Coal petition signing events kick off in Lethbridge on Friday, elsewhere this weekend

A petition looking to ban coal mining on the Eastern Slopes is holding kick-off events across Alberta this weekend.

Petition organizers seeking the banning of coal mining on the Eastern Slopes are holding kick-off events across Alberta this weekend.

That included an event Friday in Lethbridge.

The petition is being spearheaded by country music artist Corb Lund.

The petition says the prohibition would include the controversial Grassy Mountain coal project north of Crowsnest Pass.

A 2024 municipal referendum showed 72 per cent of Crowsnest Pass residents supported the project, but the vote excluded the 200,000 people living downstream from the proposed coal mine.

Canvassers have been able to collect signatures since last week.

The Lethbridge launch event was held at Nikka Yukko.

Canvassers collected signatures until 8 p.m.

Lund believes they’ll have no problem getting the necessary signatures.

“(We’re looking) to get way, way more than the 178,000 signatures that we’re required to get,” said Lund.

“The biggest thing anybody can do right now is be a canvasser.

“And it’s not that hard. You don’t have to go door to door … you can just get your friends and family to sign up.

“That helps, too.”

If the petition is successful, it can either be brought into the legislature or put to a referendum.

Organizers have four months to collect the necessary signatures.

The petition was recently given the go-ahead again, after a change in legislation forced Lund to reapply under more strict conditions.

More information about the petition and upcoming signing events can be found online, here.

With files by Quinn Keenan