‘The city is in a great state’: Lethbridge’s mayor focused on needs over wants in 2026

Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen held his annual state-of-the-city address on Thursday, offering reflection on 2025 and looking ahead to 2026.

Lethbridge’s mayor says the city needs to focus on needs rather wants throughout 2026.

That message was shared during mayor Blaine Hyggen’s annual state of the city address Thursday morning.

Hyggen spoke to a crowd of business owners, industry leaders and organizations at the Lethbridge Trade and Convention Centre about the highlights and challenges of last year and what his focus is for 2026.

“The state of the city is in a great state. I truly believe that,” said Hyggen.

“There’s been challenges and there’s always been challenges within communities, but we focus on these positives and we’re going in the right direction.”

The mayor says highlights from last year include securing funding for water and wastewater upgrades, public safety efforts and a drop in overdose deaths.

“Although we’ve got incredible agencies and groups out there that are doing incredible work, there’s those that are struggling either with addiction or are just unhoused that do need the support to get back on track to get into a home and, again, get to a life that I think we all deserve,” said Hyggen.

Throughout the year ahead, Hyggen says his top priority remains on investing in infrastructure.

“It’s not that bright, shiny, sexy thing because you’re not seeing it. It’s not a park, it’s not a pool or a recreational facility but it’s important infrastructure that needs to be life cycled and needs the work done on a regular basis, so we don’t end up like what happened up in Calgary,” said Hyggen.

For business owners in the crowd during the address, focusing on infrastructure was among their top priorities too.

“Right now, the idea isn’t of a shiny new object,” said Cyndi Crane, Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce CEO.

“Let’s take that car in that we have and give it a good wash and a good buff and make sure everything is operational because we do not want to be in the same position as other municipalities where their infrastructure is falling apart.”

“So, let’s be proactive and let’s work on the things that we have.”

With funding pressures from different levels of governments, Hyggen says the city needs to prioritize projects to help grow the city, while ensuring the needs of residents are met.

“Making sure (our infrastructure) is kept and maintained is of top priority,” he said.

“So, asset management is top and we’ve heard it loud and clear from our administration. What I don’t want to do is have them recommend something to us then have something go wrong with our infrastructure and that’s not listening to those experts.”