Excite Lethbridge and the Lethbridge & District Agricultural Society are replacing the now-former Lethbridge & District Exhibition. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge & District Exhibition split into two new organizations

Sep 18, 2025 | 4:38 PM

A name that the community has known for many decades is no more.

Lethbridge & District Exhibition has been split into two distinct and focused entities – Excite Lethbridge and the Lethbridge & District Agricultural Society.

The Lethbridge & District Agricultural Society was originally founded in 1897. With the return of the old name, officials say it will return to its roots and promote agriculture throughout the region.

RJ Sigurdson, Alberta’s Ag Minister, says agricultural societies have strong roots in communities across the province, and that is certainly the case for Lethbridge.

“The changes being made here today protect those roots and will continue growing valuable agriculture resources in Southern Alberta,” says Sigurdson. “The important partnerships and collaboration across the region, both within the ag industry and across other sectors, will make this new model successful and sustainable for another 100 years.”

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The Ag Society will eventually have a community-run board, and those who are interested in becoming part of it can visit lethbridgeagsociety.ca.

Excite Lethbridge will focus on hosting events at the newly-renamed Lethbridge Trade & Convention Centre.

It is the city’s first municipally-controlled non-profit organization, and it will partner with the Ag Society to help develop and host events such as farmers’ markets, Ag Expo, and Whoop-Up Days.

Excite Lethbridge also looks to expand trade and convention opportunities.

Lloyd Brierley, City Manager and Board Chair for Excite Lethbridge, says this is an opportunity to do something truly unique for Lethbridge.

“Even though this organization is municipally controlled, it is at an arms-length from the City,” says Brierley. “They are able to be nimble and flexible while still being financially accountable to our taxpayers. The partnership between Excite Lethbridge and LDAS is a way to make sure both organizations can be successful.”

Kim Gallucci, who has been the Interim CEO of Lethbridge & District Exhibition for the last one-and-a-half years, is the new permanent CEO of Excite Lethbridge.

The group will operate the facility, formerly known as the Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre, and all current employees are now employees of Excite Lethbridge.

In the next phase of this project, the City says it will look at ways in which Excite Lethbridge can streamline event attraction functions to be more efficient and effective.

More details to come.

New branding for Excite Lethbridge and Lethbridge & District Agricultural Society. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

New branding for Excite Lethbridge and Lethbridge & District Agricultural Society. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)