Lloydminster removes 21 downtown benches in bid to curb social disruption

During council’s discussion, Coun. Michele Charles Gustafson described the measure as a way to interrupt established patterns while the city continues working on longer-term responses.

“I do believe that there is merit in creating somewhat of a circuit breaker,” she said.

A downtown committee had recommended removing benches through a more targeted or phased approach. Administration favoured addressing a wider area because leaving some seating in place could create new gathering spots.

City Manager Dion Pollard cautioned that the activity could instead shift to another part of downtown or into surrounding residential areas. Several councillors similarly acknowledged the measure would address a symptom without creating additional housing, treatment or mental-health services.

Lloydminster is not the only municipality in the region to take that approach. In October 2025, North Battleford approved a one-year trial to remove most benches from its downtown core after businesses and residents raised concerns about loitering, littering and public safety.

The decision comes as administration estimates approximately $1.5 million in RCMP spending is connected to the downtown.

Public Safety Director Andrew DeGruchy said police had transported people arrested in the area to Lloydminster cells 557 times as of Aug. 14. The figure includes people detained for public intoxication and those held while awaiting release by a justice of the peace or judge, but excludes people arrested and released at the scene.

Police had also laid 273 criminal charges arising from downtown incidents, including alleged drug, assault and break-and-enter offences.

The city has funded approximately 240 hours of additional RCMP bike, foot and overtime patrols this year at a cost of about $30,000. Three targeted crime-reduction campaigns cost another $50,000.

DeGruchy said perceptions of safety can affect whether people visit downtown, even when the conduct causing concern is not necessarily criminal or disruptive.

“While they do have a feeling of being unsafe, we haven’t always seen the behavior that ties into it,” he said.

The city’s response has also included outreach and cleanup programs. Its Enforcement and Navigation Unit pairs a community peace officer with a social worker at an estimated annual operating cost of $246,000.

The unit had arranged six transfers to recovery facilities, made 25 public-intoxication arrests and responded to about 40 suspected overdoses. DeGruchy said naloxone was administered in most of those cases.

Another 119 businesses have joined the city’s agent program, allowing officers to respond to trespassing on participating properties. The program has resulted in 236 trespass notices and 12 tickets.

Administration said its larger obstacle remains a shortage of shelter, treatment and supportive housing. People who agree to enter recovery can face waits for a bed, and officials said their willingness to participate may disappear before a space becomes available.

“We still have only a 28 bed men’s shelter within the community, and we have a handful of beds available for women in crisis as well,” DeGruchy said.

A housing-first program funded by the city and operated through the Olive Tree has helped move more than 60 people from the street into housing, council heard.

Mayor Gerald Aalbers said many of the systems needed to address the underlying causes fall under provincial or federal jurisdiction.

“It’s the wrong table to be discussing those symptoms from the perspective that we have no authority, zero authority to make those changes to law, health, mental health, and addiction, justice, correction, or social services,” Aalbers said.

Councillors also discussed attracting more consistent activity downtown through a farmers market, additional events and a working group involving businesses, non-profits, community organizations and faith groups.

Changes to trees and shrubs, bench dividers and other design features intended to discourage sleeping or prolonged gathering were raised as possible future measures, but no detailed plan was presented.

Administration plans to review the city’s community standards bylaw this winter, including whether its provisions covering loitering and public conduct are adequate for current conditions.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com

by Kenneth Cheung

Lloydminster removes 21 downtown benches in bid to curb social disruption

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