City News

Bedbugs are on the rise in Lethbridge and residents all over the city have found their homes infested with the blood-sucking insects.
Last week, Alberta Health Services received more than 20 reports of bedbugs at different locations across the city, including municipally owned public housing units. And since people aren’t required to report bedbug infestations, there could be many more cases the department doesn’t know about.
“Bedbugs take up a lot of our time,” said public health inspector Geoff Tomko. “People assume that a dirty place or a bad hotel would be a hot spot for bedbugs, but we actually do find a lot of higher-end places have bedbugs as well, so actually it’s fairly uniform throughout Lethbridge.”
Tomko said bedbugs have been slowly creeping up in southern Alberta for the past decade, and he’s noticed the nocturnal nuisances have been more prevalent in the area over the past month.
Bedbugs are flat, brown, oval-shaped insects about the size of an apple seed. They hide in tiny spaces, such as under mattresses and box springs, in baseboards and electrical outlets. They can’t fly, they don’t like light and they come out at night to feed on human blood. The resulting bite marks are usually small, raised, itchy lumps all in a row.
Bedbugs are resistant to most insect repellents on the market today, making them extremely difficult to get rid of.

Chain saw-wielding man sought

Police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the subjects involved in a bizarre incident early Saturday evening.
At 6:47 p.m. on July 16, police responded to the Dairy Queen at 12 Avenue and Mayor Magrath Drive South on a report of a man being chased by another man carrying a chain saw.
Investigation into the incident revealed that two men had met up in the parking lot where police suspect they were in the process of a drug deal.
A man in a white car approached the two men. Words were exchanged and the two men retreated to a van where one of them grabbed a chain saw, started it up and then chased the other male back to the white car, which left the area southbound in the lane to 12 Avenue.
All of the parties left prior to police arrival and identities of the subjects involved remains unknown.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is urged to contact the Lethbridge regional police at 403-327-2210.

Accessibility is still an issue

Obstacles continue to face wheelchair users in the city, according to a presentation made before city council July 11.
Chris Schamber, of Quad Design and Barrier Free Consulting, outlined the problem areas that include sidewalks with uneven control joints, pedestrian buttons that are installed at different heights and out of easy reach, parking spaces that are too small for lift-equipped vehicles and buildings without family washrooms.
“Pedestrian buttons are one of the main issues that I have,” Schamber said. “Some of the facilities are very important for people to get in and out. The more independence people have the better quality of life they have where they can have their own self-esteem to get in and out.”
The city has invested in making travel easier for people who use wheelchairs, including adding curb cuts for street crossings.
While Schamber said he was happy with some of the changes the city has made in recent years, he says some problems still exist and has devised solutions. They include paved pathways, making sidewalks without the lipped control joints and with wheelchair-friendly slope and specially designed parking stalls that would provide access whether in a parking lot or on the street. Signs could also be used to indicate the width of a parking stall in winter time when the lines are obscured.
Accessibility standards weren’t the same as they are now when some city sidewalks were poured. As standards have changed over time, the city does some retrofitting work and works with the development community and city staff to ensure new areas of the city are more accessible, Garth Sherwin, city manager, said.

Province unveils air quality index

How is the air out there? The provincial government has launched a monitoring system that measures air quality in 22 communities across the province — including Lethbridge — and posts an hourly index online, ranging from one (low risk) to 10 (high risk).
Apart from the hourly updates, some air quality forecasts are available for select cities including Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer. Forecasts for Lethbridge and the remaining communities are expected to be rolled out by the end of this year or in early 2012. "
This system will allow people to understand the air quality like they understand the UV index," said provincial Environment Minister Rob Renner.
The new Air Quality Health Index brings the provincial monitoring system in line with federal standards, measuring three common elements in the air — ground-level ozone, air-borne particles and nitrogen dioxide — plus other pollutants specific to the province. Those are hydrogen sulfide and sulphur, byproducts of Alberta’s oil and gas industry, according to the provincial department of environment.
“It’s to ensure that we have an air quality system that is tailor-made to our province and meets our needs here in Alberta,” said department spokesperson Ogho Ikhalo. “We did that so we can give Albertans more timely and more relevant information so they can plan their outdoor activities.”
Ikhalo said air quality across the province is rarely high-risk.
“Generally air quality in Alberta is good; it’s low-risk more than 90 per cent of the time,” she said, acknowledging that “air quality affects everyone’s health differently.”
The monitoring system is expected to be especially useful for those dealing with heart or lung conditions and respiratory problems, such as asthma and bronchitis, that can make breathing difficult at the best of times and worse still in poor air quality.
The system can also help inform the public when smoke from wildfires spread across the province.
The index is available at www.airquality.alberta.ca.

Alberta loses Football Canada Cup final

Alberta dropped a closely fought defensive battle July 15 in the championship game of the Football Canada Cup in Lethbridge. Quebec claimed the national tournament for under-18 football players with a final score of 28-2.
Alberta took a 2-0 lead in the first quarter on the strength of two Stephen Fabian (from Brooks) singles on and held Quebec on a fierce goal-line stand in the opening moments. Quebec eventually answered with an Alexander Huard 71-yard run for a TD to take a 7-2 lead at the half. From there Alberta couldn’t hold back the tide as Quebec struck for three second-half TDs from Huard and two from Dev Lamour to roll to their fourth national championship at this event. Team B.C. won the bronze with a 14-1 win over Ontario West.

This past weekend was a car lover’s dream. In addition to the Street Wheelers’ Street Machine Weekend, Chrysler enthusiasts showed off their muscle cars, motorcycles, hot rods and rigs at the 18th annual Pentastars and Friends in the Park car show. The car show took place Saturday at Pioneer Park and kicked off with a show and shine featuring 25 different classes of vehicles. New this year was the “big rig” class open to all types of trucks.
A show and shine capped off the Street Wheelers’ weekend in Galt Gardens Sunday. Cars, trucks and even motorcycles gleamed and glittered as the sun shone down upon the hundreds of people who strolled through the park to admire custom handiwork.
The weekend kicked off with more than 600 classic automobiles cruising through the city at the start of the 33rd annual Street Wheelers Controlled Cruise July 8.
The evening sun glinted off the hoods of vintage Volkswagen Beetles, Cadillacs, Trans Ams, semis and Studebakers as they paraded through for the delight of dedicated car lovers such as Terry North Peigan.
“I wait all year ’round for this,” North Peigan said, gathered with his family to see the parade. “It’s just a thrill. It’s exciting for me.”

City has plenty to celebrate

Two city facilities were officially opened July 7 after a sod-turning celebration for a third about to rise in downtown Lethbridge.
A $1.75 million picnic shelter in the Sherring Park sports complex welcomed civic officials and guests, after the ceremonial construction launch of the city’s $20 million Community Arts Centre. Later, they toured a two-storey addition to Nicholas Sheran Arena.
Provincial and federal officials — along with local organizations — were praised repeatedly for their support for the three projects. Members of the city’s Rotary clubs raised funds for two of them.
Former alderman Greg Weadick, now the MLA for Lethbridge West, noted how long a new arts facility remained on the city’s list of priorities — before anything happened. Now, with $14.5 million from the province’s Municipal Sustainability Initiative - and $6 million from the federal government’s Build Canada Fund — it’s no longer just a dream.
After praising former mayor Bob Tarleck for getting those grants rolling, deputy mayor Ryan Parker underlined how little the arts centre is costing Lethbridge taxpayers to build: about $200,000.
Lethbridge MP Jim Hillyer — a former music conservatory student — stressed the importance of government support for the arts. He hopes grants will also be available for the performing arts centre that’s proposed for a site next to the current project.
“We look forward to investing in new projects like this.”
Rotarians continue to invest as well, and the city’s newest picnic facility has been named in their honour. The Rotary Picnic Shelter, amidst the soccer and rugby fields on 28 Street North, is now open for bookings. Like existing shelters in Pavan Park and Indian Battle Park, it’s a secure facility for group and family functions.
The $2.6 million expansion of the Sheran ice arena has provided more team dressing rooms, training and therapy facilities. It also included a meeting room and office space as well as ice plant and other mechanical upgrades.

Hospital construction planned

Construction is expected to begin this fall, following the selection of a major contractor for a $112.7-million expansion to Chinook Regional Hospital.
Calgary-based Stuart Olson Dominion Construction will manage the project, expected to be complete and open by the spring of 2015. Provincial officials say the builder will meet over the summer with the project’s prime consultants, Perkins and Will, and will begin bringing equipment on-site early this fall.
“For many people, progress is most tangible when they see heavy equipment and workers on an active construction site,” said Infrastructure Minister Ray Danyluk, announcing the contract award. “This is exactly the phase we are entering.”
Design work on a multi-storey, 19,000-square-metre north wing to the hospital has already begun, the minister said. Physicians, clinical and other hospital staff are involved in that process.
The redevelopment project’s first phase will be demolition and renovation of the former cancer clinic, on the main floor of the hospital’s treatment wing. That will provide more space for day procedures and the emergency department.
“Minor” renovations are also planned on the hospital’s existing inpatient floors, officials say.

City youth meets the royal couple during their Calgary visit

How big of a thrill is meeting Prince William and his wife Kate? For Jessica Eagleson, on a scale of one to 10, the meeting was, “a gajillion.”
The 20-year-old Lethbridge resident was one of two youth chosen by Wood's Homes to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at a Calgary reception hosted by Premier Ed Stelmach.
“On a scale of one to 10 it was absolutely amazing. It was the best opportunity I’ve ever gotten. I’ll cherish it forever,” Eagleson in a phone interview July 8.
“I am on Cloud Nine.”
Eagleson said she got up at 5 a.m. and she and a youth worker from Woods Homes were on the road to Calgary by 7:30 a.m. They met up with two other Woods Homes representatives, one of them a youth from Fort McMurray, and made their way to the Calgary Zoo and the Enmax Conservatory where they were scheduled to meet the royal couple at 10:45 a.m.
“When they came over the bridge I think it finally set in that I was going to get to meet Prince William and his new wife Kate and they came, and before I even had a chance to curtsy, Prince William had his hand out and he was ready to shake my hand. So I shook his hand and he asked me how I got to Wood’s youth shelter. He was really personal and he seemed to be really interested in the things I was saying.”

Award honours seniors

Do you know a local senior who deserves some praise for all they do? Nominations for Lethbridge’s second annual Seniors of Distinction Awards are now open to bestow honours upon those who do so much for the community.
The awards, run by Calgary-based company AgeCare Investments and sponsored by several local businesses including the Lethbridge Herald, kicked off for the first time last year in celebration of eight busy Lethbridge seniors who won for their dedication to so many community activities - from the Red Cross to violin-playing.
Anyone can nominate someone 65 or older, with that senior’s permission, in the categories of arts, leadership, community service and healthy living as long as the activities for which the seniors are nominated for took place in Lethbridge after the individual turned 65. Nomination forms are available on the AgeCare website at www.agecare.ca.
Brenda Neufeld, a spokesperson for AgeCare, said she hopes as many nominations as possible will pour in before the Sept. 14 deadline for the awards ceremony’s second year running.
“We have a lot of seniors who do a lot of volunteer work. They do just amazing things for the community, and they go unrecognized,” she said, explaining seniors can be considered not just for volunteer work but for their involvement in a variety of activities such as sports, recreation, education and literacy.
“There’s such a neat variety of things people do. Things you don’t even think of,” Neufeld said.
“And they just keep going,” she added.
“They’re often also the ones who are really behind the scenes. They don’t get recognized and they’re not looking for recognition. They really aren’t. So it’s just a really, really wonderful way to recognize them in spite of their humbleness.”

No serious incidents during Street Machine Weekend, police say

Strong winds and cooler temperatures kept some people away from the first night of the Street Machine Weekend, which ended without any serious incidents, but police were busy with traffic violations.
Police issued seven tickets for speeding, 14 for equipment violations, two for unregistered vehicles, three for disobeying traffic control, one for no seat belt, one for excessive noise, two for stunting, and three tickets for liquor offences.
On the second night of Street Machine Weekend, the following tickets were handed out: five for speeding, 10 for equipment violations, three for unregistered vehicles, one for disobeying traffic control, four for no seat belt, one for stunting, and three other general offences.

Nominate someone for the city’s ‘green list’

The City of Lethbridge is drafting a new “green list” in time for local Environment Week to give kudos to those in the community who are doing their part for the environment.
To earn a spot on the city’s 2011 Green List, local individuals, businesses and organizations must be nominated before Aug. 31.
Those chosen will be honoured at a celebration in October. Recommendations can be submitted at lethbridge.ca/greenlist — where last year’s list can also be viewed — or by calling 403-320-3064.

Overuse blamed in power outage

A power outage July 6 on the south side is being blamed on a temporary overload on a supply transformer.
The overload triggered an automatic shutdown to protect the transformer, said Stewart Purkis, acting electrical operations manager for the City of Lethbridge.
“It was at its limit, so it tripped off,” he said, adding power distribution was reconfigured to ensure a similar overload doesn’t occur.
Power went out just before 5 p.m., leaving the residents and traffic signals in the southeast portion of the city without electricity. Full service was restored at about 6:50 p.m.
Although there are no long-term capacity issues within the city’s electrical system, he said, the incident has prompted a reminder to city residents to be mindful of the potential to reach peak loading conditions on the provincial electrical grid on hot days. City officials are recommending that the use of discretionary electrical appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines and clothes dryers should be deferred until after 8 p.m. whenever possible, especially during hot weather.

Football Canada Cup underway

The Football Canada Cup kicked off at the University of Lethbridge stadium July 9 with a day of blowouts, but the biggest crowd turned up for the final matchup of the night — and Team Alberta pulled out a strong all-around performance against Team Saskatchewan in a 52-19 win in the country’s showcase of under-18 football talent.
In other action on the opening day of the 2011 Football Canada Cup. Ontario West beat Nova Scotia 33-0, British Columbia defeated Manitoba 18-0 and Quebec was victorious over Ontario East with a final score of 42-13.
The 2011 Football Canada Cup will showcase the best under-18 football players from across the country.
The final day of the tournament is July 15.

Lethbridge Bulls game the site of cancer fundraiser

Stand up to the plate in the fight against cancer with the Lethbridge Bulls and Relay for Life.
Join the Canadian Cancer Society at Spitz Stadium July 14 at 7 p.m. and support the Bulls as they fight back cancer while taking on the Okotoks Dawgs.
Test your aim with a $2 Frisbee toss and participate in the silent auction to win an autographed team shirt and more.
All proceeds go to the Lethbridge Relay for Life.

West access to City Hall temporarily closed

The City Hall West Access to and from Stafford Drive will be closed until Aug. 1 for construction work. Visitors driving to City Hall are asked to please follow the detour signs and use the 11 Street South access to City Hall (from the east).  Contact Henry Sirias, if there are delivery and access requirements at the back of City Hall.

 The City of Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services Department has introduced three new ambulances to the fleet of EMS response vehicles. The new ambulances feature Alberta Health Services regulated colours and patterns. In addition, some new medical equipment has been added. This will be combined with the advanced skills of our crew to make for a reliable transport unit.
 “The residents of our community will still receive a very high level of care and service each time they call for assistance,” Emergency Operations Officer Lynn Villiger said in a news release. “We are only changing the appearance of our ambulances. We are very fortunate to have these new units supporting our crews in the field. We rely on dependable equipment during the most critical times.”
 Residents will see the brand new white and red ambulances on the streets of Lethbridge and on the highways of southern Alberta this week.

City to roll out new buses

Five new hybrid diesel-electric transit buses are to be added to the city’s bus fleet before the end of this year.
City council voted unanimously June 27 to award a $3.2-million contract for the low-floor hybrid buses to Winnipeg-based New Flyer Industries Canada.
It was an easy decision for council members, given the fact local taxpayers won’t be footing any of the bill. The entire cost is funded by two provincial grants with a two-thirds portion coming from the Alberta government's Green Trip program which provides one-time capital funding for environmentally sustainable public transit initiatives.
The new Lethbridge Transit buses are scheduled for delivery by mid-December this year. They will replace four older high-floor buses and a low-floor bus that was destroyed by an on-board fire last summer.
Council also approved the purchase of a $1.5-million automated fare collection system which will allow bus users to pay fares with so-called transit smart cards.
Smart cards are expected to make bus use simpler for riders. Cards can be loaded with flexible fares for different types or ages of riders and can be reloaded online.
In addition, cards can be customized for riders with specific needs. For example, cards for visually impaired riders can be programmed to display the fare longer on the fare box. Riders who have trouble with English can have their cards programmed to have farebox information displayed in other languages.
The contract was awarded to Ontario-based BEA Transit Solutions and is being fully funded with federal and provincial money.
The new fare collection system is to be installed and in use by Dec. 1 in all city buses, including Access-a-Ride units.

City explores partnership grant

A new West Lethbridge leisure centre isn’t even at the planning stage yet, but the city is investigating whether a federal P3 partnership grant could make it a reality sooner than later.
City council voted unanimously June 27 to file an exploratory application with the P3 Canada Fund to determine whether a multi-purpose leisure centre and a local airport enhancement project would be eligible as public-private partnerships for grant money from the $1.2-billion federal program. The application had to be filed by June 30 in order to be considered for funding this year.
City officials are urging residents, however, not to assume that the application means the city is close to committing money to either project.
The five-year P3 program provides up to 25 per cent of the total cost of approved projects. It’s in its third year.
At this point, a leisure centre has been identified only as a project for future consideration in the city’s 2011-2020 Capital Improvement. No money has been earmarked for it yet.

Whoop-Up Days tickets available

Advance Whoop-Up Days tickets are now available for purchase and those who like discounts will have reason to cheer.
Save $2 on regular admission and $15 on a super ticket, which includes gate admission and unlimited midway rides.
Advance tickets are available at Gas King and ATB Financial in Lethbridge.
Admission prices for the Aug. 23-27 event remain the same as last year: $10 in advance, $12 at the door, children under 12 free.
“It’s a pretty affordable family event,” said Exhibition Park spokesman Doug Kryzanowski. "We're a gathering place for southern Alberta.”
This lineup for this annual summer event includes the Acrobats of Hebei China, which promises incredible juggling routines, contortionists and a variety of physically challenging dances — including the popular technique during which a performer balances atop chairs stacked two storeys high.
Many of the attractions — including the acrobats, Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo and trade show — are scheduled to happen indoors.
Other highlights includes the parade, motocross, monster truck rally, rodeo, farmers’ markets, comedians, live music and even bungee jumping — to name just a few.
The evening concert lineup could be a classic rock lover's dream: Lighthouse, Trooper and Streetheart are scheduled to perform.

Lend a hand for Habitat for Humanity

The Lethbridge chapter of Habitat for Humanity is building a new house for a local family and the organization needs volunteers to help out. A building “blitz” is underway until July 16 at 131 Temple Boulevard on the city’s west side and anyone 18 or older is welcome to pitch in, no construction experience necessary.
“We work every day, all day, and basically it’s a blitz trying to get as much done as possible,” said Bill Fox, who’s involved with the build on behalf of the organization. “So there could be a variety of work,” he said, including siding, framing, electrical, insulating, drywalling and some landscaping. “People just need to show up and we can put them to work doing various things.”
A volunteer appreciation barbecue and house dedication is scheduled after the construction is complete on July 16. Interested volunteers should show up at the site or contact Fox at 403-795-2415.

City’s vacancy rates rise along with rental rates

Looking for a suite? With an affordable rent?
Lethbridge’s vacancy rate is growing this year, and so are prices.
At an average $859 for a two-bedroom suite, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. reports Lethbridge tenants pay more than their counterparts in Medicine Hat ($692) or Red Deer ($820). Still, that’s significantly lower than in Edmonton ($1,029), Calgary ($1,056) or housing-stressed Fort McMurray (an amazing $2,152).
For larger or smaller apartments, the CMHC figures show Lethbridge-area renters are paying an average $533 for a bachelor suite, $747 for one bedroom or $920 for three.
The vacancy rate, meanwhile, has crept up to an average 6.4 per cent — identical to Okotoks, Camrose and Red Deer.
That puts Lethbridge “in the middle of the pack,” says Cheryl Dick, but that’s healthy.
Dick, chief executive officer at Economic Development Lethbridge points to the situation five years ago. She says the rent then, averaging all four sizes, was $620 in a tightening market.
By the spring of 2008, the vacancy rate was less than one per cent . . . and rents started to rise. She suggests those higher rates, coupled with low interest rates on home mortgages, persuaded many renters to look at buying.
“There’s been a fairly significant shift from the rental market to new homes,” as well as the resale market.
Until the last year or so, she points out Lethbridge home builders focused strongly on single-family dwellings. More recently, there’s been a rebound in multiple-family projects.
At the same time, Dick says initiatives such as student housing recently opened at the college have taken some pressure off the rental market.

New playgrounds and walkways available for use

The weatherman is calling for sunny skies this week, which offers a perfect opportunity to explore the new pathway and four new playgrounds in the city.
 The new pathway is located in the off-leash dog park on Scenic Drive South. It is 1.72 kilometres long, complete with stairs, which will make the walk safer in wet conditions and accessible to more walkers.
“The new pathway offers enhanced access into the river valley, the flowers are blooming and the valley is green and inviting,” Dave Ellis, parks manager, said in a news release.
The new playgrounds are located in Adams Park, Ted Petrunia Park, Indian Battle Park North and Algonquin Park.

Quest for Football Canada Cup begins this weekend

The best under-18 football talent from across Canada will be in Lethbridge July 9-15 when the visitLethbridge.com Football Canada Cup takes the snap at the University of Lethbridge Community Stadium.
Team Alberta, featuring the top high school football players in the province under the age of 18, kicked off their training camp on July 4 in preparation for Cup.
The four-day camp will culminate with the arrival of the seven other provincial teams on or before July 8. The first games of the visitLethbridge.com Football Canada Cup will take place on July 9 with Team Alberta scheduled to take on the defending national champion Team Saskatchewan at 7:30 p.m.
For more information, visit www.2011footballcanadacup.ca.

Arms were aching but spirits were high as participants of the 10th annual ATB Financial Lethbridge Rotary Dragon Boat Festival paddled through the final races Sunday.
Nearly 70 teams from Alberta and B.C., ranging in competitiveness from fun to fierce, hit the waters at Henderson Lake Park during the three-day festival June 24-26.
Local team Abreast of ’Bridge also celebrated another year in Lethbridge’s dragon boat festival.
The breast cancer survivor team practises year round for the event. The team has also started up a new tradition of decorating and selling bras by donation to raise funds for the team.
“Some of our girls can’t wear bras anymore. They need special bras, so we just collect them, decorate them and have fun together,” said team member Marnie Stanley, adding the team now has bra decorating evenings.
“We got the idea a couple of years ago and last year decorated the tent with colourful bras,” she explained. “People wanted to have one, so we just asked for a donation to our team and sold them all, and we’ve re-made again for this year.”
Abreast of ‘Bridge has 26 members, which is bittersweet, said Stanley.
“We’ve got a few new members (this year), which is always sad because they’ve had breast cancer, but it’s great because they come to our team,” she said. “It’s supportive and we help each other through our tough times and celebrate and cry together.”

Police warn of a high-risk offender in the city

Although the release of a high-risk sex offender has prompted a police warning to Lethbridge residents, federal corrections officials say he’ll be kept on a short leash.
Charleton Earnest Cutts, 33, was released June 23 from federal prison in Bowden after completing the statutory minimum four years of a seven-year sentence for sexually assaulting a woman in Brooks in January 2007. Cutts is to take up residence in Varsity Village, a West Lethbridge neighbourhood, while abiding by several conditions including a curfew and reporting weekly to police.
Lethbridge regional police, however, are convinced Cutts still poses a significant risk to re-offend and that women in the community could be in danger while he’s out of prison. Police decided to issue a public advisory after reviewing information in his file.
Chris McLauchlan, a spokesman for the Correctional Service of Canada, told the Lethbridge Herald that Cutts’s case workers will keep close tabs on him.
“(The police service’s) designation of high-risk is (based on) their definition of high-risk, not the Correctional Service of Canada’s,” he said.
While any offender is on conditional release, he said, the correctional service monitors him or her and has the authority to send the person back to prison if it’s determined the risk to the community is no longer manageable. In such cases, an offender can be returned to jail even if he or she hasn’t breached any release conditions.
Police issued the advisory and released a photo of Cutts June 22 so residents could take appropriate precautions, but they discouraged residents from taking any kind of vigilante action.
Other release conditions for Cutts prohibit him from possessing pornography, using drugs or having any contact with his victim. In addition, he must attend psychological counselling and be inside his home from 9:30 p.m.-7 a.m.

City home to more than 87,000 residents

The numbers are in and it appears the City of Lethbridge continues to grow.
According to the official 2011 census results released by city officials June 22, Lethbridge now boasts a population of 87,882 — an increase of 1,223 residents — or 1.41 per cent over the 2010 numbers. Last year saw a population increase of 1.37 per cent over the year previous. The three years prior saw population increases of 1.82 (2009), 2.78 (2008) and 3.78 per cent (2007).
“The census results reflect the city remains a vibrant, dynamic community showing a continued sustainable growth pattern,” said Mayor Rajko Dodic in a release. “It remains encouraging that we are still growing. Lethbridge continues to have constant and stable growth.”
Last year, the greatest areas of growth were in the western and northern subdivisions. The most recent numbers reveal the strongest growth occurred in the west and south with 664 and 362 new residents, respectively. There was a slight increase in the population of north Lethbridge as well.
West Lethbridge saw a 2.11 per cent growth in population, with 32,063 residents. The Copperwood subdivision accounted for a good portion of that with 519 new residents for a population of 1,826, while SunRidge accounted for an additional 240 people for a total of 1,341.
South Lethbridge saw a 1.19 per cent growth rate for a population of 30,504. The fastest-growing neighbourhood in that area was Six Mile Coulee with an additional 238 residents bumping up numbers there to 450.
North Lethbridge, with a population of 25,315 for a .79 per cent increase, benefitted from an additional 353 people setting up house in Legacy Ridge, which now boasts 2,072 residents.
Among the other numbers of interest from the 2011 census results were a total of 37,230 households, 373 dwellings under construction at the time of the census and a vacancy rate of six per cent in the city.
The City of Lethbridge performs a census every year to provide an accurate count for provincial and federal funding. Census takers asked for the number of people living in the household, their age and gender.
Detailed census information is available on the City of Lethbridge website at www.lethbridge.ca/census.

Internet luring suspect turns himself in

A Lethbridge man faces child pornography charges after he turned himself in to police.
Around 4:30 a.m. on June 25, a man went to the front counter of the Lethbridge regional police headquarters and told officers he was upset about his communications with underage girls over the Internet. Police report the man confessed to interacting with more than 15 girls between the ages of 13-16 in the past three years using a fake profile under the name “Chad Howard.”
The man later gave a statement to an investigator with the Southern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Unit.
Lethbridge police have charged Chase Teyke, 27, with accessing child pornography, using a computer system to communicate with a person under 16 for the purposes of committing a crime, and unlawfully inviting a person under the age of 16 to touch a part of their body.
Teyke was released on conditions limiting his access to the Internet and his access to children under 16.
He is set to appear in Lethbridge Provincial Court later this month.
Police continue their investigation.
 

Health inspector scam sparks warning

Lethbridge regional police are warning city businesses of a scam involving people posing as health inspectors.
A local fast-food restaurant received a call June 17 from a man claiming to work for the “health board,” according to police. The caller stated health inspectors would be coming by the following day to conduct an inspection, and he asked for other information about the business.
Staff became suspicious of the caller, so they hung up on him. He didn’t call back.
Similar incidents were reported in Alberta last year. In those cases, businesses were also threatened with fines if they didn’t co-operate.
Police are reminding restaurant operators that public health inspectors do not call ahead to schedule inspections, nor do they levy fines for failing to set up inspections. Proprietors are advised to verify the credentials of anyone claiming to be a public health inspector. Legitimate inspectors always carry photo identification.

Check trees for insect pests

Lethbridge residents need to be on the lookout for pests this summer, but not the furry, four-legged kind that leave smelly little nuggets in their flower gardens.
These pests are forest tent caterpillars, cankerworms, leaf rollers and aphids, which have already been spotted in trees throughout the city.
“We are noticing more insect activity because many pests are two weeks behind in growth stages and will be moving about much later this year,” Lindsay Bell, urban forestry technician for the city, says in a news release. “Caterpillars hanging from trees and sticky aphid honeydew will likely be more of a nuisance heading into the summer. Overall, insect pest numbers are down from previous years, they’ve just all shown up at the same time.”
Residents are encouraged to check trees in their yards and boulevards for insect pests. The best time to check trees is in the morning and evening when temperatures are cooler and insects are less active. Blasting them with water from the hose or knocking them into a bucket of soapy water is usually all that’s needed to get rid of the little critters. Chemical controls are rarely necessary.
The city says most trees are capable of withstanding significant defoliation or leaf damage and will grow additional leaves as summer progresses. Homeowners should keep trees in healthy growing conditions and minimize factors that contribute to tree stress, such as lack of adequate water and damage to trunk or root systems. A stressed tree is more susceptible to insect and disease problems.

Bus crash sends six to hospital

Three students were taken to hospital June 23 after their school bus crashed into a minivan that afternoon. The 62-year-old bus driver was charged under the provincial traffic act and faces a $172 fine for rear-ending the van, which was stopped at a yellow light on the northbound intersection of 43 Street North and Crowsnest Trail just before 3:30 p.m.
The bus was carrying 26 students and nine adults, three of whom suffered minor injuries. Three of the mini-van's six occupants were also taken to Chinook Regional Hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

City eyes partnership for westside leisure centre

City council is looking to explore a possible federal P3 partnership for a future multi-purpose leisure centre in West Lethbridge.
Council members are to debate and vote today on a resolution calling for the City of Lethbridge to file a preliminary application by June 30 in order to be eligible to seek funding for future public-private partnerships from the P3 Canada Fund. The fund provides grants covering 25 per cent of the total cost of approved projects.
Mayor Rajko Dodic described the initiative as “exploratory” at this point.
“We just want to stick our toe in the door, so to speak, to start the conversation,” he said.
The city is also looking to explore a joint application with the County of Lethbridge for a possible P3 airport enhancement project.
Any prospective leisure centre project would be apart from the twin ice arena project, he said, which is still expected to begin construction this summer at The Crossings, adjacent to the public and separate high schools in West Lethbridge.
Arena construction was originally to begin earlier this month, but it is on hold temporarily while the city awaits word on possible new federal grant money which could reduce the city’s $10.5-million share of the $26.3-million project. The balance of the project is being paid for with $15.8 million in provincial grant money.

Distracted drivers, beware

When it comes to distracted drivers, Lethbridge regional police have seen their share. Possibly one of the worst was a motorist they spotted driving on Whoop-Up Drive while eating a bowl of noodle soup.
Come September, local police and their fellow officers across Alberta will have enhanced enforcement tools to deal with motorists who drive themselves to distraction by eating, texting, talking on cellphones, combing hair, or applying makeup while behind the wheel.
Transportation Minister Luke Ouellette announced Wednesday that the province’s distracted-driving legislation will take effect Sept. 1 and that violators will faces fines.
The legislation was first announced late last year.
“Unfortunately, distracted drivers are an all too common sight on our roadways. We have had collisions result because a driver was distracted and there are probably close calls on a daily basis,” said Kristen Harding, regional police spokeswoman.
“Safety is a choice, and it’s really important for people to understand the risks they’re taking and the threat they pose to themselves and every other driver when they engage in things like talking on a hand-held cellphone, sending a text message, putting on makeup or other activities that divert their focus away from the road,” she said, adding 20-30 per cent of collisions involve driver distraction.
Alberta is the last province to bring in distracted-driving legislation.