Coalhurst Miners Days bigger and better than ever

By Lethbridge Herald on July 24, 2025.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Coalhurst’s Miners Days 2025 celebration coincides with the town’s 30th anniversary as an incorporated town, making this year’s summer celebration more meaningful. Coalhurst’s history is a story of resilience. Since its early days as a mining town, it has seen periods of growth, decline and finally rebirth.

Miners Days will take place on Friday and Saturday. The festivities include a Fire Department Open House on Friday evening, followed by the annual Town Council pancake breakfast Saturday morning and afterwards the parade, led by honourary marshal Barbara Edgecombe-Green, former Coalhurst mayor and councillor who was the town’s first female mayor.

“Our community’s identity is rooted in coal mining—a history of hard work, grit, and resilience,” says Deputy Mayor Deb Florence, who was born and raised in Coalhurst. “Celebrating the 30th anniversary of incorporation during Miner Days makes it even more special.  

“As a resident and deputy mayor, I see this moment as both a reflection and a challenge. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come, and it reaffirms what I’ve always believed: Coalhurst is a community of choice.”

Miners Days is a long-standing annual community celebration that honors the town’s coal mining heritage. Like the town itself, the event has grown over the decades into a multi-day summer festival featuring a parade, live music, family activities, food vendors, and fireworks. It typically takes place in August and is organized with the help of local volunteers and community groups.

Miners Days began as a way to celebrate the town’s roots, bring the community together, and recognize the contributions of the coal miners who built the town. It continues to be a highlight of the year in Coalhurst, blending historical pride with modern community spirit.

“Miners Days is a full community effort,” says Florence. “It doesn’t happen without people stepping up. This year we’ve had tremendous support from groups like the Town of Coalhurst, South Country Co-op, the 55+ Club Society, the Coalhurst Volunteer Fire Department, and the Coalhurst Legion Branch No. 273.

“These organizations, along with countless volunteers, put their time and energy into making this event something our entire town can enjoy. That says a lot about who we are as a community—we show up, we pitch in, and we take pride in what we do together.”

Founded in 1913 on the coal mining industry, Coalhurst thrived until a devastating mine explosion in 1935 claimed the lives of 16 miners and forced the mine to close. This event significantly impacted the town, leading to a period of decline and a reversion to hamlet status.

After decades as a veritable ghost town, Coalhurst eventually saw a resurgence as a residential community, particularly in the 1970s; as a quiet, family-friendly community near Lethbridge. Coalhurst reincorporated in 1979 and was redesignated as a town on  June 1, 1995. Today it offers a peaceful environment with a focus on community development and strategic partnerships.

“Miners Days is my all-time favourite event,” says Florence. “It’s a celebration of our rich history, but it’s also about right now—it’s about gathering as neighbours, seeing familiar faces, and welcoming new ones. For years, it was run entirely by community volunteers. After COVID, the Town took on a bigger role to help bring it back, and now it’s bigger and better than ever.”