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 now in person 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
Food, Funds or Free Time!
Thursday, October 5, 2023 12:00 PM
Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization
Danielle McIntyre , Executive Director - Interfaith Food Bank
Interfaith Food Bank is on the front lines of addressing food security issues in our community, and is an organization that has had to grow and adapt to the ever-evolving food security crisis in order to meet community needs. Food banks in Alberta experienced a 73% increase from 2019 – 2022 and in just the last year, local need has increased again by 30%. This presentation will discuss the rise in food insecurity and how community members can lend support by offering food, funds or free time to food security initiatives.
It Takes a Community: Why community needs to take action on child abuse
Thursday, October 12, 2023 12:00 PM
Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization
Kristine Cassie ,
Each year the Government of Alberta acknowledges October as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Recently the Chinook Sexual Assault Centre renovated space in downtown Lethbridge to accommodate the needs of the Chinook Child and Youth Advocacy Centre – a program that provides coordinated, multidisciplinary approach in a safe, comfortable environment to address the needs of abused children, youth and their families. The talk will explore the prevalence of child sexual abuse, long standing implications of abuse when left unaddressed, and why it is important, as a community, to take action.
Developing a collaborative climate resiliency and adaptation plan.
Thursday, October 19, 2023 12:00 PM
Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization
Tristan Walker , Municipal Energy Project Lead for the Town & Municipal District of Pincher Creek
In October 2022, the Town and MD of Pincher Creek collaborated with the Piikani Nation land department to begin developing a Climate Resiliency and Adaptation plan. This process was enabled due to funding provided by the Municipal Climate Change Action Center. The plan development focused on a stakeholder-driven methodology to identify key climate risks in the region and develop plans to adapt to those risks within a changing environment. The project was led by a team consisting of members from the Town, MD, regional emergency management organization, and Piikani Nation.
Recent Sessions
Recent Sessions
What is the difference between donating Blood and Plasma?
Thursday, September 28, 2023 12:00 PM
Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization
Brenna Scott , Business Development Manager at Lethbridge’s Canadian Blood Services Plasma Centre
While many have heard of donating blood, donating plasma is still a relatively next concept. Some people still believe that donating blood and plasma are one and the same, and while both have you sitting in a chair hooked up to a machine, they are different processes with different purposes.
When people think of blood donation, they are typically thinking of whole blood donation. Whole blood donations include all four blood components–red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma and are used to treat blood loss, typically due to injury or surgery.
Should Bison be restored to Eastern slope public Wildlands?
Thursday, September 21, 2023 12:00 PM
Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization
Mike Judd ,
For more than 130,000 years, bison roamed the ecosystems of western Canada and US and while doing so, influenced the lives of Indigenous Peoples and every other species they shared space and time with, before they were hunted to near extinction in the late 1800s.
The speaker will talk about his journey to the Bob Creek Wildlands in Alberta’s foothills and finding evidence of past bison existence there, which led a group of hikers to start investigating the possibility of returning bison to this part of the Eastern slopes.
Whacky Alberta History
Thursday, September 14, 2023 12:00 PM
Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO)
Frits Pannekoek , Director of Historic Sites for Alberta
Alberta has a lot of history, but no one has pulled it together. Some say we struggled against an unfriendly land, others say we struggled against eccentric governments, and others against an always evil East. Some say we are just misplaced Americans? But are these just old comfortable sawhorses. What are the alternatives? The speaker will offer one.
Speaker: Frits Pannekoek
Frits Pannekoek has been Director of Historic Sites for Alberta, for 25 years and involved in over a dozen of Alberta’s heritage centers.
Parkrun – A Global Fitness and Well Being Phenomenon
Thursday, September 7, 2023 12:00 PM
Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO)
Jim Carter , Event Director for the Henderson Lake Parkrun
Back in 2004, in a London, England Park, a global fitness and well-being activity, named Parkrun, was born. Parkrun is a network of free and computer timed 5-kilometer runs and walks held every Saturday morning at 9am local time at over 2200 locations in 26 countries around the world. There are over 5 million Parkrunners registered worldwide. Parkruns are community-based events that encourage physical fitness, health and wellness, and socialization for people of all ages and abilities.
Climate, Energy, Sustainability. Where are we? Where do we go?
Thursday, June 29, 2023 3:24 PM
Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization
James Byrne ,
Most of the global population recognizes we are in an accelerating transition to sustainable societies and environments. But what will that look like? Will life be more challenging; more comfortable; perhaps a combination? Dr. Byrne will discuss the society of the future. What do we have to do with energy and sustainability to achieve reasonably stable regional and global environments.
Speaker: James Byrne Moderator: Mark Goettel
James Byrne is Professor Emeritus, University of Lethbridge.