SouthGrow Membership Elects New Board

Lethbridge, January 21, 2011 - SouthGrow Regional Initiative held a General Meeting at the Lethbridge Lodge on January 12, 2011 and elected a new Management Board.

The new Management Board, voted in by elected officials and community representatives are:

• Councillor Roger Houghton – Cardston County
• Mayor Kym Nichols – Village of Carmangay
• Councillor Don Wentz – Town of Coaldale
• Deputy Mayor Ron Lagemaat – Town of Coalhurst
• Councillor Daryl Sutter – Town of Claresholm
• Mayor Rajko Dodic – City of Lethbridge
• Councillor Dannie Lien – Village of Warner
• Jon Stevens – Town of Picture Butte
• Sandra Nelson – Village of Stirling
• Rob Crow – Blood Tribe Council

Prior to the elections, members approved the organization’s revised Articles of Association. Following the elections, SouthGrow Regional Initiative held its fourth annual Recognition Event. In addition to recognizing the efforts of the volunteers who serve on SouthGrow’s three committees (Marketing & Communications, Strategic Collaboration and Economic Development Innovation), SouthGrow recognized the members of the original Steering Committee that were responsible for SouthGrow’s inception: Duane Barrus, Dave Duggan, Linda Erickson, Emma Hulit, Lenz Kuiper, Lorna Kurio, Therese Munroe, Jon Stevens, Bob Tarleck, and Hank Van Beers.

The audience of 150 also received a brief update on SouthGrow’s projects including SouthGrowN Productivity Publication, Water for Economic Development, Southern Alberta Alternative Energy Partnership (SAAEP), and the Alberta Productivity & Competitiveness Conference in March. Attendees were also invited to “13 Ways to Kill a Community” presented in partnership with Lethbridge Exhibition on February 11, 2011 by Doug Griffiths.

Chair Sandra Nelson notes that “SouthGrow has accomplished so much since its inception. It is wonderful to be able to recognize the dedicated individuals that helped to shape SouthGrow back in 2003. And, moving forward, I am happy to welcome the new members of the Board. We will continue, with the support of our twenty-seven member communities, to respond to the concerns of the region and be proactive as this region progresses, grows and diversifies”.

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