Red Deer, Alberta residents gathered at the Riverside Meadows playground on March 18, 2026, to sign a formal petition aimed at stopping new coal mining in the province. The event, which ran from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., was open to all community members who support the protection of local water sources.
Organizers from the Water Not Coal campaign required participants to show a government-issued photo ID to sign the document. This verification is necessary for the signature to be counted in an official citizen initiative petition overseen by Elections Alberta.
The movement is led by Alberta country singer Corb Lund and seeks a permanent ban on coal exploration and mining in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains. If successful, the law would stop new projects while allowing existing mines that were active on January 1, 2026, to continue operating.
The province-wide signature drive began on February 10, 2026, and will continue through June 10, 2026. Organizers are holding community events to gather the high volume of verified signatures needed to bring the issue before the provincial government for consideration.
