A number of City of Lethbridge departments presented their future wish lists to members of city council on Wednesday at the Economic Standing Policy Committee meeting.
City staff pitched potential projects for the 2022-31 Capital Improvement Program, with CIP budget deliberations set for May 10-14, 2021.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/p/lethbridge-city-council-vacant-lot-taxes-builders" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="City council votes down proposal to cut taxes on vacant Lethbridge lots in half" target="_blank">
				City council votes down proposal to cut taxes on vacant Lethbridge lots in half			</a>
		
	
While many of the proposals won&#8217;t make the cut, they do highlight future priorities identified within the city.
Lethbridge Fire and EMS Chief Marc Rathwell explained the need to relocate Fire Station 3 in South Lethbridge; the building was constructed in 1963, and Rathwell says the city has outgrown the station in the nearly 60 years it&#8217;s been in service.
Building a new station to replace the current facility would also relieve pressure on Station 1.
&#8220;Can you [explain] relieving pressure from Station 1,&#8221; Coun. Jeff Carlson asked Rathwell on Wednesday. &#8220;Did we not build that big enough?&#8221;
&#8220;At the time, yes,&#8221; Rathwell answered, &#8220;but over time, we&#8217;ve filled it up, and we&#8217;ve had to deal with many more issues as we&#8217;ve gone along.&#8221;
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/p/green-shirt-day-lethbridge" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Lethbridge city council supports Green Shirt Day with official proclamation" target="_blank">
				Lethbridge city council supports Green Shirt Day with official proclamation			</a>
		
	
According to Lethbridge Fire and EMS, Station 3 is also not strategically located to mitigate the current risks in South Lethbridge, with the city significantly growing since the small facility was constructed.
The estimated cost to relocate Station 3 to a new building is estimated at more than $27 million. Rathwell says the need for a new station was presented in the previous CIP cycle but was postponed.
Another project not deemed a high priority in prior CIP deliberations was a new twin ice arena, which would eventually replace the aging Civic Ice Centre.
The city&#8217;s recreation and culture general manager Robin Harper says the need for more available ice in Lethbridge has been apparent for quite some time.
&#8220;We&#8217;ve been tracking the usage of the arenas, and what we have found is that prime-time usage &#8212; which is roughly between 4 p.m. and 10-11 p.m. and weekends &#8212; the usage is anywhere between 90 and 95 per cent,&#8221; Harper said. &#8220;There really is a shortage of ice in those prime times.&#8221;
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/p/shannon-phillips-mla-police-surveillance" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="MLA Shannon Phillips discusses &#8216;shocking&#8217; information about Lethbridge police revealed in FOIP request" target="_blank">
				MLA Shannon Phillips discusses &#8216;shocking&#8217; information about Lethbridge police revealed in FOIP request			</a>
		
	
The price tag for a new arena with a pair of ice surfaces &#8212; including the demolition of the civic facility &#8212; is pegged at about $38.6 million. Harper&#8217;s department is also proposing a $5.8 million renovation to the Henderson Ice Centre as well as a $530,000 renovation for the Fritz Sick Pool and a pair of planning studies.
The list of pitches made so far is <a href="https://agendas.lethbridge.ca/AgendaOnline/Meetings/ViewMeeting?id=2967&amp;doctype=1" target="_blank">available on the city&#8217;s website</a>. More proposals will be made in the next two weeks before CIP budget deliberations begin on May 10.

A number of City of Lethbridge departments presented their future wish lists to members of city council on Wednesday.  Continue reading →

News

Politics

Arenas

Civic Ice Centre

Lethbridge

Lethbridge Cip Projects

Lethbridge City Council

Lethbridge Fire And Ems

Lethbridge Infrastructure

Lethbridge News

Pitches begin for potential 2022-31 Lethbridge Capital Improvement Program projects

Flying Eze

<a href="https://www.flyingeze.com/p/why-did-nba-swing-toward-christmas-start-shorter-season-money" target="_blank">The NBA was always straightforward about their plan for this season</a>: Get through it, play enough games to meet television contract requirements, try to keep players healthy while trying to <a href="https://nba.nbcsports.com/2020/11/10/players-react-to-deal-to-start-nba-season-no-one-is-passing-up-that-money/" target="_blank">recoup as much money as possible</a> (all while knowing teams will lose a lot this season). Then, next season, get back to &#8220;normal&#8221; with a schedule that starts in October and full arenas.
The NBA expects the second part of that — full arenas — to happen in the fall thanks to the speed of the vaccine rollout in recent months, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31208486/sources-nba-expects-full-arenas-2021-22-season-amid-partnership-biometric-screening-company" target="_blank" rel="noopener" target="_blank">reports Baxter Holmes at ESPN</a>.
What&#8217;s new is the NBA teaming up with biometric screening company CLEAR — something familiar to many from airport security lines — as a way to help fans both show they are vaccinated and help those fans feel safe in an arena full of people. From Holmes at ESPN.
<blockquote>A key aspect toward that effort is the NBA&#8217;s new multiyear leaguewide partnership with Clear, a biometric screening company known for its expedited security process at hundreds of airports worldwide. The partnership makes CLEAR&#8217;s COVID-19 health screening technology available to all 30 teams in their NBA arenas, and it&#8217;s expected to help facilitate more fans returning to games, though it&#8217;s up to each team how to use the technology.</blockquote>
Fans can download the CLEAR health app, upload a picture of themselves and proof of vaccination, and answer a few health screening questions. From a press release from CLEAR the corporation:
CLEAR’s Health Pass allows fans to securely access and verify their health information prior to entering an arena. Additionally, as COVID-19 vaccines continue to be administered across the country, CLEAR’s Health Pass will soon offer the ability to link an individual’s vaccination records to their Health Pass account.
Again from ESPN:
<blockquote>Before entering the venue, fans can open the app, verify their identity with another selfie and then answer health survey questions. (There are also expected to be an unspecified number of Clear kiosks where fans receive a temperature check and scan their QR code.) Fans are issued a red or green notification depending on their COVID-related health information.
A Clear spokesperson noted that the arenas only receive information about whether a fan has passed the requirements for access and not any private health information from the individual.</blockquote>
The goal is to create a safe environment — and just as importantly, make people feel safe filling indoor arenas again by the tens of thousands. The NBA&#8217;s economic model depends on those people. But <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/06/us/politics/vaccine-passports-coronavirus.htm" target="_blank">these kinds of &#8220;vaccine passports&#8221; have also proven controversial and raise ethical questions</a>.
It&#8217;s impossible to predict what life in the United States will look like come October, even if, as a nation, we reach a level of &#8220;herd immunity.&#8221; State restrictions may still vary and impact arenas. On a more individual level, some people can&#8217;t wait to get back to what life was like before the pandemic; others are warier and hesitant after the experience of the last year.
The NBA wants everyone to feel comfortable coming back to games — and spending their money — and is looking for ways to make people feel more comfortable doing so. They are hoping Clear can help with that.

The NBA has teamed up with biometric screening company CLEAR

Uncategorized

Clear

Fans

Health

Help

People

People Feel

Screening

NBA reportedly expects full arenas for games starting next season

<a href="https://www.flyingeze.com/p/why-did-nba-swing-toward-christmas-start-shorter-season-money" target="_blank">The NBA was always straightforward about their plan for this season</a>: Get through it, play enough games to meet television contract requirements, try to keep players healthy while trying to <a href="https://nba.nbcsports.com/2020/11/10/players-react-to-deal-to-start-nba-season-no-one-is-passing-up-that-money/" target="_blank">recoup as much money as possible</a> (all while knowing teams will lose a lot this season). Then, next season, get back to &#8220;normal&#8221; with a schedule that starts in October and full arenas.
The NBA expects the second part of that — full arenas — to happen in the fall thanks to the speed of the vaccine rollout in recent months, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31208486/sources-nba-expects-full-arenas-2021-22-season-amid-partnership-biometric-screening-company" target="_blank" rel="noopener" target="_blank">reports Baxter Holmes at ESPN</a>.
What&#8217;s new is the NBA teaming up with biometric screening company CLEAR — something familiar to many from airport security lines — as a way to help fans both show they are vaccinated and help those fans feel safe in an arena full of people. From Holmes at ESPN.
<blockquote>A key aspect toward that effort is the NBA&#8217;s new multiyear leaguewide partnership with Clear, a biometric screening company known for its expedited security process at hundreds of airports worldwide. The partnership makes CLEAR&#8217;s COVID-19 health screening technology available to all 30 teams in their NBA arenas, and it&#8217;s expected to help facilitate more fans returning to games, though it&#8217;s up to each team how to use the technology.</blockquote>
Fans can download the CLEAR health app, upload a picture of themselves and proof of vaccination, and answer a few health screening questions. From a press release from CLEAR the corporation:
CLEAR’s Health Pass allows fans to securely access and verify their health information prior to entering an arena. Additionally, as COVID-19 vaccines continue to be administered across the country, CLEAR’s Health Pass will soon offer the ability to link an individual’s vaccination records to their Health Pass account.
Again from ESPN:
<blockquote>Before entering the venue, fans can open the app, verify their identity with another selfie and then answer health survey questions. (There are also expected to be an unspecified number of Clear kiosks where fans receive a temperature check and scan their QR code.) Fans are issued a red or green notification depending on their COVID-related health information.
A Clear spokesperson noted that the arenas only receive information about whether a fan has passed the requirements for access and not any private health information from the individual.</blockquote>
The goal is to create a safe environment — and just as importantly, make people feel safe filling indoor arenas again by the tens of thousands. The NBA&#8217;s economic model depends on those people. But <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/06/us/politics/vaccine-passports-coronavirus.htm" target="_blank">these kinds of &#8220;vaccine passports&#8221; have also proven controversial and raise ethical questions</a>.
It&#8217;s impossible to predict what life in the United States will look like come October, even if, as a nation, we reach a level of &#8220;herd immunity.&#8221; State restrictions may still vary and impact arenas. On a more individual level, some people can&#8217;t wait to get back to what life was like before the pandemic; others are warier and hesitant after the experience of the last year.
The NBA wants everyone to feel comfortable coming back to games — and spending their money — and is looking for ways to make people feel more comfortable doing so. They are hoping Clear can help with that.
&nbsp;

NBA reportedly expect full arenas for games starting next season

The NBA has not been hiding what it wants to do this season: Keep moving ahead, make as much money as they can even without fans filling buildings, crown a champion, and get on to next season when things will look far more traditional.
That has not changed in the wake of 31 games being postponed due to COVID-19 protocols.
&#8220;But the plan remains to try to resume our season as close to so-called normal as possible next year,&#8221; NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Saturday in his annual All-Star press conference. &#8220;It was one of the reasons why, in setting the schedule this year, we decided to stop in mid-July&#8230; Frankly, I’m fairly optimistic at this point that we will be able to start on time [next season], and that we have roughly half of our teams have fans in their arenas right now. If vaccines continue on the pace they are, and they continue to be as effective as they have been against the virus and its variants, we’re hopeful that we’ll have relatively full arenas next season as well.&#8221;
Even with all those postponements, the NBA is not planning on returning to a bubble for the playoffs.
&#8220;We’re not considering going back to a bubble right now,&#8221; Adam Silver said. &#8220;I don’t rule anything out just because one thing we’ve all come to understand over the last year is that the virus is firmly in charge. We need to adjust to circumstances as they present themselves.
&#8220;But as I said in response to the prior question, I’d say maybe for the first time in the past year I’m fairly optimistic right now that as we see fans returning to our arenas, as we see public health officials across the country begin to open up sporting events, theaters, restaurants, other forms of entertainment, I feel pretty good that we’re going to continue apace.&#8221;
Not having fans in the building this season — on top of the halting of last-season for months before finishing in a bubble — has been a big financial hit for the league, Silver said (although he did not get into numbers).
&#8220;The long-term health of the league is very solid. Between last year and this year, we’re looking at considerable losses&#8230;&#8221; Silver said. &#8220;Last season and this season has required a significant investment on the part of the team owners. They accept that. Players will end up taking a reduction in salary this season because they are partners with the league and teams on revenue. The executives, team executives, have all taken haircuts on their salary.&#8221;
Which is why the NBA and everyone involved wants to get back to &#8220;normal.&#8221;
Silver covered many other areas in his press conference.
• Silver addressed the current tensions between referees and players, which has led to <a href="https://nba.nbcsports.com/2021/02/21/watch-j-j-redick-get-ejected-for-passing-ball-to-referee/">a rash of</a> <a href="https://nba.nbcsports.com/2021/03/03/watch-devin-booker-get-ejected-for-two-quick-technicals/">quick ejections</a> <a href="https://nba.nbcsports.com/2021/03/04/donovan-mitchell-gets-ejected-knocks-cooler-into-security-guard-rips-refs-video/">that have angered fans lately</a>.
&#8220;First of all, in terms of the data, which we obviously look very closely at, there’s nothing aberrational happening, whether in terms of accuracy of calls or number of technicals on the floor. But I will say everyone is under enormous pressure this year. The officials aren’t exempt from that&#8230;
&#8220;So I’m not particularly concerned necessarily with the calls on the floor. I’m always concerned about the members of our larger community and how they’re interacting with each other.
&#8220;I think it’s also the case, it’s not a secret, maybe where a little bit of the shorter fuses come in, is that when you have arenas that are packed with 19,000 people and you can hardly hear the person next to you, a player may be used to saying something directed at an official that the official wouldn’t typically hear. Then the issue becomes, in largely empty arenas, when they do hear what the player says, how is it they should react.
&#8220;I think it’s something we’re talking about in the league office.&#8221;
• When asked about the diversity of head coaches in the league — in the wake of Minnesota hiring Chris Finch (who is white) as its new coach without even interviewing lead assistant David Vanterpool (who is Black) — Silver said the league needs to do more, but there isn&#8217;t an easy answer.
&#8220;It’s going to take certainly more than we’re doing now,&#8221; Silver said of improving diversity. &#8220;We’ve made progress over the years. We’re constantly looking at how we can do better. The Coaches Association is working closely with us on this.
&#8220;First of all, I don’t think there are any quick fixes. I think we want to appropriately respect everyone who’s involved. There’s no coach that I know who wants to get hired based on his skin color, but they want a fair opportunity. Part of that is ensuring that we’re developing coaches appropriately in the pipeline, that they’re getting the right opportunities to interview, the right opportunities to network as other coaches have historically done&#8230;
&#8220;I think in certain cases you have a network of relationships that go back many years. To the extent that people aren’t part of those networks, they’re clearly as a disadvantage in the process.&#8221;
• &#8220;There are no ongoing discussions right now at the league office&#8221; about <a href="https://nba.nbcsports.com/2021/03/06/adam-silver-says-nba-has-no-ongoing-discussions-about-changing-logo/">changing the league logo to one with Kobe Bryant.</a> Silver essentially shut down that discussion.
• The NBA will not mandate that players or coaches get the coronavirus vaccine.
&#8220;I don’t think that every player certainly needs to be vaccinated for fans to come back,&#8221; Silver said. &#8220;I mean, that’s not anything that the health authorities have suggested to us. I think we’re now fairly familiar with those kinds of engagements that can lead to people getting the virus from someone else. There may be a herd immunity aspect to this, which means whether in our community or in jurisdictions, a certain percentage of people who have been vaccinated or have antibodies will cover others.&#8221;
• Silver said there are discussions but no firm plans right now for an NBA Summer League. The teams want it, he added.

“The plan remains to try to resume our season as close to so-called normal as possible next year.”

Adam Silver says NBA hopes to return to “normal” for next season

When the Alberta government announced on Saturday that it was adding “limited school and minor sport training” as well as dance and gymnastic classes to Step 1 of the province&#8217;s staggered easing of COVID-19 restrictions, it left some small-town arenas in a tough spot.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7624888/alberta-minor-sports-covid-19-step-1/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Alberta government adds minor sports training, gymnastics and dance to Monday&#8217;s COVID-19 reopening">
				Alberta government adds minor sports training, gymnastics and dance to Monday&#8217;s COVID-19 reopening			</a>
		
	
&#8220;It was really exciting news, but it also caused a lot of questions,&#8221; said Kevin Serfas, president of the Golden Suns Athletic Association in Taber.
&#8220;We had to start phoning town councillors and rec boards saying, &#8216;Hey, things have changed, we will start using ice.'&#8221;
Serfas said Taber town council decided at a meeting on Monday to keep its ice, and young players in Taber will hit the ice as early as Wednesday.
Under the revised guidelines, practices are allowed for indoor and outdoor training &#8212; but not games &#8212; for players 18 years and younger, with a maximum of 10 total participants, including coaches.
Physical distancing must be maintained between players at all times, and coaches are required to wear face coverings at all times.
&#8220;It&#8217;s not 100 per cent what we want, the way we want to do it, but it&#8217;s something,&#8221; Serfas said. &#8220;Getting the kids back on the ice and doing some development work, socially distanced, it&#8217;s a good thing.
<blockquote>&#8220;We&#8217;re just happy for the opportunity to try and put something together, of any kind.&#8221;</blockquote>
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7618137/lethbridge-minor-hockey-alberta-season-end-covid/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="What Lethbridge Minor Hockey is saying after Hockey Alberta&#8217;s end-of-play announcement">
				What Lethbridge Minor Hockey is saying after Hockey Alberta&#8217;s end-of-play announcement			</a>
		
	
But some municipalities aren&#8217;t going to continue with ice times.
Magrath Minor Hockey posted on Facebook that it would be removing the ice from its arena, and both Claresholm and Nanton have made the same decision.
	
		
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
				<img class="story-img" src="https://globalnews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Claresholm-ice-removal-Rob-Vogt.jpg?quality=85&#038;strip=all&#038;w=512" alt="The ice at the Claresholm Arena being removed by public works staff.">
			
		
				
			
						 		The ice at the Claresholm Arena being removed by public works staff.
				
						 		Courtesy: Rob Vogt, Claresholm Local Press
							
		
			
	
The town of Stavely factored in nearby Claresholm and Nanton when choosing to keep its ice in.
The arena in Stavely is operated by the Stavely Agricultural Society, and president Ryan Hall said they wanted to make sure kids in the area had a chance to play.
&#8220;We&#8217;re glad that we&#8217;ve done what we&#8217;ve done, because it&#8217;s letting the local kids go on the ice, and that&#8217;s what our association&#8217;s been about for as long as I&#8217;ve been a part of it, and for many years prior,&#8221; he said.
Hall said Mother Nature also bought them some time with frigid temperatures while they were making their decision.
&#8220;We looked at the forecast &#8212; that was kind of the deciding factor &#8212; because of course the plant is quite expensive to operate if the weather is warm, and February&#8217;s forecast is not calving weather, so that worked out,&#8221; Hall laughed.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7615704/hockey-alberta-minor-games-cancelled-covid-19/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="COVID-19: Hockey Alberta cancels minor hockey games for remainder of season">
				COVID-19: Hockey Alberta cancels minor hockey games for remainder of season			</a>
		
	
The Lethbridge Minor Hockey Association has not announced its plan for development programming, with a <a href="http://www.lethbridgeminorhockey.com/article/63716">notice on its website</a> on Tuesday saying it is &#8220;working diligently to secure ice with the City of Lethbridge&#8221; after the city had previously cancelled that availability.

Municipalities around southern Alberta are making decisions on their arenas.  Continue reading →

Flying Eze

Flying Eze

MAIN SECTIONS

YOUR ACCOUNT

About Flying Eze

Flying Eze

Arenas

Pitches begin for potential 2022-31 Lethbridge Capital Improvement Program projects

NBA reportedly expects full arenas for games starting next season

NBA reportedly expect full arenas for games starting next season

Adam Silver says NBA hopes to return to “normal” for next season

Southern Alberta municipalities decide whether or not to keep ice in local arenas

Flying Eze

Main Links

Your Profile

Features

Flying Eze