U of L seeking City help to host hockey nationals

It’s been one month since the Lethbridge Municipal Election. The newly-elected council will get down to business as they sit for their first regular council meeting today.

First on the agenda is a presentation by Ken McInnes, the University of Lethbridge’s executive director of Pronghorn Athletics. They will be making a bid submission to host the 2019 and 2020 U Sports Men’s Hockey National Championship, which is an eight-team tournament featuring post-secondary teams from across Canada.

The tournament would be held in March of each year with more than 225 players, coaches and officials coming to the city for a four-day event at the Enmax Centre.

If successful in their bid, the U of L is seeking a $250,000 financial contribution from the City’s Major Event Grant ($125,000 per year).

Next on the agenda, a group called GREENSENCE Environmental will petition city council to take action to mitigate climate change and implement a renewable energy strategy in the city.

Rena Woss and Knud Petersen will call on council to provide leadership by making Lethbridge one of the first cities in Canada to run on 100 per cent renewable energy. They will also suggest the city provide opportunities and incentives for residents and businesses to install items such as solar panels and other renewable energy options.

Lethbridge police chief Rob Davis

is also scheduled to present regarding LPS culture, strategy and operations.

Several business items are also on the agenda, including a submission to create a steering committee to update the Civic Precinct Master Plan, which was originally completed in 1981. Since then, a number of changes have taken place on the land including the building of a new City Hall.

The regular meeting of council, open to all, begins at 1:30 p.m. in council chambers at city hall.

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