Society & Culture
Lethbridge’s 2021 Municipal Elections has the potential to be very interesting. For sure, the City will have a new Mayor and several fresh faces on Council. Many issues are up for debate and there are questions on the ballot: Is there a need for a third Bridge and should Lethbridge adopt a ward system? Additionally, the Province is asking Albertans for their opinion on equalization and daylight-saving time. The speaker will give an overview of these and other pressing issues such as homelessness and the overdose crisis. She will also supply information on what it takes to be a public servant and as well, provide a brief comparison between Bill 29: Local Authorities Election Amendment Act 2020, Bill 45: Local Authorities election Amendment Act 2020 (no. 2) and the previous Bill 23: An Act to Renew Local Democracy in Alberta from 2018. What impact might these changes have on the current and future municipal elections? Speaker: Maria Fitzpatrick Maria was born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland. She attended Memorial University of Newfoundland studying Education and Physical Education and taught with the Catholic School Board. She attended St. Francis Xavier University graduating with a diploma in Train the Trainer. Maria worked with both the Federal Government & the Territorial Government working in the field of Corrections as a Recreation Supervisor, Teacher & Education Coordinator, Parole Officer (both in the institution & community) finishing that career working at National Headquarters in policy development & project management. Maria was elected Regional Vice President in the National Capital Region with the Union of Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), & was a member of the Board of Directors & the Alliance Executive Committee for PSAC. Maria served as a member of the Board of Directors United Way Ottawa. Returning to Alberta in October 2012, Maria continued her career in Corrections retiring in 2015, and was elected as NDP MLA for Lethbridge East, serving her constituency & Alberta from 2015 to 2019. During that tenure she chaired the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, was a member of the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future, & was appointed to the Ministerial Panel on Child Intervention from 2017–2019, speaking out in the Legislature about her personal experience with Domestic Violence in support of Bill 204 (2015 Residential Tenancies-Safer Spaces for Victims of Domestic Violence Amendment Act 2015-Assented to 2015.) Since 2019, Maria has remained an active constituent of Lethbridge working with various organizations and local & provincial initiatives.