SACPA acknowledges that our events takes place on the lands of the Blackfoot People and Metis Nation of Alberta, Region lll and we pay respect to their past, present and future cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship to the land. SACPA commits to assist reconciliation efforts by raising awareness of the ways past and present injustices can be reconciled.

Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA) was founded in 1967. It is an independent forum, moderated by volunteers, meeting Thursdays at noon some 40 weeks a year and at occasional special sessions, to debate local, provincial, national, and international issues of concern to the residents of Lethbridge and Southern Alberta.

SACPA sessions are at the LSCO (Lethbridge Senior Citizen Organization) at 500 11 St. S. Lethbridge, lunch at 11:30 am, speaker 12:00 to 1:00 and made available on our YouTube channel for viewing and you are invited to explore them on our YouTube channel.

The rationale of the Council is that the strength of a political democracy is lodged in the freedom of citizens to assemble and freely discuss ideas and issues. SACPA seeks to promote a sense of community and citizenship amongst the public. It is strictly non-partisan in its political outlook and encourages the expression of divergent viewpoints. SACPA does not take sides on the issues debated at its sessions. The opinions expressed by speakers are their own and are not necessarily shared by the Board of Directors.

Upcoming Sessions

Upcoming Sessions

Russian Olive - How Should We Manage This Beautiful Invader?

Thursday, May 7, 2026 12:00 PM

Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization

Kelly Cooley, CoolPro Solutions

Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to Eurasia introduced to North America in the late 19th century to serve colonizing families as windbreaks to help stem soil erosion. In the 20th and 21st century, Russian Olive became more valued as an ornamental species, and for game bird sport hunters on otherwise vast treeless prairie areas. While Russian Olive has some traditional medicinal and culinary uses in its native Eurasian range, it is now widely considered an aggressive invasive species, particularly in the Western U.

SACPA Special Event: Screening of the Documentary “THE EASTERN SLOPES”

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 6:30 PM

BMO Auditorium in the Science Commons Building, University of Lethbridge

Erin Rolfson and Graham Ruttan, Directors and Producers

For years, community members, experts from Lethbridge, southern Alberta and many people living downstream have united to prevent coal mining in the eastern slopes of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains. Expanding coal mining in these regions threatens the water, health, and livelihoods of millions of people, while international corporations have lobbied governments to rewrite the rules. This documentary explores the current situation regarding the proposed Northback Grassy Mountain open-pit coal mine, located in the Eastern Slopes area.

Protecting a 114-Year Fire/EMS Legacy: Why Must Lethbridge Sound the Alarm on Putting Profit over Public Safety?

Thursday, May 14, 2026 12:00 PM

Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization

Brent Nunweiler

Lethbridge is home to the longest-standing integrated Fire / EMS system in North America. We will discuss the proven success of this model and the current threat the system is under from the provincial government. This transition isn’t just a policy shift; it is a direct threat to patient outcomes. In our city, this is literally a life-and-death decision. Public safety must always come before profit, and EMS should never be handed to the lowest bidder.

How Can Everyday Observation Become Conservation Action?

Thursday, May 28, 2026 12:00 PM

Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization

Brook Skagen, P.Biol., RTAg., AWB®, Owner and Principal Ecologist of Larkfir Conservation Services

Southern Alberta’s grasslands are among the most biodiverse and most endangered ecosystems in the world. Yet they are often perceived as familiar, quiet, or even unremarkable. In landscapes like these, ecological change can unfold gradually and largely unnoticed, allowing species and habitats to decline without broad public awareness. This presentation explores how everyday observation plays a critical role in conservation. Using a local example from southern Alberta, the talk introduces the foundations of ecology, the study of living things and their interactions, and demonstrates how small, consistent acts of noticing can reveal meaningful ecological patterns.

Recent Sessions

Recent Sessions

Why Is Coal Mining in the Eastern Slopes a Concern? Insights on Ecological Effects of Coal Development

Thursday, April 30, 2026 12:00 PM

Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization

Lorne Fitch, Professional Biologist

Evidence indicates that the environmental impacts of coal development are negative and incapable of being effectively dealt with by mitigation, compensation, or reclamation. There are significant legacy issues from the existing footprint of coal development and there is no compelling evidence that future coal development will provide any different outcomes. The speaker will argue that more coal development will create more environmental problems. Avoidance of serious, lingering environmental problems will only be achieved by an end to coal development in the Eastern Slopes.

Is Permanent Daylight Saving Time right for Alberta?

Thursday, April 23, 2026 12:00 PM

Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization

Dr. Mike Antle

For the last 50+ years, we’ve been changing our clocks twice a year. While this was originally supposed to save energy, the disruption to our circadian rhythms has led people in countries engaged in this practice to wonder if it is still worth it anymore. While the vast majority of people feel we should “lock our clocks”, deciding on what permanent time to stick with is less clear. Are the choices arbitrary, or are there compelling reasons for one option over the other?

How did a Potato Farmer from Chin, AB end up on the Agenda in Davos, Switzerland?

Thursday, April 16, 2026 12:00 PM

Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization

Chris Perry

An Alberta farmer represented Canadian agriculture at the World Economic Forum. Chris Perry, a potato farmer from Chin, east of Coaldale, received an invitation from PepsiCo to participate in the January 2026 event in Davos, Switzerland. While in Davos, the fourth-generation farmer participated in two sessions. One was the “Partners in Possibility: Collaborating for Resilient Food Systems” panel, with representatives from PepsiCo, banking, and other industries. That discussion focused on how collaboration among farmers, brands, finance, and policy can move solutions from pilots to true infrastructure.

Lethbridge: A Cycle Commuter’s Dream / Nightmare?

Thursday, April 9, 2026 12:00 PM

Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization

Mathew Hellawell

Lethbridge and bicycles. Some would say they go together like oil and water. Others might say, “keep your mouth closed if you’re headed west” What is going on in our city and why? As a bike shop owner and an avid cyclist, Mathew is in a unique position. Today he will discuss his own experiences cycle commuting and share some stories from others. He will outline a few things that seem unique to Lethbridge and how we compare to other centers.
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