Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

As the municipal election in Lethbridge was beginning to gain steam this summer and candidates were coming forward, there was already a local group pressing one topic as an election issue: the building of a new skateboard park in Lethbridge. The Lethbridge Skateboard Association has managed to make their concern about the current crumbling and unsafe skateboard park one of the most talked about topics in this election. Most candidates are expressing support for a major investment of funds into a new skateboard park in a central location and the Lethbridge Skateboard Association has made itself a major player in the election through its involvement with online media. While skateboarding is one of the most popular sports for young people, it does not appear to be particularly well understood by either city council or administration. Average voters also struggle to understand why they should invest $500,000 to build a bunch of “graffiti-covered concrete hills” for skateboarders. The speaker will explain why sk