Lethbridge approves new community safety action plan

Lethbridge City Hall (file photo)

The City of Lethbridge has approved a new community safety action plan aimed at delivering a more balanced and coordinated approach to public safety.

City council voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt the Community Safety Action Plan (CSAP) in principle as a guiding framework for future safety initiatives.

The plan emphasizes enforcement as essential, while also strengthening prevention, intervention and education.

Officials say the strategy reflects a shift away from short-term, issue-specific responses toward a broader, city-wide approach that aligns existing programs, strengthens partnerships and targets gaps in services.

Mayor Blaine Hyggen said public safety remains a top priority as the nature of community challenges evolves, with frontline services increasingly responding to complex, non-criminal issues such as housing instability, mental health and addiction.

The plan is designed to be adaptive, using data and community feedback to respond to changing conditions over time.

It will be implemented in phases, with the first two years focused on testing and refining initiatives using existing, previously approved funding. Those efforts include pilots, research, training and public education, without committing the city to ongoing operating costs.

Administration is expected to report back during the 2028–2031 budget process with any proposals requiring new or sustained funding.