CBC Calgary is expanding its news coverage in southern Alberta with a full-time, permanent bureau based out of Lethbridge. To celebrate the permanent bureau, CBC is hosting a two-day event in partnership with the Lethbridge Public Library on January 20 and 21, 2023.
To kick off the event, we will be broadcasting live from the Lethbridge Public Library Main Branch on Friday, January 20 with our radio shows Alberta at Noon and The Homestretch and encourage people to join us to watch, listen and be part of our live audience as the shows go to air. People will have the chance to meet our hosts before and after the shows and enjoy refreshments and treats. Afterwards, we’ll be hosting an after dark comedy night at Good Times Lethbridge Comedy Club featuring local comics.
We have several free, family-oriented activities planned the following day, Saturday January 21, including storytime for kids with our CBC hosts including Angela Knight, a colouring and a dress up station with CBC Kids, musical performances featuring local bands and singer songwriters including Shaela Miller, button making, a chance to pitch a story to CBC, an opportunity to host a mock newscast, a Japanese dance workshop and much more.
"I'm excited to launch our permanent bureau in Lethbridge to serve the people and stories of southern Alberta,” said Senior Director of Journalism and Programming Helen Henderson. “Having a full-time journalist in place allows us to fully explore the richness and diversity throughout our province, going far beyond what we can provide from Calgary. We'd love to meet as many folks as possible from Lethbridge at our launch this weekend.”
Ose Irete will be the permanent journalist in Lethbridge. Irete is a multimedia storyteller with experience in audio, written and visual media. He is no stranger to southern Alberta, completing his undergraduate degree in Anthropology at the University of Lethbridge and spending the better part of a decade living in the city.
"I'm excited to be back in town and covering a community I know so well,” said Irete. “There's so much more to this part of the province than people might think from the outside looking in, and I'm really looking forward to showing that."
Irete has been with CBC Calgary for the past year as a photojournalist and reporter. He began reporting in Lethbridge last week.
“I'll be digging deep on issues like housing, transportation and healthcare that matter to the people of Lethbridge and southern Alberta, while also showing why so many people are happy to call this place home."
This event is part of an ongoing partnership with the Lethbridge Public Library. Stories from Lethbridge can be seen at cbc.ca/lethbridge.
CBC Radio One Lethbridge: 100.1 FM
About CBC/Radio-Canada:
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
For further information, please contact:
Madelaine Lapointe
Senior Communications Officer, CBC Calgary
403-477-6241
madelaine.lapointe@cbc.ca
Will Tigley
Manager, Communications, Marketing & Brand, CBC Calgary
403-462-5945
will.tigley@cbc.ca
