Catching Up With Council - Councillor John Middleton-Hope

Putting your hand up to become an elected public official is not for the faint of heart. After the election campaigning is over, the real work begins. There is much more to a City Councillor role than attending weekly committee and Council meetings. The volume of information, context and legislative requirements can be daunting.

Preparations are already underway for the next municipal election, scheduled for October 20, 2025. We invited all current Council members to share their thoughts on the first three years of this term. In the coming weeks, we’ll share their insights and priorities as we look toward the next election.

Next up in this series is Councillor John Middleton-Hope. The first-term Councillor ran a successful campaign his first time out as a candidate for City Council in 2021.

What are you most proud of in the first three years of your term?

Middleton-Hope says he’s pleased with Council's advocacy work with the provincial government, particularly when it comes to local healthcare supports. 

“There are a number of achievements I think we can be proud of but something that stands out to me is the work we did to advocate for the Cardiac Catheterization lab at the hospital,” says Middleton-Hope. “When this lab is in place, you won't have to travel to Calgary to get the care you need. We won’t have to use ground ambulance and take two of our paramedics out of service to transport patients all the way up there.”

Unsurprisingly given his decades of work in law enforcement, Middleton-Hope also cites supporting an increase to the Lethbridge Police Service budget as another positive for Council this term.

“I worked very diligently with my council colleagues to get the police service and the police commission to submit a budget that allowed them to hire more people and resources over the four-year term,” says Middleton-Hope. “We are now at an authorized strength with the police service for the first time in more than a decade. That's really significant and so I'm very proud of that as well.”

What do you still want to accomplish in your last year?

Setting a successful path forward for Lethbridge and District Exhibition (LDE) is one key area Middleton-Hope wants to see cemented prior to the end of Council’s term.

“We are headed absolutely in the right direction with the LDE,” notes Middleton-Hope. “We are seeing some really good traction from administration and I’m positive about the future of it (LDE) for our city and the region.”

Passionate about increasing safety and vibrancy in the Downtown, Middleton-Hope wants Council to solidify the scope and direction of the Downtown Lawlessness Reduction Task Force he helped establish this term.

“We need to reaffirm the Downtown Lawlessness Reduction Task Force and provide it with enhanced responsibilities and direction,” says Middleton-Hope. “It's a collaborative model and we’re working directly with the businesses, we're working with service providers to try and enhance the level of safety and security in the downtown core. I'm looking forward to seeing that work continue.”

What has surprised you the most during your first term on Council?

Understanding the expectations of the public and marrying them to the responsibilities and duties of a Councillor have been an interesting experience to navigate for Middleton-Hope.

“I average 85 hours per month as a Councillor, including attending functions and activities,” says Middleton-Hope. “So, if there are any potential future candidates wondering what it takes to be an engaged and active Councillor? This is what I think it takes.”

“Some weeks are going to be more involved than others, like when we get into Economic Standing Policy Committee and we're discussing budget,” says Middleton-Hope. “Those periods of time are really time consuming, you need to be reading a lot. It is like drinking from a fire hose for a new Councillor. I think candidates need to understand the public expectations that even though you're a part-time Councillor, it can be a full-time job.”

Reflecting on the past three years, Middleton-Hope says being a Councillor is a source of pride and privilege.

“We've been lucky as a Council. We've had lots of opportunities to do good work for taxpayers and residents. I pride myself on being a lifelong public servant and trying to accomplish the goals of the public.”

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