Lethbridge Herald

Funding a main topic at the mayor’s annual State of the City

Mayor Blaine Hyggen used his State of the City address on Thursday to frame the year ahead as one of tough choices, cautious optimism and doing more with less, telling business leaders the city must decide between “needs” and wants. His address,...

Alberta Education at tipping point , ATA survey finds

Alberta teachers are sounding the alarm about a deepening crisis in education, with a new union survey showing unprecedented stress levels and waning confidence in the future of their profession. The ATA says increasing classroom complexity and recent...

McNally Contractors now operates under Volker Stevin

Founded in June 1976, McNally began with portable asphalt operations out of Fort Macleod before following work across Western Canada. In 2004, the company established permanent operations in Lethbridge. McNally has been part of the Volker Stevin...

First citizen recall petition against Alberta legislature member fails

The first of more than two dozen recall petitions launched against members of Alberta’s legislature has come up short. Jenny Yeremiy submitted to Elections Alberta Tuesday her petition against Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides -- but said she...

City encourages residents to report encampments

Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services, Lethbridge Police Service and the City of Lethbridge’s Community Social Development department are asking residents to report encampments. Sean Middleton, encampment support specialist with the city of...

Moe, canola farmers say trade deal with China ‘very good news’

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and canola farmers are hailing Canada’s new trade deal with China as “very good news” that could restore exports for the major Prairie crop. Moe accompanied Prime Minister Mark Carney to Beijing this week to strike the...

LPS seeking witness after offender was re-arrested

Lethbridge Police re-arrested 50-year-old Skye Atoa for breaching the conditions of a release order approximately half an hour after his release from custody. According to Lethbridge Police, upon his release, Atoa was required to go to a court-ordered...

Blood Tribe opposed to separation

As the citizen-initiative petition on Alberta independence has begun collecting signatures, Indigenous groups across the province are calling for legal changes to prevent separatist efforts, which they say contravene Indigenous rights under treaty...

STARS Lottery Dream Home named after local resident

STARS Lottery is back for their 33rd year with one of the grand prize dream homes named after a local resident who is alive today thanks to STARS. “The Broc James” Dream Home was built by Van Arbor Homes it is located at 684 Devonia Road West, and it...

Canada encouraged to co-ordinate response to Maduro’s ouster

Foreign policy experts say Ottawa should reach out to nations threatened by the United States to co-ordinate a response to the Trump administration’s ouster of Venezuela’s autocratic ruler. “We’re a long way from a democratic transition here. This...

Friends of Medicare concerned by overdose prevention site closures

Friends of Medicare are expressing their alarm and concern about the closure of many supervised consumption sites province wide, saying it will not only affect those who rely on the services to survive, but the impact will spread to those needing...

Good Movement focuses on community and culture

A Blackfoot man who found fitness to fill a void he had while recovering from addiction is now using his knowledge to help youth find community and culture to prevent them from the firm, dark grasp of addiction where he spent many of his years as a...

Alta. group gets green light to collect separation signatures

Alberta’s election agency has fired the starter’s pistol on the race to collect enough names for a referendum on the province quitting Canada. Elections Alberta announced Friday that Mitch Sylvestre and the Alberta Prosperity Project have from...

Community rings Joya No Kane for new year

Over 100 members of the community gathered at the Friendship Bell at Nikka Yukko Japanese Garden Wednesday evening to take turns ringing the Joya No Kane (New Year’s Eve bell) to welcome the New Year with reflection and renewal. The traditional...

EYES ON THE HEALTH CARE PRIZE

The Alberta government in 2025 completed the final legal foundations of its new healthcare system — and Premier Danielle Smith says she’s working in 2026 to prove it was worth it. The massive reorganization saw Smith dismantle Alberta Health Services...

Expansion a key part of 2025 focus, says mayor

With 2025 coming to an end, Mayor Blaine Hyggen recounts some highlights and lessons learned throughout the year, not only as a mayor but also as part of council. “It’s been a very busy year, and different than most years as we had an election in the...

THE YEAR THE SHOE DROPPED

The people anxiously sipping hot chocolate in the Canadian Embassy in Washington on a cold night in January almost a year ago couldn’t have predicted the roller-coaster of trade provocations and bilateral blow-ups the next 12 months would bring. In...

RECALLS REACH 26

Elections Alberta issued three more recall petitions Tuesday for members of the provincial legislature — two United Conservative backbenchers and one Opposition New Democrat. It brings the current total of active petitions to 26. All but two are for...

THE NATIVITY COMES TO LIFE

DITCH RCMP, QUIT CPP?

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s hand-picked panel re-examining the province’s relationship with Ottawa says it’s time to ditch the RCMP and hold a provincewide referendum on quitting the Canada Pension Plan. The Alberta Next panel, in a report with...

No injuries in explosion at community centre

While there were no injuries when a large explosion rocked the interior of the Taber Community Centre on Wednesday afternoon, pure luck appears to have been a significant factor in that positive outcome. At approximately 4 p.m. on Dec. 17, an...

Amery latest UCP MLA to face recall petition

Alberta’s justice minister is the latest member of Premier Danielle Smith’s caucus to face a citizen recall petition. Elections Alberta announced Wednesday petitions against Mickey Amery and fellow United Conservative Party legislator Jackie...

WIN-WIN SITUATION

A new lottery is being launched to help cardiac care at the Chinook Regional Hospital. The Downtown Rotary Club of Lethbridge has launched their 2025-26 Catch the Ace lottery with all proceeds headed to the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation’s...

Three children die of the flu in Ottawa region

Ottawa’s top doctor says the death of three children in the region over the past two weeks from influenza-related complications is unusual and could signify a difficult flu season ahead. Ottawa and Eastern Ontario Health Unit medical officers of...

MYSTERY DEEPENS

There’s a second “mystery man” in the Nathan Neudorf recall campaign to join absentee organizer Ryan Tanner, according to two city women who came forward with their story this week. Lucretia Apperloo and Barb Phillips both sent emails to...

City couple still stealing Christmas 30 years later

Christmas decorations can take on a life of their own: start with one simple homemade wooden Grinch poking out of a chimney placed atop a roof in 1995, add at least one new decoration continually every year and the next thing you know Lethbridge has...

Whoop-Up speed limit permanantly drops to 70

The speed on Whoop-Up Drive has been permanently changed to 70 km/h to improve road safety and reduce the risk of serious collisions. Darwin Juell, general manager of transportation and transit said the change of speed has been in the works for the...

NO ICE IS SAFE ICE

With the recent fluctuating temperatures, Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services is reminding residents to be safe around bodies of water that may seem frozen enough to be on them. Jaydon McCarthy, co-team lead with the water rescue team with LFES...

Courts shouldn’t be gatekeepers: Smith

Premier Danielle Smith says anyone seeking an independence referendum should not have “gatekeepers,” like the courts, standing in their way. Smith was asked about the independence question Saturday on her radio call-in show, weighing in for the first...

THE BEAR NECESSITIES

Lethbridge Hurricanes Kai Anderson and Jake Evans admire the smallest of stuffed toys on the ice during the 29th annual Canadian Tire Toque and Teddy Toss Game against the Wenatchee Wild on Friday night at VisitLethbridge.com Arena. The Hurricanes are...

DRIVE SOBER!

Now that the holiday season celebrations are beginning to take place, Lethbridge Police Service and Mothers Against Drunk Driving are reminding motorists to drive sober. Sgt. Tony Ramotowski with the Traffic Response Unit said Check Stops will be held...

CITY STRIKES DEAL WITH FIREFIGHTERS

It took a while but the City of Lethbridge and the local firefighters’ union have reached an innovative new deal. The previous collective agreement between the City and the International Association of Firefighters Union (IAFU) Local 237 expired in...

Province won’t comply with feds’ gun buyback

The provincial government is taking a stand against Ottawa and the federal gun buyback program Minister of Justice Mickey Amery has introduced a motion under the Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act to protect gun owners in Alberta. Amery...

UCP not a separatist party, says Smith

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her United Conservative Party isn’t a separatist party. Last week’s historic energy deal between Alberta and Ottawa was met with skepticism, and at multiple points by boos, by members at the party’s annual...

City police point out dangers, damage of electric dirt bikes

The City of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Police Services are warning residents of the damage unregulated electric dirt bikes are causing to the river valley and the safety risk that they pose for those walking the trails. Sergeant Ryan Darroch with the...

THEY’VE GOT THEIR DUCKS IN A ROW

Life is ducky once again for pet ducks Chasey and Chicken after running “afowl” of the law. The pair were in danger of being evicted from their home on the corner of 12 Street and 6 Avenue North where they live with retirees Laurel and Mitch...

Neudorf among latest round of recall petitions

Nathan Neudorf, MLA for Lethbridge East and Minister fir Utilities and Affordability, is among the list if five new recall petitions against UCP caucus members issued by Elections Alberta on Tuesday, bringing the total to 14. The new total means that...

Smith says report is a roadmap for classes

The Aggression and Complexity in Schools Action Team has concluded its work and submitted the final report to Alberta’s government. Premier Danielle Smith, alongside Minister of Education and Childcare Demetrios Nicolaides, released the report on...

Caldwells kick off Christmas

The Caldwell family is ready to welcome members of the community tomorrow to their eight annual Christmas with the Caldwells kick-off party, to begin collecting toys for the Salvation Army Toys for Tots campaign and nonperishable food for the...

‘EVERYBODY’S GONE’

Eight decades after the end of the deadliest military conflict in history, Canadians paused for Remembrance Day ceremonies Tuesday to honour those who put their lives on the line for their country. In chilly Ottawa, next to a National War Memorial...

Local Indigenous veteran recalls time in U.S. Marines

Indigenous peoples of North America have a long history of strong warrior traditions, which were prevalent in precolonial societies and continued into later centuries. These traditions were shaped by factors such as personal prestige for bravery, the...

Whoop-Up Drive repairs finally close to finish line

A fully functional and open WhoopUp Drive bridge is almost a reality after months of planning for major repairs under the bridge, which will begin next week. After a flatbed trailer carrying heavy equipment hit the bottom of the bridge on Aug. 6,...

Opposition bill takes aim at conflicts of interest

Alberta’s New Democrats are introducing legislation to crack down on conflicts of interest and tighten rules around gifts and political influence, through Bill 202: the Conflicts of Interest (Ethical Governance) Amendment Act. During a news conference...

ATCO-Triple M project tackles housing shortage

Triple M Housing is doing its part to help with the ongoing housing shortage across the province by building multilevel modular homes for a multi-family complex in Calgary. Rick Weste, president and CEO of Triple M Housing, a division of ATCO...

A WALK TO REMEMBER

Right on the heels of the weekend kickoff of the Royal Canadian Legion’s annual poppy campaign, the poppy flag was raised at City Hall early Tuesday afternoon to mark the beginning of Veterans’ Week, symbolizing remembrance for the service and...

Major development coming to west side

A multi-developer project with a price tag of more than $300 million is set to bring the first hotel to the west side of the city, along with more businesses and more residential opportunities for families and older adults. Matthew Sherwood, President...

Recent high winds prompt fire ban in river valley

As wind speeds remain relatively high, the Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services has placed a fire ban on the river valley, but it may be lifted with frost in the horizon. Troy Hicks, Chief Fire Marshal with LFES said he is aware of the...

Hundreds of students protest across Alberta

Hundreds of students across Alberta cut class Thursday to march and chant against the province’s shutdown of a teachers strike that saw some compare Premier Danielle Smith to a cold-hearted, green-furred Grinch. “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Danielle Smith has...

STUDENTS WALK OUT

Students at LCI showed their support for teachers forced back to work by staging a walkout Wednesday morning, following the provincial government mandating teachers back to work. The walkout started at 10 a.m. with about 50 students eaving class to...

Petition pole-vaults over signature goal

Albertans have spoken and an overwhelming number – more than 450,000 – want to see Alberta remain part of Canada. A total of 456,355 signatures were delivered Tuesday morning when the Forever Canadian vehicle pulled into the Elections Alberta parking...

A ROYAL VISIT FROM THE QUEEN OF R&B SOUL

Teachers’ union slams back-to-work legislation

The Alberta Teachers’ Association is condemning the government’s plan to table legislation on Monday to force teachers back to work and end the province-wide strike. ATA president Jason Schilling said Friday that Bill 2, the Back to School Act, is...

BACK IN SESSION

Alberta’s New Democrat Caucus held 10 town halls this summer, knocked on countless doors, and attended numerous community events and festivals. Lethbridge-West MLA Rob Miyashiro said he heard from Albertans over the summer that affordability is a key...

Hyggen asks for respect for incoming city council

Blaine Hyggen had some strong words for online commenters Wednesday during his first news conference as the re-elected mayor of Lethbridge. “You wouldn’t believe the threats, etc. that come out online, physical, talking about your family or fellow...

Still waiting on official results of city election

As municipal ballots continue to be counted by hand, unofficial results are being posted multiple times a day through the City of Lethbridge website as resident wait for official results. The 2025 Municipal and School Election results won’t become...

Election changes mean longer wait for results

The 2025 municipal election is officially over, but unlike previous years, voters will have to wait to find out if which candidates were elected to local councils and school boards. All votes cast between Oct. 8 and yesterday are being counted by...

ATA refuses gov’t request to return to classrooms

After two weeks of students being out of their classrooms, the Government of Alberta asked teachers go back to work next Monday. The Alberta Teachers’ Association response was a resounding no. ATA president Jason Schilling said the request came in a...

SORRY, BUT NO DEAL

The Alberta Prosperity Project has promised that First Nations treaty rights would remain unaffected if Alberta separated from Canada, and that First Nations would actually benefit from being free of federal restrictions and see their prosperity jump,...

Talks stall between province and teachers

The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) said Wednesday they presented a serious, balanced, and realistic proposal to the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) on Tuesday, but Minister of Finance Nate Horner says there’s still a major divide...

‘THERE’S A VOID’

Many Alberta students are sleeping in these days, struggling with the feeling they should be doing something else instead. A provincewide teachers strike, about to enter its second week, has meant some 740,000 children haven’t had to set their morning...

Province announces new funding for special needs

The government of Alberta announced Friday that they will be providing new supports to help parents and students manage financial and learning challenges during the teacher’s strike. Previously, the government announced a Parent Payment plan, where...

Workshop focuses on first responder mental health

The Lethbridge Police Service, in partnership with the Diversified Rehabilitation Group, hosted a special workshop to support the spouses and family members of first responders Thursday at the Lethbridge Trade and Convention Centre. The “Getting...

Conservatives look to end birthright citizenship

The Conservatives are calling for a new limit on birthright citizenship, a measure they say would mirror the rules in peer countries and curb the risk of abuse of the immigration system. Under Canadian law, a child born in this country is...

MUSIC TO OUR EARS

The Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra (LSO) began its 2025-26 season with “Symphony I” at Southminster United Church Monday evening. Over 400 people of all ages gathered there to hear the community orchestra perform “Scheherazade” by Rimsky Korsakov and...

TEACHERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Sunday was World Teachers’ Day, and in Lethbridge thousands of public school teachers, parents, students and supporters spent part of the day rallying along Mayor Magrath Drive South at Henderson Lake, with many holding flags or picket signs as they...

Schools close as teacher strike officially begins

Students in public and separate schools across Alberta won’t be returning to school Monday after the Alberta Teachers Association announced Friday that they will follow through on their threat to walk off the job. In a statement, the ATA said that...

HSAA ON THE MARCH

Unionized health care professionals rallied in front of Chinook Regional Hospital (CRH) Thursday, joining thousands of others outside health centres across the province to call for a better deal from the provincial government. The Health Sciences...

Alberta re-enters pipeline arena with new proposal

Premier Danielle Smith says Alberta is committing $14 million to kick-start a proposed new oil pipeline to the West Coast, putting it on a collision course with the federal government’s B.C. tanker ban. It’s a project Smith hails as the fulfilment of...

ONE BECOMES TWO

The Lethbridge and District Exhibition has officially split into two distinct and focused entities, The Lethbridge and District Agricultural Society (LDAS) and Excite Lethbridge. With each entity focusing on specific areas, LDAS will promote...

Council approves crosswalks in final pre-election meeting

City Council approved a new policy regarding decorative crosswalks during a marathon final meeting of the current session Tuesday. The move was in response to public requests for them. It comes a year after the motion was first brought forward for a...

The human canvas

The 2025 Windy City Tattoo Show wrapped-up its 18th year on the weekend, which means many teenagers now old enough to get their first ink were born when the show was established in 2006, and a significant number of the tattoo artists there were...

Paul Brandt’s a star in more ways than one

Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes in Canada, with more than 4,500 incidents being reported between 2013 and 2023. Paul Brandt, an Alberta country singer known for his hits Alberta Bound, Convoy and My Heart Has a History, has been...

Walk About is about advocacy

Disability self-advocates, families and allies walked shoulder-to-shoulder from City Hall to Galt Gardens Friday, during the 15th Annual Citizen Walk About to raise their voices for inclusion and disability rights in Southern Alberta. This year’s...

15-SIX, 15-EIGHT, AHOY, MATE!

You’ve heard of “card sharks”... but a “cribbage pirate?” Seventy-nine-year-old Roy Melchuk plays cribbage with friends at the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO) Thursday. After eye surgery, Melchuk had to wear an eye patch for a time, and...