The Grassy Mountain coal project was initially rejected by the Alberta Energy Regulator in 2021, which ruled that the project was not in the public interest. Since that time, Australian-owned Northback Holdings has applied for exploration permits at the site, which the Alberta Government has allowed stating that the project qualifies as an “advanced coal project.” This decision has elevated debate between those who argue for the economic benefits of mining and those who fear the environmental impacts to the area as well as to the communities downstream.

Join us as we hear from two opponents of the proposed mining on the Eastern Slopes of the South Canadian Rockies.

Kevin Van Tighem has worked in landscape ecology and conservation for four decades, mostly in western Canada national parks. His family roots in what is now Alberta go back to 1875. Since retiring as superintendent of Banff in 2011, he has served on the boards of the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Livingstone Landowners Group and been active in support of numerous conservation causes.

Kevin is the award-winning author of 15 books on wildlife and nature including Our Place/Changing the Nature of Alberta and Wild Roses Are Worth It. Honoured by the Canadian Wildlife Federation with its 2021 Robert Bateman Award for advancing wildlife conservation through the arts, in 2022 he was presented with an honorary Doctor of Science by the University of Lethbridge. He was recognized by the Kainai Environmental Protection Society for his efforts to protect our headwaters and gifted with a Blackfoot name that translates to Rough Rapid Water.

Chris Spearman served as the mayor of the City of Lethbridge from 2013 to 2021, where he worked on growing the city’s economy. During his tenure as mayor, new investment in Lethbridge exceeded $1 billion, boosted primarily by the construction of the Cavendish potato processing plant as well as significant expansions at Richardson Oilseeds and Hostess Frito-Lay / Pepsico Foods. In 2003, Spearman was a founding member of Economic Development Lethbridge, also serving on the executive until 2013.

Prior to his career in politics, he was employed for 32 years by a large food processing company.