Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman (Lethbridge News Now)

By Lara Fominoff

YEAR-END INTERVIEW WITH LETHBRIDGE MAYOR

Lethbridge Mayor looks back on 2019 as a year of great successes and big social challenges

Dec 31, 2019 | 8:23 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The final phase of the ATB Centre opened, the downtown Bus Terminal was completed, Cavendish opened its new doors in the Sherring Industrial Park, a thorough Fiscal and Operational Review got underway, and reconciliation efforts are moving along as well; all generally bucking the provincial trend, says Mayor Chris Spearman.

Spearman sat down with Lethbridge News Now to discuss the events of the past year; the good, the bad, and sometimes the ugly as well.

“A lot of great things happened in Lethbridge…We do have a diversified economy. And we’ve never had to rely on oil and gas. I sympathize with my colleagues in other cities who are going through a really tough time.”

Back in September, the City hosted the Mid-sized Mayors’ and CAOs’ caucus, with more than 20 representatives attending.

“When we toured them around the city and showed them everything that was accomplished and being completed in Lethbridge, they were amazed because they never hear the good news about Lethbridge.”

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He does admit though, that the Bridge City has had its share of challenges, which includes a lack of social services and money from the provincial government for those suffering from addictions or homelessness.

“Certainly, getting the additional funding from the provincial government for things like supportive housing – $11.2 million was announced on Dec. 7. 2018. We had a provincial election, a change in government and supportive housing still hasn’t happened.”

The housing would be for nearly 40 individuals who have severe mental health disabilities, those with severe FASD, chronic addicts and others who otherwise have challenges finding and keeping a roof over their heads. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg, says Spearman. More than 150 cases have been identified as urgent.

“The fact that funding has been delayed a year is very frustrating,” he admits. “When the go ahead is given, it’s going to be at least a year a year and a half before the facility it built. We have to begin moving these people, the ones who are causing the social issues – the chronic addicts into support facilities and we need to make sure we have effective facilities to move people from drug use into treatment and recovery.”

Spearman renewed his call for funding for a SCAN (Safe Communities and Neighborhoods) unit, for more resources for police and first responders and for some dedicated Federal Prosecutors.

“In the absence of all of that, we’ve got some significant challenges.”

He adds that because those supports and that funding isn’t there yet, it’s obscuring some of the good things that happen in the city. Social media has also played a part in that, he says.

“Every time the police arrest somebody it winds up on social media. And we never had that reaction before. And many of the people who are being arrested are chronic offenders. Every time someone is arrested it’s blamed on the Supervised Consumption Site even though many of those people have been banned from the site for violent behavior.”

Spearman describes Lethbridge as “a small Calgary, not a big Raymond,” but without the resources the two biggest cities in the province are provided. However, Spearman says it’s his philosophy to get along with whichever government is in power.

“We deal with issues not on a political basis in the sense of political alliances, but on an issue basis. So, the provincial government says it’s time to reduce costs. Well, I think we’re pretty much aligned with the provincial government. We’re doing our own internal reviews. We’re very committed to making sure there are savings for taxpayers and we’re going to absorb the cuts that are coming our way.”

2019 also saw Lethbridge’s first First Nations Police Chief Rob Davis move back to Brantford, Ontario with his family to take on a position as Chief of Police there, while City Manager Bramwell Strain also resigned “for personal reasons.”

Spearman said while he understood that Davis wanted to be closer to family, it was a shock to learn that Strain was leaving after just 17 months.

“I think we’re going to hire a new city manager who will have a similar philosophy. We want someone who is going to focus on operational efficiencies, and who wants to see the operational review process through.”

The overall message Spearman wants to send to everyone in Lethbridge, is one of unity and living up to the city motto ‘gateway to opportunity’.

“We live in a great city. We should be proud of what we have. Recognize that we have challenges, work on solving those challenges together and be advocates for our city.”