Get to know Lethbridge

Town in 1890, city in 1906

Lethbridge was incorporated as a town on December 3, 1890, and became a city on May 9, 1906.

City motto: "Ad occasionis januam"

Latin for "Gateway to Opportunity."

Built on coal

The community originally grew up around coal mining, which drew the first workers and shaped where the early town was laid out.

The rail hub between Calgary and the border

The Canadian Pacific Railway's Lethbridge Viaduct — the High Level Bridge — was completed in 1909 and made Lethbridge the main rail and transport hub between Calgary and the United States border.

Irrigation shifted the economy to agriculture

Between 1898 and 1900, irrigation canals built by Mormon settlers from Utah moved the regional economy away from coal and toward agriculture. Irrigation is still a major industry across southern Alberta today.

Mayor — Blaine Hyggen

Re-elected October 20, 2025. In office since October 25, 2021.

Deputy Mayor — Rajko Dodic

The deputy mayor is a councillor appointed to the role, so this position can rotate between council members.

City Council — 8 councillors, elected at large

Al Beeber · Mark Campbell · Belinda Crowson · Rajko Dodic · Rufa Doria · Ryan Parker · Jenn Schmidt-Rempel · Ryan Wolfe

Lethbridge has no wards — councillors are elected at large, so every councillor represents the whole city.

Member of Parliament — Rachael Thomas

Conservative, riding of Lethbridge. Re-elected in 2025.

MLA, Lethbridge-West — Rob Miyashiro

New Democratic Party. Elected in the December 2024 by-election.

MLA, Lethbridge-East — Nathan Neudorf

United Conservative Party. In office since 2019.

Population — about 113,671

2025 Government of Alberta population estimate.

Provincial estimates and municipal censuses are produced differently and by different bodies, so the two figures below do not match. Both are shown as published rather than averaged.

Population — 106,550

2023 municipal census, conducted by the City of Lethbridge.

4th-largest city in Alberta

By population, after Calgary, Edmonton, and Red Deer.

The Lethbridge Viaduct (High Level Bridge)

Completed in 1909, roughly 1.6 km long and about 96 m high. Locally it's just called the High Level Bridge.

Historical information only. This is an active railway structure, not a visitor destination.

Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden

Opened in 1967 for Canada's centennial, honouring the local Japanese-Canadian community.

Galt Museum & Archives

The city's museum and public archives, holding the regional historical record.

Indian Battle Park

In the river valley, on the site of an 1870 battle between Cree and Kainai/Piikani.

Henderson Lake Park

A large park built around Henderson Lake on the city's east side.

Helen Schuler Nature Centre

Nature centre in the Oldman River valley, with trails through the coulees.

The 1912 historic post office

A downtown landmark, recognisable by its clock tower.

One of the world's longest and highest railway trestles

The High Level Bridge is among the longest and highest railway trestles of its type anywhere.

A chain of parks runs right through the city

Lethbridge sits in the Oldman River Valley, which carries a connected run of parks north to south through the city.

Residents are sometimes called "Lethbridgians"

Informal, but you'll hear it.