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Two ice rinks, or a whole lot more?
Lethbridge residents will soon be asked if they'd support a leisure centre near the new west-side high schools. And if so, what amenities should it provide?
Open houses are scheduled for Jan. 31 at Nicholas Sheran School gymnasium and on Feb. 1 at City Hall. Both sessions run 7-9 p.m. and will offer an opportunity for questions, a chance to meet those involved and view artwork of the different components of the potential leisure centre.
The public consultations come about nine months after city officials decided to delay work on a pair of ice arenas which were to have opened by September 2013.
But city council isn’t expected to get an update on the project — whatever its size — until May. Ashley Matthews, general manager of the city’s recreational and cultural facilities, says regardless of council’s final decision on leisure features, the facility is planned for a site close to the new library and school complex at The Crossings.
While plans for the arenas are 90 per cent complete, he adds, the project will now be delayed further while leisure centre possibilities are considered.
A consultant is now working on a study into the possibility of an expanded project, he says. Recommendations regarding operating costs and a business plan for a leisure centre will also be included.
Results of the public consultation will also be included.
Dance to old-time music
Join the Lethbridge Old Time Dancers Jan. 18 from 8-10 p.m. for an evening of dancing to live music, including waltzes, foxtrots, polkas and some old-time patterns. There is no charge to attend the event at the Lethridge Senior Citizens Centre, 500 11 St. S. For more information, phone Deb at 403-380-2574.
Nominate an outstanding woman
Nominations for Women of Distinction are being accepted until Jan. 26. Nomination forms are available at www.ywcalethbridge.org from the Women of Distinction link and at the YWCA of Lethbridge and District at 604 8 St. S.
The awards are presented annually to women who have distinguished themselves through their achievement as individuals or as group, members of the community and role models for other women.
Awards will be handed out March 23 at the Lethbridge Lodge. All proceeds from the event support the programs and services of the YWCA Lethbridge and District. Serving more than 6,000 women, youth and children every year, the YWCA proviides hope, safety and empowerment.
For more information, phone CEO Kristine Cassie at 403-329-0088 or Barb Pittard, chair of the Women of Distinction committee, at 403-320-2912.
Air gun provincials this weekend
The LA HotShots competitive air gun club hosts the 2012 Alberta Air Gun Provincial Championships at the Exhibition Park West Pavilion Jan. 20-22. Lethbridge will welcome 50 shooters from across Alberta ranging in age from 12 to 65. The event runs Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., with the finals on Sunday 9 a.m.–noon and awards at 1 p.m. Silent auction goes Friday and Saturday with proceeds going to the LA HotShots. Admission is free.
Time running out for bus tickets
Time is running out to use Lethbridge Transit tickets or tokens.
Jan. 31 is the final day to use them as bus fare on Lethbridge Transit and ACCESS-A-Ride buses. After that date, they can be brought to the Lethbridge Transit office where they can be exchanged for e-tickets or e-tokens on a Breeze Card. Also, any senior annual passes for 2011 or semester passes for September-December 2011 can be brought to the Lethbridge Transit office or City Hall and be transferred onto a Breeze Card.
The move comes after Lethbridge Transit introduced its new smart card late last year.
For more information on the cards, and how to transfer tickets and tokens, visit www.lethbridge.ca/transit or phone 403-320-3885.
While the Breeze Card is the latest transit change the city has rolled out, there are more in the works later this year. In July, daytime transit service on the new Copperwood route will drop to from 30-minute service to one bus an hour, allowing the bus and driver to cover another new route — from the university loop to SunRidge. The service changes add evening and weekend service to both routes which would be new to Copperwood. The change was approved in November as part of Lethbridge’s three-year operating budget.
G.S. Lakie in the running for fund
It’s up to the judges now.
G.S. Lakie Middle School is among the 30 ideas to have risen to the top and been chosen as finalists for this year's Aviva Community Fund competition. The fund, now in its third year and created by home and auto insurer Aviva Canada, provides $1 million in donations to lead, empower and support community initiatives across the country.
Judges including Canada AM anchor Jeff Hutcheson, Volunteer Canada president and CEO Ruth MacKenzie and Free The Children co-founder Craig Kielburger are reviewing the ideas to decide which projects will receive funding.
Winners will be announced Jan. 25.
G.S. Lakie’s project, called the G.S. Lakie Convertible Theatre/Summer Arts Institute, entails building a technical booth atop the school’s dance studio. The total cost will be around $150,000, most of which will go to reconfiguring the wiring. Once that’s done, the space can be easily configured into a theatre, a concert hall, a performance area and a meeting room.
The school is seeking a grant valued somewhere between $50,000 and $100,000.
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