Lethbridge mayor acknowledges Nepal flood tragedy at council meeting
Mayor Blaine Hyggen offered words of support to the city's Nepalese community during a Community Issues Committee meeting.
Why it matters
Lethbridge is home to Canada's largest per-capita Nepalese population, so the disaster has a direct personal impact on many local residents.
Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen opened last week's Community Issues Committee meeting by recognizing recent flooding in Nepal that has killed close to 1,400 people, with more than 5,100 still missing. The disaster was triggered by an ice-rock avalanche on August 26th.
Hyggen said he wanted to make sure Lethbridge's large Nepalese community knew they were not alone and were in the thoughts of many residents during this difficult time. He noted that some in the community have family and loved ones in Nepal, and that some were even travelling there when the flooding struck.
The mayor pointed out that Canadians, including those who became Canadian citizens over time, were also affected by the disaster. He said he has heard that, per capita, Lethbridge has the largest Nepalese population in the country, making the tragedy especially significant for the city.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.