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CTV News
a day ago
- Health
- CTV News
Summer heat brings more challenges for Lethbridge's most vulnerable
An encampment is seen in Lethbridge on Monday, June 9, 2025. While some Lethbridge residents may love the summer sun, the heat can pose problems for the city's most vulnerable. Streets Alive Mission chief operating officer Cameron Kissick says Lethbridge's homeless can suffer from heat stroke and sunburn, or can be plagued by bug bites. Making things harder is the fact many of the city's unhoused residents carry all their possessions with them all throughout the year. It means many will wear multiple layers of clothing even on scorching hot days. 'Homeless people basically wear what they own,' said Bill Ginther, executive director of the Lethbridge Soup Kitchen. 'So, you don't see them wearing shorts and short-sleeved shirts much. They wear what they have – and that could be year-round – so they're pretty hot.' Organizations around the city are starting to stock up on bottled water to hand out. The Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge's bottled water drive has seen plenty of donations coming from members of the community and businesses. Despite that, officials say even more help is needed. 'As soon as it comes in, it is going out,' said executive director Danielle McIntyre. 'We've got multiple agencies that are helping us with the distribution, and the outreach teams are out there in full force.' The organization is also asking for donations of everything from sunscreen to water bottles. 'Lip balm – ChapStick goes a long way,' said Kissick. 'Aloe vera gels for the cases of sunburn, things like that, and then not just bottles of water, but water bottles – reusable water bottles. The ability to be able to give them something they can refill.' A 2022 Point in Time Count found 454 people in Lethbridge are experiencing homelessness.
CTV News
24-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Lethbridge charity not collecting mail-in donations amid Canada Post overtime ban
A Lethbridge charity is changing the way it collects donations as the union representing about 55,000 Canada Post employees calls for a countrywide halt to overtime work. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said late Thursday that members were being told to refuse any work beyond eight hours in a day and 40 hours in a week. Canada Post issued its own statement in response to the overtime ban, saying there are no rotating strikes or national work stoppages as of now, and postal operations will continue. However, the Crown corporation did warn of possible delays. In Lethbridge, the Interfaith Food Bank Society is taking proactive measures to deal with the uncertainty. 'At this time of year, we typically see our donations drying up because we are quite a ways out of that season of giving from Thanksgiving to Christmas,' said executive director Danielle McIntyre. 'Instead of doing a bake sale and asking people to make cookies or a cake, we are asking them to give us the money that they would've spent on that.' The non-profit is asking for donations to its 'Bakeless Bake Sale' fundraiser be made in person or online, not through the mail. 'Normally, with our newsletter, there's a small envelope in there that asks people to put their money into the mail and send it off to us,' McIntyre said. 'However, this year … we're encouraging people to give online or stop in,' she said. On Wednesday, Canada Post offered a 13.5 per cent wage increase over four years, along with the creation of new, part-time carrier job categories to help the Crown corporation extend parcel delivery to weekends. That same day, Canada Post rejected the union's call for a two-week truce that would have given workers time to review the latest offers in detail, leading the union to proceed with the overtime ban. 'Businessowners are feeling anxious and frustrated,' said Sarah Aimes, executive director of the Downtown Lethbridge BRZ. 'Many small businesses rely on Canada Post to ship and receive their goods. Any potential strike or delay in Canada Post will force them to look for alternative methods of delivery, and those can expense and perhaps less efficient.' In November, Canada Post workers were on the picket lines for 32 days before the federal government ordered employees back to work and extended the collective agreement deadline to May. 'I also think from the last postal strike, people have become more comfortable with online, which I think was a barrier that we just needed to break,' McIntyre said. 'We are trying to reach people through as many different means as possible, whether it be radio, television, newspaper, emails and social media, it's just about adapting to the new reality.'
