Lethbridge musician and country music star Corb Lund visited the community on April 5, 2026, to rally support for a provincial petition aiming to ban new coal mining projects in Alberta‘s eastern slopes. The event, which drew local supporters, is part of a broader push to protect the regional water supply from potential industrial contamination.
The campaign, known as the Water Not Coal petition, is calling for a provincial referendum to stop new coal mining operations. To trigger this vote, organizers must collect 177,732 signatures by June 10, 2026. The petition specifically targets projects like the Grassy Mountain coal mine near the headwaters of the Oldman River and the Blackstone project in Clearwater County.
Lund, a sixth-generation Albertan who resides in Lethbridge, has been using his platform to voice concerns over the impact of mining on the Oldman River. Local residents rely on this river for drinking water and to support the region’s multi-billion dollar food processing industry. Supporters fear that mining activities could leach harmful substances like selenium into the water, potentially affecting agricultural operations downstream.
The Grassy Mountain project, proposed by Northback Holdings, has been a subject of significant local debate. The project is owned by Australian mining magnate Gina Rinehart through Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd. While the project faced rejections from both provincial and federal regulators in 2021, the Alberta Energy Regulator approved a coal exploration project at the site in May 2025 following heated public hearings.
Lund’s visit to Lethbridge followed a series of community-organized events held across the province between April 3 and April 5. Those interested in learning more about the initiative or signing the petition can find information through the Water Not Coal campaign.
