18-Jan-07. Local non-profit groups receive funding. Lethbridge Herald, A5.

The non-profit John Howard Society of Lethbridge has received $50,000 from the provincial government via the Wild Rose Foundation. Funding will be used toward program costs for Life Without Gambling over one year to deliver a six-part community-based program to reduce the individual and social problems stemming from problem gambling.

7-Jan-07. Butting out blow to bingo revenue. Lethbridge Herald, A3.

After six days of the new anti-smoking bylaw, managers of two Lethbridge bingo halls fear that the resultant loss of revenues for the 72 community clubs they support will be substantial. Keith Preddy, president of the Southern Alberta Bingo Association, estimates that the bylaw has diminished revenues by $1,000 per day.

26-Dec-06. Service clubs could be burned by new rules. Lethbridge Herald, A3.

Keith Preddy, president of the Southern Alberta Bingo Association, expects that once the new Lethbridge smoking bylaw takes effect January 1st, business at the association’s bingo hall will be dead. He says 85 to 90 per cent of the bingo players who go to Lucky’s are smokers. Preddy says that a reduction in revenues for the association will reduce funds available to community service clubs.

2-Aug-06. Horse track plans embraced in Lacombe. Red Deer Advocate, A1.

At an open house on Tuesday, property owner Robert Allen of Calgary and Max Gibb, CEO of the Rocky Mountain Turf Club in Lethbridge, laid out plans to build a $12-million to $15-million horse racing centre in Lacombe. Horse Racing Alberta has given approval in principle to the pari-mutuel licence but a formal application is required for the plan to move ahead.

28-Jun-06. Holy Spirit board doesn’t fundraise through casinos. Lethbridge Herald, A5.

Recent headlines related to the Catholic church’s stand in southern Alberta on gambling as a source of school fundraising will not have an effect on Lethbridge. In Lethbridge, Holy Spirit Schools board chairman Ken Tratch says that his schools don’t do any casino fundraising. The issue has previously been discussed at the board level and with parents and is was agreed that fundraising of that nature would send the wrong message.

24-Jun-06. Gambling edict splits schools. Calgary Herald, B1.

As Calgary Catholic schools defy an order from Bishop Fred Henry this week to abolish gambling-based fundraising, Lethbridge schools vow they will continue to follow his edict. Lethbridge is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary led by Henry. David Keohane, superintendent of the Holy Spirit Catholic School District which encompasses Lethbridge and surrounding area, says Henry’s position reflects that taken in a position paper called The False Eden of Gambling, backed by Alberta’s bishops as a group.

21-Jun-06. Gamblers wanted for university research. Lethbridge Herald, A1.

Gambling researchers at three Alberta universities are testing various hypotheses about the nature of gambling as part of a five-year study. University of Lethbridge professors Robert Williams and Rob Wood are two of seven researchers involved in the investigation. The study, which started in January, has signed up 1,000 participants but another 1,000 are needed.

19-Apr-06. Urban legends. Lethbridge Herald, A4.

This article discusses the possibility of a First Nations urban reserve being established in the City of Lethbridge. University of Lethbridge Native American Studies assistant professor Yale Belanger notes that, technically, a First Nation could apply to have a casino on an urban reserve. There are four casinos on urban reserves in Saskatchewan but Belanger doubts that an application would be approved in Lethbridge as the city already has a casino and the Blood Reserve does not appear interested for cultural reasons.

25-Mar-06. Program for problem gamblers receives extension. Lethbridge Herald, A3.

The Life Without Gambling program being offered by the Lethbridge John Howard Society was recently granted a one-year extension to its funding through the Alberta government’s Community Initiative Program. Gordon Leigh, executive director of the society, says the non-residential program is open to problem gamblers who intend to quit gambling and to spouses and partners who need to understand more about problem gambling. The model used for the current program was a research project undertaken at the University of Lethbridge which Leigh helped implement in local correctional institutions.

25-Mar-06. Problem gambling emotional issue, not financial: researcher. Lethbridge Herald, A3.

University of Lethbridge addictions researcher Christopher Rose reviewed the prevalence rates and typical characteristics of problem gamblers at a day-long seminar hosted by the South Country Treatment Centre on Friday. Rose noted that, while gambling can cause financial difficulties and even lead to suicide, the core issues behind the problem are generally not financial ones.