UNews - City of Lethbridge

Community at core of new ULethbridge and City of Lethbridge partnership

trevor.kenney — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 17:47:45 +0000

Working together to set Lethbridge up for success is the focus of a new partnership agreement between the City of Lethbridge and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) focuses on operational strategic goals, reinforcing the long-standing partnership and shared commitment to the Lethbridge community.

"We’re excited to see what administrative opportunities we can create together, to benefit the community we serve now and into the future,” says Lloyd Brierley, City Manager. “The MOU provides a guide to future collaborations with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, while celebrating the shared history we’ve enjoyed too.”

City Manager, Lloyd Brierley (left) and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Digvir Jayas.

Whether you’ve lifted weights at the Centre for Sport and Wellness on campus, taken Kindermusik classes at CASA downtown or celebrated a Pronghorn win at the Community Sports Stadium, the decades-long partnership is firmly embedded with community in mind

“The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ was founded through the persistence of a forward-thinking group of citizens almost 60 years ago and our growth and success has been linked with the growth and success of the city,” says Dr. Digvir Jayas, president and vice-chancellor of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. “This partnership agreement establishes a framework that will allow for continued collaborative opportunities, which have proven to be highly beneficial to both our campus community and Lethbridge and area citizens.

This MOU builds on the existing partnership between the City and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, while offering a more strategic path forward with shared operational and administrative priorities. The City was an engaged stakeholder in the development of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s newly launched Strategic Plan. The MOU supports and directly connects to areas of the plan and wider community needs

One of those needs and shared values within the MOU, is ensuring Lethbridge and region have a skilled and resilient workforce. One that can meet the needs of today and tomorrow. The MOU highlights the importance of students as knowledge-makers and cultural contributors through applied learning, research, and volunteer experiences.

"My work-integrated learning experience and continued engagement with the City of Lethbridge have helped me to apply my knowledge from the classroom to the work world, building important professional and critical thinking skills along the way,” says ULethbridge undergraduate student Taylor Manns. “I have been lucky to have worked on projects with the City that ask vital questions about where we live, including those surrounding urban planning and how municipalities approach challenges — such as population retention. These experiences with the City have been immeasurable for my advancement as a student and as someone who will soon be entering a career.

The success of the MOU is anchored in communication and commitment to collaboration. Working together to support each other's goals and objectives will ultimately benefit the community for years to come.

ULethbridge students benefit from unique WIL partnership between Prentice Institute and City of Lethbridge

trevor.kenney — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 17:50:22 +0000

Since the beginning of the Fall 2022 semester, eight ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students participated in five applied studies projects as part of an emerging Work Integrated Learning (WIL) partnership between the City of Lethbridge and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy.

The projects focused on a range of topics, which include formulating inclusive engagement processes for urban design projects, conducting a gap analysis of the City’s heritage program to assess the representation of the community’s diversity, supporting the development of project management tools for upcoming urban revitalization initiatives, researching the history of the Warehouse District as part of the City’s ongoing long-range planning work in that neighbourhood, and researching best practices for inclusive urban planning and policy making.

The students worked under the supervision of two City staff from the Opportunity Lethbridge and Planning and Design departments and benefited from the academic supervision of six Prentice Institute research affiliates and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ faculty.

“There is an impressive knowledge base that exists in Lethbridge that the City of Lethbridge is excited to tap into through WIL projects such as the ones being showcased today,” says Perry Stein, Partner Services Manager with the City. “Working with post-secondary students and faculty allows us to access this knowledge not only to enhance our day-to-day work, but to get a better handle on the talent in the community. We hope that students will gain valuable skills working with us and see us as an employer of choice once they graduate.”

The students shared the following feedback about their experience participating in the applied studies projects:

It allowed for the development of skills beyond the classroom, such as public speaking and a better understanding of government processes.
The opportunity aided their ability to translate academic skills to business and policy work, working on tight deadlines and imagining possible career opportunities.
Students gained confidence with current skills and their ability to learn new competencies, including networking and working on a team.
The applied studies validated how valuable their academic studies are in the workplace.
It challenged students to think about how academic work might translate to a hands-on setting.

"The Prentice Institute seeks to provide an ongoing platform through which City staff, faculty and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ students can collaborate to address pressing issues in our city. Other cities in Canada, such as Kamloops, Vancouver and Toronto are benefiting tremendously from collaborations of this sort with universities, and in the process training the next generation of urban planners, policymakers and innovators. Universities, in turn, fulfill the potential to contribute directly, through their academic and research capacity, to their immediate communities,” says Andrea Cuéllar, Associate Director of the Prentice Institute. “We are aware, however, that access to WIL opportunities can be inequitable. Hence, jointly with the City, we provide student compensation to cover course registration and other costs, since ideally there should be no barriers to participating in these valuable opportunities.”

An event was held Thursday, Apr. 20, 2023 to showcase the completed student projects from the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters.

The City of Lethbridge, Prentice Institute and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge look forward to continuing to partner with students and faculty on future applied studies projects and to develop a broader WIL relationship.

For a more detailed overview of the students and projects, click here.

2021 Truth & Reconciliation t-shirt design unveiled

trevor.kenney — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 15:25:50 +0000

Education and resiliency are the focus of Chataya Holy Singer’s design that adorns t-shirts created to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thursday, September 30, 2021, a joint initiative between the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and the City of Lethbridge.

Chataya Holy Singer has rooted her work in the Niitsitapiisini — the Blackfoot way of life.

Holy Singer, a Bachelor of Fine Arts student majoring in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s art studio program, is a Blackfoot artist with a personal connection to the residential school system and the themes and issues at the heart of the country’s new national day of reflection.

Her design features First Nation, Métis and Inuit symbolism and can be interpreted in various ways with each symbol conveying its own message. Holy Singer says the overall significance of the design weaves the educational journey for Blackfoot students and resiliency through the past, present and future.

“Education is our new buffalo — our new resource for survival,” says Holy Singer, who has rooted her work in the Niitsitapiisini — the Blackfoot way of life. “We can learn from our past, to understand our present in order to guide the future as we continue to dismantle previous teachings that were put in place to remove our identity.

“With our education, we can continue to remove these teachings by replacing them with the knowledge inherently passed down from our ancestors and implementing them into our current systems.”

The national day of observance is on the same day as Orange Shirt Day, a symbolic day of commemoration that grew from Phyllis Webstad’s story of having her orange shirt taken from her at the age of six when she arrived at St. Joseph Mission residential school. Her story created an opportunity for discussion on the aspects and experiences of the residential school legacy.

For Holy Singer, the invitation to create the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s t-shirt design was special and personal. She previously designed shirts for the City of Lethbridge and the Reconciliation Lethbridge Advisory Committee.

“I knew I was going to come up with a design that contributes to the perspective of what it means to be an Indigenous student in post-secondary. I personally know the impacts that residential schools have within my own family,” she says.

Many Indigenous communities spent the summer in mournful reflection, as unmarked graves were discovered at multiple former residential school sites throughout the country.

“For me, the unmarked grave discoveries brought up memories of what my mom had told me about her experiences in residential schools,” says Holy Singer. “These recoveries triggered a lot of sadness and anger that I felt for not only my late mother, but for our people who had suffered from this act of genocide. These children were our relatives. They were our ancestors whose stories were never told and are now being let free where they can finally come home.”

The City of Lethbridge and the Reconciliation Lethbridge Advisory Committee was keen to partner with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to promote a collective community message of reconciliation and healing, with education the driving force behind these important conversations.

“The City of Lethbridge is really excited to be able to partner with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge to showcase the work, voice and knowledge of Chataya Holy Singer, and through it, encourage community members to learn more about the legacy of residential schools in Canada,” says City of Lethbridge Indigenous Relations Advisor, Perry Stein. “The process of Truth and Reconciliation requires us to build strong bridges and partnerships. Working with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ on this important initiative, helps us to show up as one, unified community.”

T-shirts are available for purchase at the U of L Bookstore for $15.99 (Update: shirts are now sold out), with a portion of the proceeds dedicated to Indigenous student initiatives at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. The City of Lethbridge is also making shirts available through various community partners, including the Lethbridge Public Library.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will host a week of Truth and Reconciliation programming beginning Sept. 27, 2021. Watch the U of L’s social channels for more information on ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ events and programming.

The City of Lethbridge, Reconciliation Lethbridge and community partners are also planning a series of educational and awareness raising events across the community, over the month of September. Working in partnership with community organizations and groups is one way Lethbridge shines brighter together. For more information on City of Lethbridge Reconciliation events, see www.lethbridge.ca/indigenousrelations.

New media students team up with City of Lethbridge on Oki initiative

trevor.kenney — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 21:16:42 +0000

Given the chance to contribute to City of Lethbridge Reconciliation Week efforts, three ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge new media students, working through the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Agility Program, ran with the opportunity.

The Agility space has four 3-D printers for students to access.

Using 3D printers, the group designed desktop gifts depicting the traditional Blackfoot greeting, Oki, as a small stand-up sign. The gifts were then presented to dignitaries coming to the city for Reconciliation Week activities, as well as the mayors who attended the Mid-Sized Cities Mayors’ Caucus meeting.

“On Monday, Oki became the official greeting of the City of Lethbridge and we were looking for a way of providing a gift to some dignitaries coming to town that reflected Blackfoot culture and language,” says Indigenous Relations Advisor, Perry Stein. “As 2019 is the International Year of Indigenous Languages, we’re trying to celebrate that theme as part of Reconciliation Week and also trying to find those opportunities to make the conversation live beyond this week or even this year.”

Stein looked to the U of L’s Department of New Media, who in turn contacted the Agility Program. He met with new media assistant professor Christine Clark’s students (Jared Gyorffy, Connor Kingston and Sara Séfel) on a Friday afternoon and gave them the background they’d need for the project. By Monday morning, the designs were finalized and the pieces were being printed. By Thursday last week, the mayors were receiving their gifts.

The final product that was handed out to visiting dignitaries.

“Perry came and talked to the students about the reconciliation logo, the context of the oki sign and they were able to embody their own design effects into the process,” says Agility Manager Brandy Old. “It was neat to watch them listen to Perry and the city’s reconciliation plan because these were three students, one from Hungary, who don’t necessarily have much connection with the Blackfoot story. For them to understand the point of the project, what the reconciliation logo means and to walk through the federal government’s Truth & Reconciliation Commission was inspiring.”

For Stein, the project was an opportunity to use a community partner to foster relationship building.

“After city council officially adopted the Oki greeting, I think it sparked a curiosity we’d hoped it would and now people are trying to learn more and this was a unique way to keep that learning going,” he says. “Curiosity is a gateway to empathy, understanding, connection and community building. So, the more we can provide these really welcoming approachable opportunities to make connections, the better off we’ll be.”

The students, meanwhile, engaged in a practical exercise that led to a tangible result.

“From the Agility perspective, it is about connecting the student experience in the classroom and moving it beyond to actually having an impact,” says Old. “The students were able to bridge their technical skills to a meaningful project. This project is one example of how U of L students can apply their education to the real world. As advocates for reconciliation, these types of learning experiences connect our students to Indigenous perspectives and knowledge in a meaningful way.”

U of L puts exclamation point on summer with Shine On Summer Festival, Sept. 1-3

trevor.kenney — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 17:55:29 +0000

Is there a better way to close out summer than with the biggest outdoor festival southern Alberta has ever seen?

In celebration of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s 50th anniversary, and in partnership the Enmax Centre, the City of Lethbridge and presenting sponsors Lethbridge Lodging Association and TD Insurance Meloche Monnex, the Shine On Summer Festival promises a weekend of music, culture and community, Sept. 1 to 3 at the U of L Community Stadium.

“This festival is built around our Alumni Homecoming and will not only celebrate the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s 50th anniversary, but the southern Alberta community of which we are so proud to be a part,” says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mike Mahon. “It’s the last weekend of summer and an old-fashioned festival is the perfect way to bring everyone out to the stadium for one last summer party.”

The weekend opens with a host of Alumni Homecoming events, including the annual John Gill Memorial Golf Tournament, followed by a live concert event and community fair in the U of L Stadium. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy a summer evening of outstanding music from award-winning artists, capped off with a spectacular fireworks show featuring the Canadian National Fireworks Team. On Sunday, a free day of arts, culture, food and drink, song and dance and sporting events for all ages will round out this one-time-only festival.

“We’ve never done anything this big before but we’ve never turned 50 before either,” adds Mahon. “With our alumni coming back to campus, our students just beginning to arrive for the fall semester and the lineup of artists and activities we have planned, I expect this weekend will be talked about for years to come.”

The U of L, along with the Enmax Centre, will reveal the all-star lineup of musicians for the concert event at a special announcement on Friday, March 24 at 11 a.m. in the Enmax Centre Lounge. Special pre-sale tickets will then be available to U of L alumni, students, faculty and staff before full ticket sales commence on Monday, March 27.

“The Enmax Centre is proud of its partnership with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, and excited to be celebrating its 50th anniversary with the largest outdoor celebration Lethbridge has seen,” says Kim Gallucci, Enmax Centre general manager. “This weekend will have something for everyone, and we look forward to being a part of it.”

Following is a look at the Shine On Summer Festival community events:

Friday, September 1 – Alumni Homecoming
John Gill Memorial Golf Tournament at Paradise Canyon Golf Resort

Saturday, September 2 – Music Festival & Fireworks Extravaganza
��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Community Stadium
3 to 11 p.m.

Sunday, September 3 – Community Fair
��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Community Stadium
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Multicultural showcase, round dance, rugby 15s tournament, artisan market, beer gardens, family activities, inflatable obstacle course, battle of the bands, more!

UNews - City of Lethbridge

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