By Lara Fominoff @fomsy1 on Twitter

“Team Lethbridge” returns after three-day bridge building meetings with Provincial Ministers

Nov 9, 2017 | 1:58 PM

LETHBRIDGE – A group of 19 Lethbridge community leaders, including members of City Council, Exhibition Park and post-secondary officials, along with representatives of the Allied Arts Council have wrapped up a three-day visit to the Legislature in Edmonton.
 
Economic Development Lethbridge CEO Trevor Lewington, said the purpose of the trip was to foster a positive, collaborative relationship with the provincial government through communication and engagement.
 
“The idea is to elevate Lethbridge, and what we contribute to the province, in the eyes of the provincial government to build relationships with provincial government officials and ministry officials. And then really to talk about how we can collaborate: so how does Lethbridge fit into the bigger provincial picture?”
 
Lewington explained that a few themes became apparent during the meetings.
 
“One of the key themes that emerged is that in many ways Lethbridge serves as a model for the rest of the province. In particular, our two school boards-and how the public and the separate systems work together was an example that they believe other parts of the province could learn from. The level of cooperation and collaboration between our two post-secondary institutions was seen as something that is different than perhaps what happens in some other places.
 
“And they also complimented Lethbridge on the work that’s being done on the Truth and Reconciliation implementation plan. We’re the first city in the province to adopt a formal plan, and to work towards that.”
 
No actual deals are made during the trip, says Lewington. The point was not to make a specific ‘ask,’ for a grant or investment, but to showcase Lethbridge, and to build relationships for future discussions.