats in parliament in the recent federal election, completing a remarkable political turnaround amid a growing confrontation with President Trump and the United States. Although opposition leader Pierre Poilievre lost his own seat, the Conservatives grew their proportion of the popular vote substantially and made inroads in Ontario with 44 per cent of the vote there. In Saskatchewan and Alberta, only a few Liberals were elected and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has already amplified her hostility towards Ottawa. The speaker will evaluate the election results and speculate on whether or not Mark Carney can keep the minority independence movement in the West from gathering steam. Speaker: Dr. Duane Bratt Duane Bratt is a political science Professor in the Department of Economics, Justice, and Policy Studies at Moun

The United Nations declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation and proclaimed 21 March the annual World Day for Glaciers. Related initiatives are highlighting the importance of glaciers worldwide, including their role in freshwater supplies and sea level rise, and the increasing threats of glacial hazards, while illustrating the impacts of climate change on the critical role that glaciers play in our Earth’s systems. Professor Hester Jiskoot will present the trends and future projections in receding glaciers and ice sheets worldwide and the related implications for humanity. Examples of vanishing glaciers will be exposed, as well as ways to slow down the melt and to ultimately preserve glaciers. She will also speak to the sheer beauty of the cryosphere and the importance of snow and ice for the Canadian identity, all while mourning several iconic Canadian glaciers that are now drowning in their own tears. The presentation will be richly illustrated with photos. Speaker: Dr. Hester Jiskoo

Tea’s origins are widely believed to be in China, with the tea plant, Camellia Sinensis, native to the southwest of the country, particularly the Yunnan province. It’s an aromatic beverage prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over cured or fresh leaves of Camellia Sinensis. While tea has been initially considered as a “beverage” it is no longer considered just a “beverage” by itself but rather a drink with medicinal value. The speaker will introduce the history, tea manufacturing process, the types of genuine tea varieties, and the distinction between these genuine teas and “non-tea” types. Speaker: Dr. Sampath Walgama Sampath is originally from Sri Lanka (Ceylon), a country famous for the quality teas it produces. He graduated from University of Colombo, Sri Lanka specializing in Environmental Science and pursued his studies at the University of Queensland, Australia to obtain a PhD in Agriculture with a focus in Entomology. He worked at Sri Lanka’s Tea Research Institute as an Entomologist, gaining over

At least one-fifth of all food produced in Canada is (avoidably) lost or wasted during harvesting, packing, storing, handling, transporting and processing. Lethbridge Polytechnic received grants in 2021 from different sources to study the issues and the speaker will provide evidence of promising results. Lethbridge Polytechnic was also on the receiving end of part of a large grant this year that will be applied towards using cellular agricultural research to improve food security across Canada well into the future. In particular, sugar beets will be used as an energy source for cell culture medium to facilitate this research to possibly diversify the long-term market for sugar beet producers in southern Alberta. Speaker: Dr. Chandra Singh Chandra Singh joined Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CARIE) in 2019 as the first Applied Research Chair in Agricultural Engineering and Technology. As a Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) funded research chair, S

This is the Question that inspires Imagine Lethbridge, a grassroots organisation of residents passionate about a prosperous and sustainable future for our community. To answer this question, Imagine Lethbridge centres its thinking, activities, and processes around a unique and fresh perspective on economic activity known as regenerative economics by academics, and affectionately called “Doughnut Economics” by communities worldwide adopting and applying its principles. Our speakers will present the core principles and visual framework of Doughnut Economics, and share perspectives from a global, provincial and municipal viewpoint on practical considerations for ethical community prosperity and sustainability. Imagine Lethbridge is pleased to coordinate its work with the City of Lethbridge’s strategic goals including being: economically prosperous, healthy and diverse, culturally vibrant, well designed, environmentally responsible and regionally supportive, but are there barriers? Lethbridge is a great place to

The Land Use Bylaw is the rule book that regulates development on private land in the city and the last time it was comprehensively reviewed and rewritten was 1986. The Land Use Bylaw Renewal project is an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come as a city and establish regulations to shape the future of Lethbridge. This presentation will examine how the Land Use Bylaw shapes where we live, work, and play, and how the new Land Use Bylaw will be created. This is a great opportunity to ask any land use-related questions and share your past experiences and ideas for the future. Speakers: Genesis Molesky and Ross Kilgour Genesis works as a community planner with the City of Lethbridge and has 8 years of experience in land use planning. She completed her undergraduate studies in urban and regional planning at the University of Saskatchewan. In her role with the City of Lethbridge, she works on all levels of long-range planning projects from guiding parcel-specific redevelopment proposals to developing neighb

The Lethbridge Soup Kitchen (LSK) has been serving meals to the less fortunate for the past 40+ years and will continue to do so as long as there is a need. LSK is blessed to have a great core of volunteers from many churches and service clubs in Lethbridge and surrounding area, many of whom have served for as long as the soup kitchen has been in existence. Upwards of 800 volunteers representing all ages and walks of life are gratefully doing much of the daily work to compliment the many suppliers, who provide most of the supplies needed to prepare the meals that are served three times a day, seven days a week. The speaker will account for how the Lethbridge Soup Kitchen has evolved since 1984 and speculate on its future - while giving BIG thanks to the generosity of volunteers and donors. Speaker: Bill Ginther Bill Ginther is currently the Executive Director of the Lethbridge Soup Kitchen, a position he has held for almost 8 years, his third post-retirement job. He came to this role after having spent most o

Friday afternoons in a southern Alberta classroom, youth may be learning how to keep their troubles in check. Leaning over chess boards at the ULethbridge, teens and young adults who are at-risk or have been convicted of various crimes are taught to think, think again, then think some more as they move their pawns, kings, queens and rooks across 64 black and white spaces. The founder of Chess for Life says the program helps them learn how to accomplish short-term goals, like completing community service hours, following a curfew and staying out of trouble. In 2018, Alberta Justice approved a request to make Chess for Life an official referral program for probation officers to recommend for young offenders sentenced to community service. Since then, participants have gone on to secure full-time jobs, enrol in post-secondary education and rekindle broken relationships. The speakers will recount how that came about and argue there is a lot of opportunity to think about chess in ways that go beyond the board itse

When we think about how storytelling shapes our understanding of community, we often turn to historians, musicians, and other public commentators to help us make sense of our shared narrative. However, the role of policymakers and journalists in shaping this understanding is often overlooked.  This presentation explores how two key institutions—the Lethbridge Herald and Lethbridge City Council—have shaped public discourse about local homelessness. The speaker will explore how their framing of this issue has influenced the community's ability to respond. Speaker: Yale D. Belanger, Ph.D.  Dr. Yale Belanger is Professor of Political Science at the University of Lethbridge, and Member of the Royal Society of Canada, College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists (2017-2024). He has written numerous articles, book chapters, and reports about housing and homelessness.

Sustainable practices, by definition, seek to maintain the same, whereas regenerative practices recognize that natural systems are currently impacted and it applies management techniques to restore the system to improved productivity. Regenerative and sustainable actions can use essentially the same practices, the difference is the application and the management of those tools. Farmers are faced with skyrocketing input costs, declining product efficiency and industry pressure to implement sustainable and regenerative practices. The speaker will argue that revolutionary biological products have the ability to increase input efficiency, reduce reliance on chemical products, restore soil health and enable farmers to produce higher quality crops, sustainably. Speaker: Joshua Day Chief Joshua Day Chief is Chief Executive Officer of AdvancedAg (AAG). Since 2013, he has propelled the company’s growth through groundbreaking research projects that have helped redefine biological technology in the agriculture industry.

There is significant interest in establishing metallurgical coal mining operations throughout the eastern slopes of Alberta. The areas residing within the Oldman watershed are no exception. Currently, there are four companies exploring potential mining operations in the region. All of the currently proposed coal mines are open-pit “mountain top removal” mines and are located in the Crowsnest Pass area. Coal mining exploration is also happening along the Livingstone Range and in the Bighorn area west of Red Deer. On May 15, 2020, the Government of Alberta announced it was rescinding the long-standing provincial Coal Policy, which was implemented by the Peter Lougheed Government in 1976. Since then, Crown coal rights have been sold on land where coal mining was previously not considered, in order to protect the watershed and wildlife. On March 4, 2022, the Government of Alberta announced restrictions on coal development in the Eastern Slopes of the Rockies. The restrictions on new development will be in place u

Neighbourhood connections are the foundation of a resilient city. They enhance safety, well-being, and local engagement, strengthening Lethbridge as a whole. This session explores why these connections matter, insights from the Neighbourhood Engagement Project, and the role of neighbourhood associations—like the League of YQL Neighbourhoods—in fostering community. Beyond discussion, this is a call to action: whether by engaging with neighbours, supporting local initiatives, or simply being a friendly presence, small efforts make a big impact. Let’s build stronger communities together. Speaker: Jerry Firth, Community Development Officer Jerry Firth is a co-founder and the Chair of the League of YQL Neighbourhoods and the Lethbridge Uplands Neighbourhood Association. He previously worked as the Neighbourhood Development Coordinator for the City of Lethbridge, fostering his passion for connecting neighbours. Jerry now works as a Community Development Officer with the Community Engagement Branch of Alberta Arts,

Canada has experienced a disruptive start to 2025, with PM Justin Trudeau stepping down as Liberal leader, prompting a leadership campaign and a prorogued parliament . With a federal election looming, Canadians, among other problems, are facing affordability issues and to top it off, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose 25-percent tariffs on a wide range of imports from Canada and 10-percent tariffs on oil and gas. Those US tariffs were set to begin Feb 4, but have been delayed by at least 30 days as the countries work together on border security and trade imbalance. However, for many Canadians, the potential for a trade war between two longtime allies continues to fuel anger, despair and confusion over what may be coming next. The speaker will try to make sense of it all, while analyzing the response from governments and political leaders including Liberal leadership contenders. Speaker: Shannon Phillips Shannon brings over two decades of experience in public policy, governance, and leadership in e

Since 2017, the Secure Your Food Program (SYF) has known that food prices will rise due to systemic issues. Other contributing factors such as history, war, climate change, etc., will also keep prices elevated for the foreseeable future. SYF can confidently summarize for you and your family why this is happening and why it’s important to prepare during these volatile times. SYF works at all levels of society to improve food security. Food security is your access to nutritious foods to support healthy living. SYF employs sustainable and mitigative food security solutions for individuals, families, large groups, and municipalities. The Secure Your Food Program is consulted on growing projects, designs food systems, advises on food initiatives, collaborates with local groups, advocates for vulnerable populations, and participates in academic and community research, all focused on food. Due to its wide range of activities and sought after solutions, the Secure Your Food program is transitioning to a Not-for-Profi

Recently, Mayor Hyggen presented his annual State of the City address for the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce and he highlighted our rapid population growth and the challenges and opportunities. What are our current needs? What do we foresee in the near future and beyond? How do we pay for it? Who should pay for it? The speaker will talk about the issues, costs, priorities and realities. Speaker: Blaine Hyggen, Mayor of Lethbridge Blaine Hyggen was first elected to City Council in 2013 and was elected Mayor in 2021. He has owned and operated various businesses throughout the community for the past 28 years. He studied Business Law and Accounting at Lethbridge Community College. Some of Blaine’s past and current volunteer experience includes: School Councils, Lethbridge Figure Skating Club, Lethbridge Volleyball Association, Lethbridge Oldtimers Sports Association and The Lethbridge Hurricanes Hockey Club, to name a few. Blaine’s family is his number one priority. His wife Jennifer is a Registered Nurse and the

Overwhelmed hospitals. Overcrowded schools. Threats from Donald Trump. Coal mines that could contaminate our water supply. If all that wasn’t enough for Albertans to worry about, Alberta wages and living standards are also falling. Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan will explain what’s behind the disappearance of the Alberta Advantage – and what we can do about it. Speaker: Gil McGowan Gil McGowan is a passionate labour leader, advocate for workers’ rights, and dedicated champion of social and economic justice. Since 2005, he has served as the president of the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL), Alberta’s largest labor organization, representing more than 175,000 unionized workers from diverse industries across the province. Under McGowan’s leadership, the AFL has been a powerful voice for workers, spearheading campaigns to improve workplace safety, secure fair wages, and protect public services. His leadership has been pivotal during times of economic and political change in Alberta, particul