Catching Up With Council – Mayor Blaine Hyggen

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. 

We wrap this series with Mayor Blaine Hyggen, who was first elected to Council in 2013, re-elected in 2017 and then won the Mayoral race in 2021. 

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

There are many Council decisions, advocacy efforts and projects Mayor Hyggen is proud of from this term. At the very top of his list is to credit the positive and collaborative relationship developed with the group of people he calls colleagues on this City Council. He believes the strong bond created during this term is at the core of the work they have done.

“I am so honoured to be a part of this wonderful assembly of nine people from different backgrounds, who have come together with the common goal of the betterment of Lethbridge for our residents,” says Mayor Hyggen. “This Council has been incredibly respectful. We may disagree on certain topics, or ways to approach something, but we value each other’s opinions and recognize that a decision becomes the decision of Council – and we collectively stand behind that.”

Next on Mayor Hyggen’s list is continued advocacy toward a local lab for cardiac catheterization, a common method used to diagnose and treat various heart issues such as clogged arteries. Currently, Lethbridge residents must travel to Calgary for this treatment. Thanks to the hard work of Dr. Sayeh Zielke (who received a Key to the City from Mayor Hyggen earlier this week), the Alberta Government has supported the planning of a new cath lab in Lethbridge, contributing $2 million to the project in the 2023 budget. This planning work is now complete, and the project is moving on to the next phase which will include determining the scope, schedule and budget.

Other top items for the Mayor include, but are not limited to, ongoing physician recruitment efforts (including support for the University of Lethbridge’s Rural Medical Teaching School), student retention with support for the City Scholars partnership program with the University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Polytechnic, work on expanding capacity at the Water Treatment Plant, action on Water Conservation, efforts towards enhancing social supports including housing projects and the encampment strategy, increasing funding for Lethbridge Police Service, plus managing a difficult scenario with the Lethbridge and District Exhibition (LDE).

What do you want to see accomplished in the last year of this Council term? 

Mayor Hyggen says some of the opportunities and challenges ahead include finishing items already started or augmented during this term, including continuing supports for the business community. In October, Mayor Hyggen earned support from his Council colleagues for an Official Business Motion on an updated Development Incentive Program. The proposed program would aim to provide a comprehensive, fair, consistent, and broad approach of all incentives for new development or businesses. It also includes revitalization, redevelopment or expansion of existing development or businesses in Lethbridge, designed to provide a long-term benefit to the community by creating economic stimulus and support investment.

“Council is committed to encouraging and attracting new development and businesses, including new construction, business revitalization, redevelopment or expansion, to Lethbridge to promote investment for the general benefit of the municipality,” says Mayor Hyggen.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of running in next year’s election? 

Mayor Hyggen says that the political environment has changed considerably since he was first elected in 2013. As there will always be new or unforeseen matters arising, be prepared for change to be the one constant, he says.

“Just this week, we had a 14-hour Council meeting on Tuesday, which we had to recess until Thursday to complete. So those interested in running for Council really do need to understand the time commitment and broad scope of issues that we deal with,” Mayor Hyggen says. “Use LDE as a good example for a case study for someone wanting to run for Council. It was not an easy decision in any way, shape or form. If you were on Council, what would you have done? Why? Then after your decision, also be prepared to explain that rationale to the taxpayers. That’s the job.”

Thanks for following this series. If you want to read or re-read stories from each member of Council, please go here. And a reminder to head to lethbridge.ca/subscribe to get all City news and information, straight to your inbox.