Lethbridge chosen best place to live in Alberta - The Lethbridge ...

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Page 2 - LETHBRIDGE JOURNAL - WEEK OF MAY 20, 2010 Free Classifieds CALL 403-320-8936 nest heads 7 8 1 4 6 5 6 2 7 8 2 8 1 6 4 1 3 5 7 8 5 Publisher Shawn Cornell Advertising Reps Bill Axtell Ashley McEwen Jules Regout Reporters Jeff Wiebe Lisa Doerksen Columnists Mark Campbell Marty Baceda Buzz McEgan Gordon Grieve General Manager Thomas Dore Classifieds and Administration Deanne Cornell Graphics Jordan Clermont Production Tommy Atkins Warehouse Supervisor Kris Stinson Photographer Pat McCorkle 7 4 5 Journal Sudoku Puzzle Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. so must every column, as must every 3X3 square. ANSWERS ON PAGE 28 Published weekly by The Lethbridge Journal Inc. 2916 - 7 Avenue North Lethbridge, AB T1H 5C6 Ph: 403-320-8936 Fax: 403-320-8956 The Lethbridge Journal publishes 30,000 copies weekly circulated through Canada Post and racks within the City of Lethbridge and surrounding communities. Printed by SunMedia, The Lethbridge Journal is a proprietary publication of The Lethbridge Journal Inc., all rights reserved. Reproduction of any content without written permission is strictly prohibited. Call 403-320-8936 to advertise www.lethbridgejournal.com 9 7 6 THE JOURNAL CROSSWORD See the answers on Page 28
Free Classifieds CALL 403-320-8936 LETHBRIDGE JOURNAL - WEEK OF MAY 20, 2010 - Page 3 COVER STORY Lethbridge ranks 1st in Alberta,11th in Canada By Lisa Doerksen For the Lethbridge Journal No one needs to tell Bob Tarleck that Lethbridge is a great place to live - the mayor is one of the city’s biggest fans. But even he was pleasantly surprised by Lethbridge’ 11th place ranking on the MoneySense Best Places to Live list for 2010. The city made a 12-spot jump from 23rd in 2009. “I can’t tell you why we made the jump,” says the mayor. “But I can tell you I think it’s a reflection of the quality of living experience in Lethbridge. People are beginning to realize this (city) is an incredible gem.” The annual survey rates Canadian cities with a population over 10,000 based on climate, prosperity, access to health care, home affordability, crime rates and lifestyle. While Ottawa placed first, Lethbridge’ near-top-ten placement made it the highest ranking Alberta city, followed only by Edmonton at 16th. Lethbridge ranked high in the average household income and average house pricing categories, as well as in culture. None of that surprises Tarleck. “We have a vibrant cultural community,” he says, noting the much-anticipated community arts facility slated for the old IGA site downtown will only serve to further the city’s cultural reputation. “We have a strong cultural anchor in our community.” While the city ranked higher for crime rate - coming in 125th out of 179 cities - Tarleck says Lethbridge’ police force can only be commended, especially because it’s the first regionalized police service in the province and operates just beyond the borders of the country’s largest aboriginal reserve. Social issues are often reflected in crime statistics, he notes. “There has been a determined effort on the part of the Lethbridge Police Service to establish strong working relationships, based on respect, with the aboriginal community”. While some of the survey categories - like weather - are beyond control, Tarleck says the city has worked hard to improve the areas it can to make Lethbridge a better place to live. Noteworthy, he says, are the revitalization of the downtown core and the city’s commitment to providing adequate facilities for the population. He’s especially excited about the nearly-completed complex in west Lethbridge which will house two high schools and a library with plans in place to build two ice arenas. “It’s not just a number of educational and recreational facilities, we have a strong beginning for a social heart for west Lethbridge,” he says. “It’s going to be a meeting place and every part of the city needs something like that.” Tarleck also credits council’s inclusive mu- nicipal planning processes for helping make Lethbridge such a live-able city. “We don’t operate in a vacuum,” he says. “We meet with many community groups to find out what kind of community it is that they want.” While the list of commendable aspects of Lethbridge goes on - the river valley parks system, post-secondary institutions, and agricultural research facilities - Tarleck notes the residents themselves cannot be forgotten. “Lethbridge is very well served by a wide number of volunteers who care about their community,” he says. “One of the reasons we’re able to do so much is that we have so many volunteers. “We are an inclusive community and a caring community.” And residents of all ages regularly sing the praises of the city, says Tarleck. “It’s one of the most live-able communities for seniors,” he says. “Students enjoy their time in Lethbridge. Many say when they get a chance they’ll come back to Lethbridge - I hear that story every day.” Even Tarleck himself was enamored by the city when he arrived in 1966 with the intention of staying for one year. While it didn’t hurt that he met his wife shortly after arriving, Tarleck says the city itself quickly found a place in his heart. “After I came to Lethbridge I never wanted to return to Vancouver,” he says. “The city experience I had in Lethbridge told me this is where I wanted to live.” For more information on MoneySense’s 2010 list, visit moneysense.ca.
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