(Photo courtesy Kamil Cipion)

By Justin Goulet

Tech Hub at Lethbridge’s Family Centre provides valuable resource for community members

Jun 17, 2020 | 11:48 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Family Centre in Lethbridge is using technology to help out those impacted by COVID-19.

Kamil Cipion is the facilitator for the Tech Hub at the Family Centre Society of Southern Alberta.

She spoke with Lethbridge News Now about the community-based initiative.

“The Tech Hub is a facility, or a program, that the Family Centre created for families and individuals that don’t have internet access or computer access at home,” she explained.

“This is a facility where they can come in and use a computer with internet access, for free.”

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

Cipion explained that the idea for Tech Hub came at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Lethbridge Public Library [facilities] were closed completely, so no one from the community actually had access to the computers they offer for free. So, the Family Centre said hey, let’s put this up together and see if someone can benefit from it now that this pandemic has caused the libraries to close,” she told LNN.

The Family Centre has three locations across Lethbridge, however the Tech Hub is based in the downtown branch in the Melcor Centre.

They currently have five computers available and people can make an appointment by calling the Family Centre at 403-320-4232 to use them Mondays through Fridays.

Morning sessions from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. are available, as well as an afternoon slot from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Cipion said they’re “very flexible” because they want the community to be able to fully benefit from the Tech Hub’s resources.

HELPING THE COMMUNITY

Cipion noted that with children not in school due to COVID-19, some families may not have a computer or internet access at home – making it difficult for some students to complete their schoolwork.

“Some families probably don’t have that access to a computer, or the internet and they need their children to get educated, right?”

She noted that the maximum capacity at the Tech Hub is 15 people and cited one recent instance where the facility came in handy.

“It was so nice because the [attendee] doesn’t have computer access at home or the internet, but they needed to fill an application for college,” Cipion said.

“That person did it here and it was great.”

The Tech Hub has been made possible thanks to support from the Lethbridge Public Library, Boys and Girls Club of Lethbridge, Quest Support and LFS Immigrant Services.

They provided the computer hardware, set up the computer systems and contributed personal protective equipment.

“I would love families to benefit from this, to use this as a resource that they can come in, benefit and use it as much as they can,” Cipion told LNN.

“We are here for the community and we want to help the community as much as we can.”

For more on the Tech Hub and the Family Centre Society of Southern Alberta, visit famcentre.ca.

For local news delivered daily to your email inbox, subscribe for free to the Lethbridge News Now newsletter here. You can also download the Lethbridge News Now mobile app in the Google Play and the Apple App Stores.