City working on new monuments policy
By Tim Kalinowski on April 17, 2021.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDtkalinowski@lethbridgeherald.com The City of Lethbridge will take the next six months to come up with a new monuments policy which will examine the process of how monuments are chosen, if existing monuments are appropriate within the contemporary age, and whether or not enough financial resources can be allocated to ensure appropriate care of the city’s existing 120 monuments even as more may be added in the future.City council’s Cultural and Social Standing Policy Committee unanimously authorized designated city staff, along with appropriate outside partner agencies, to undertake such a review.
The 120 items designated as monuments by the City include not only statues and other large public installations, but also various commemorative plaques spread throughout the community.
Existing monuments will be examined for their depictions of Indigenous peoples and other potentially outdated social expressions which may cause public harm.
Monuments will also be evaluated for their relative condition.
There is no dedicated funds for monument repair or replacement currently set out in the municipal budget, and some are in an advanced state of deterioration or disrepair due to weathering or the passage of time, Cultural and Social Standing Police Committee members were told during Thursday’s meeting.
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