File photo taken at the opening of the Lethbridge & District Exhibition Agri-food Hub and Trade Centre on August 10, 2023. The City of Lethbridge announced support for The Exhibition on December 18, 2023. (Photo: LNN)

By Joel Mendelson

City of Lethbridge to provide support for Lethbridge & District Exhibition

Dec 18, 2023 | 6:23 PM

UPDATE – December 19, 2023.

The City of Lethbridge provided some new comments on December 19, regarding the Exhibition’s situation.

Mayor Blaine Hyggen said, “The Main thing is that we want to start with a clean slate, be very transparent and accountable. So for that reason, we will be starting with a clean slate as long as this MOU comes back. This is a decision not from City Council or not City, this is Exhibition and city as well together thats gonna work on this MOU.”

He continued, “I do believe in this project, it was concerning again that we’re at the position that we’re in today. However, when we requested funding from the provincial government, and the provincial government replied with that they were concerned with the business plan, that was the same red flags that we had to be very honest at a community level. So we need to protect not only our investment, but our partners investment and that is, of course, the provincial government. They’ve got $27 million into this as well.”

Hyggen added, “This is going to be a joint agreement to put this forward and have a third party review come in because it’s the way that we’re going to find out when this could be sustainable… is it in a year, is it two years, is it five years, is it something that was built too large at the time? But the building is there. We’re not moving the building away. We need to do whats best with what’s there right now.”

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Lethbridge and District Exhibition also provided a statement. Mark Sayers, president of the board of directors said, “Lethbridge & District Exhibition appreciates the City of Lethbridge’s commitment to finding an operational solution that is in the best interests of our organization, the City, the region, and the Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre.”

Sayers added, “We look forward to working together in a spirit of collaboration to create solutions that will benefit the community for years to come. We are proud of the staff team we have and the work they have done and will continue to do for this organization.”

ORIGINAL STORY – December 18, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge City Council has passed a resolution to provide emergency resources to Lethbridge & District Exhibition in order to create stability for the organization.

The resolution comes on the heels of the organization announcing it had parted ways with CEO Mike Warkentin on December 18, 2023.

READ MORE: Lethbridge & District Exhibition parts ways with CEO

In late November, emergency funding was requested by The Exhibition in relation to costs connected to the new Agri-food Hub and Trade Centre. On December 12, that funding request was denied.

READ MORE: Request for provincial funding for Lethbridge & District Exhibition rejected

The resolution from council announced on December 18 has the following criteria:

• An emergency operating grant to the Lethbridge & District Exhibition of $250,000 to be allocated immediately.
  • The City will also set aside up to $950,000 in contingency, held under City control, for verified emergent needs.
  • The one-time funding is from the Municipal Revenue Stabilization Reserve (MRSR).
• An independent third-party review of the Lethbridge & District Exhibition.
  • Regular reporting to Economic & Finance Standing Policy Committee (SPC)
  • A Phase 1 report to be presented at the November 14, 2024 Economic & Finance SPC
  • Administration must provide regular reports on any critical findings to Economic & Finance SPC as they occur.​
  • Funding of up to $300,000 from the existing 2023-2026 Operating Budget
  • Funding of $850,000 for contract or term positions to support backfill of key City resources. This will be one-time MRSR funding.
• Interim governance body implemented, excluding any previous board members, to ensure a clean slate. The new governance body will be comprised of:
  • Administrative staff from the City of Lethbridge
  • Administrative staff from Lethbridge County. This stipulation is pending acceptance by Lethbridge County Council.
• Memorandum of Understanding to be developed between the City and Lethbridge & District Exhibition based on the recommendations contained within the letter of intent​, no later than January 19, 2024, subject to City Council approval at the January 23 Council meeting.

Mayor Blaine Hyggen said, “This is not a position we ever wanted to be in, but the reality is, this organization is in financial trouble and change is needed.”

He continued, “I am extremely proud of how City Council and administration have come together to take a leadership role in this change and work with the Lethbridge & District Exhibition to make that happen.”

Hyggen added, “We want to reassure the community, and those who have invested in this facility, that the Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre remains open for business.”

Officials noted that Monday’s council decision was made possible in-part because of the long-standing relationship shared between the City of Lethbridge and Lethbridge & District Exhibition, which dates back to the early 20th century.

City councillor Belinda Crowson said, “There have been several points in our history where the City has provided support to the Exhibition.”

She continued, “We have always found a way to work through it, for the benefit of our community, and I am confident this time will be no different.”

The City of Lethbridge remains the owner of the land on which the Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre stands. It contributed $25 million toward the construction of the building.

READ MORE: Lethbridge and District Exhibition asking for $4.6M to complete new trade centre

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