The Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA) presents a session with the executive director of the Lethbridge Food Bank as he discusses sustainability strategies for the much-needed organization.
How are food banks able to keep up with demand?
Food insecurity has skyrocketed and deepened in Canada, driven by structural inequities and incomes that have not kept pace with a rising cost of living, and Lethbridge is no exception. Food banks work hard to respond to the needs of people in their local communities, but with food bank visits across Canada having doubled over the past six years, there are broader questions about what is driving that demand and how sustainable the current response can be.
What does that growing demand look like here in Lethbridge, and how does a local food bank respond? The speaker will discuss the changing face of food insecurity in our community, who is turning to the food bank for help, and how food, funding, volunteers and community partnerships come together to meet that need. He will also explore the challenges of keeping pace with demand, the role food banks can realistically play, and what may be needed to address food insecurity over the longer term.
Speaker: Tim Rempel
Tim Rempel is executive director of the Lethbridge Food Bank, where he leads an organization responding to the growing and changing food needs of individuals and families across the Lethbridge community. Tim brings more than 35 years of entrepreneurial, management and leadership experience to the role. His background includes owning and operating Rogers retail stores, publishing Lethbridge Living magazine, operating Booster Juice franchises, and working and consulting in the building and restoration industry.
Since becoming executive director in 2026, Tim has brought his business and operational perspective to the Lethbridge Food Bank, with a focus on responding effectively to community need while strengthening the organization’s long-term sustainability, partnerships and programs. Tim believes food banks have an important role in meeting immediate needs with dignity and compassion, while also contributing to the broader conversation about why so many Canadians require food assistance in the first place.
Date/Time: Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. The presentation begins at noon & concludes at 1 p.m.
Free to attend. Donations, however, are gratefully accepted.
Location: SACPA sessions are held at Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO), Atrium Dining Room, 500 - 11 Street South, Lethbridge
Lunch and Refreshments: If you like, please arrive early to patronize the LSCO cafeteria and enjoy its excellent variety of good-value food/drink options in the Atrium Dining Room before/during the session
For more information on the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs, visit the SACPA web page.
Contact:
Trevor Kenney | trevor.kenney@uleth.ca | sacpa.ca