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Blaine Hyggen rode a horse during the 2022 Whoop-Up Days parade as part of his first year as Lethbridge mayor. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

Blaine Hyggen celebrates first full calendar year as Lethbridge mayor

Dec 28, 2022 | 6:00 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The mayor of Lethbridge is looking back on his first full calendar year in the role.

Blaine Hyggen was voted into the mayor’s seat in the 2021 municipal election, securing 42.79% of ballots.

READ MORE: New era begins as Lethbridge City Council officially sworn in

He says it has been both a challenging and rewarding journey so far with many ups and downs.

In his two previous terms as a city councillor, Hyggen explains that he always tried to respond to each person that reached out to him in person or over the phone. Since becoming mayor, that has been harder for him to do.

“The biggest struggle I’ve had as being a mayor is the time that it takes to touch base with all of those that have their questions and want to talk to the mayor,” says Hyggen.

Hyggen says people can often times have their inquiries handled by staff at 311 or city hall, but he does not think it is the same as when he gets to speak with people himself.

Last year’s election also resulted in a number of changes to Lethbridge City Council. Some members returned, some were brand new to the role, and one came back to council chambers for the first time in several years.

Hyggen says it has been great to lean on long-time councillors such as Ryan Parker, who can give insights into past decisions city council has made. Rajko Dodic, who served as mayor from 2010-2013, has been able to impart some of his wisdom onto the new mayor.

Others, according to Hyggen, have shown to have great knowledge and insights such as historian Belinda Crowson and former Lethbridge police chief John Middleton-Hope, while newcomers Jenn Schmidt-Rempel and Nick Paladino offer fresh perspectives.

“It’s a diverse council, not saying that we agree on everything, but there’s such a level of respect that I’ve never seen previously with council,” says Hyggen. “It’s something that, I think we all work very well together.”

On the professional side of things, the mayor believes it has been a successful year for Lethbridge.

He says the biggest highlight for him is the establishment of the Intergovernmental Health Table (IHT) in November 2022. It brings together officials with the City of Lethbridge, Blood Tribe, and the Government of Alberta to come up with solutions related to healthcare.

“To work on some of the challenges that we have in our community when it comes to addictions, homelessness, and how we can work together and collaboratively on solutions,” says Hyggen. “That table has been something that’s been, to me, has been a great start.”

So far, Hyggen says the IHT has only met twice, largely working to get itself established and iron out any remaining wrinkles.

As time goes on, there could be openings for other agencies to get involved and join the IHT.

“I think it’s a changing document as we go forward, so, what support services do we need to be involved? That will happen for sure. Right now, it’s more of a political side, I would imagine, with the health services, etc. Just focusing on some high-level [matters], and then we’ll be able to reach out to those organizations,” says Hyggen.

Another of Hyggen’s highlights was seeing the world come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, hopefully for the last time.

He loved getting to see Lethbridge host the 2022 Tim Horton’s Brier at the ENMAX Centre March 4-13.

“The Brier was something that really, coming out of COVID, brought the community together for the first time since being cooped up for a couple of years,” says Hyggen. “I think that was one of the most exciting things.”

According to a report from Sport Tourism Canada, the Brier generated $16.8 million in economic activity for Lethbridge. Hyggen says it was the first time in a while that he saw hotels and restaurants full.

READ MORE: Report: 2022 Brier generated $16.8M in economic activity for Lethbridge

The year, however, has not been without its challenges.

Similar to recent years, Hyggen says social issues such as homelessness and addiction, as well as crime, have been on the top of his mind.

Homeless encampments, in particular, have become an increasingly large issue this year.

The problem, says Hyggen, is that housing, mental health, and addictions, all fall under provincial jurisdiction. That means that there is only so much, outside of advocacy, that the City of Lethbridge can to about these matters.

He remains hopeful that the Intergovernmental Health Table will be able to come up with some solutions.

“How we can house those that are not housed, how we can help those that are addicted and get into housing, get into a life of sobriety? That’s going to be probably a challenge next year as it was this year.”

Lethbridge City Council recently passed the 2023-2026 Operating Budget, which, among many other things, restores the $1 million in funding that was cut from the Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) budget the previous year.

Hyggen says LPS plans to use part of the bolstered budget to hire more administrative staff.

“I know a lot of community members will say, we don’t see police out and about,” says Hyggen. “It’ll get feet on the street. A lot of this funding actually is going to the civilian staff to be able to help with the support services that the police need so they can actually do the job that they’re hired to do.”

READ MORE: Lethbridge City Council adopts 2023-2026 operating budget

The mayor remains encouraged by the work to bring more family physicians to the city.

Back in September, Alberta Health Services (AHS) confirmed to LNN that 17 international family doctors had committed to practicing in Lethbridge and were awaiting their College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) practice readiness assessments.

Hyggen says he was recently re-assured by AHS that the doctors all hope to have their certifications finalized by no later than March 2023.

He adds that he was told by Premier Danielle Smith just a couple of weeks ago that the development of a new cardiac catheterization lab at Chinook Regional Hospital could soon be approved.

“The hospital is prepared, we’re ready to have that lab. We have the space. It’s operating and capital dollars that are needed,” says Hyggen. “It’s my understanding that this is part of the budget coming forward, so I would hope to see that in the new year when the next budget is released.”

READ MORE: Lethbridge City Council pleads province for cardiac catheterization lab

Heading into 2023, Hyggen says he hopes to make more progress on the city’s social issues so a greater focus can be placed on economic development.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now