User:Kmsiever/Sandbox

Kim Siever (born September 5, 1973) is an activist, artist, and independent journalist in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. He has advocated on various social issues within Lethbridge and abroad, including police violence, cycling infrastructure, harm reduction, citizen journalism, municipal and provincial politics, labour, and community building. Siever was editor-in-chief of citizen journalism website Lethbridge News between 2010 and 2013, lead correspondent for Elect Lethbridge during the same period, and now runs his own independent news site. He ran for a seat on Lethbridge City Council in 2001, and he was an independent candidate for the Lethbridge riding in the 2021 federal election. He has contributed to the local arts community through volunteering, theatre, and exhibits.

Early life
Siever was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan but grew up in Regina and Abbotsford. He graduated from the Lethbridge College in 2001 with a multimedia production diploma, and he received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Lethbridge in 2013 (major in dramatic arts, minor in French).

Community activism
Siever has advocated for various social issues within Lethbridge and abroad. As a result, his commentary has been used by the media on various social issues, including police violence, cycling infrastructure, harm reduction, citizen journalism, municipal and provincial politics, labour, health, and community building.

He has volunteered with various committees and boards in the community, including as president of the Southern Alberta New Media Association, chair of the community arts centre steering committee, vice-president of the Allied Arts Council, director with BikeBridge Cycling Association, president of the London Road Neighbourhood Association, and vice-chair of the Galt Museum board of directors.

He appeared in the 2020 documentary Community Consumed. He is a member of the Edmonton General Membership Branch of the IWW.

Journalism
Siever’s journalism started in junior high, when he was on the editorial team for his school newspaper. He was also a writer for the newspaper at his high school.

He got his start in local media as the founder and editor-in-chief of Lethbridge News, a citizen journalism website, in 2010. He was also a lead correspondent with Elect Lethbridge, another local citizen journalism website, but one focused on politics. In 2013, former mayor Rajko Dodic threatened to sue Siever for a story he wrote for Elect Lethbridge regarding donations Dodic accepted during his 2010 municipal election campaign. In April 2020, Siever started his own independent news outlet, Kim Siever News, which he rebranded as The Alberta Worker, in 2022.

Siever has also written for ArtsBridge Magazine, Lethbridge Herald, Alberta Views Magazine, and The Progress Report.

Political career
In August 2001, Siever announced that he was running for a seat on Lethbridge city council. His platform included public transit, council accountability, and diverse economic development, including establishing an economic development authority. He was 1 of 35 candidates running for the 8 city council seats that year.

In August 2021, Siever announced that he would be an independent candidate in the 2021 Canadian federal election, trying to unseat Conservative Party incumbent Rachael Harder.

Artistic work
Siever has contributed to the local arts community. He served on the board of directors with the Allied Arts Council (2001–2003, 2008–2014), including terms as treasurer and vice-present, as well as the chair of the community arts centre steering committee, as mentioned above.

He has a dramatic arts degree from the University of Lethbridge, and he has acted in three stage productions and three independent films, as well as directed one stage production.

Exhibitions
Siever exhibited his artistic work in “Facets and Facades”, a photography showcase that ran April through May 2011 in the Waterfield Gallery of Genevieve E. Yates Memorial Centre. His photography has been used in countless news stories throughout Canada, Europe, and the United States, including through such outlets as Bicycling Magazine, Business Insider, Buzzfeed, HGTV Canada, PBS, and The Atlantic.

Personal life
Siever married Mary Siever in 1995 in Seattle. They moved to Lethbridge from Vancouver in 1998. They have 6 children. Siever is an active Mormon and is also queer.