Lethbridge

Lethbridge ( LETH-brij) is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada. With a population of 106,550 in the 2023 municipal census, Lethbridge became the fourth Alberta city to surpass 100,000 people. The nearby Canadian Rocky Mountains contribute to the city's warm summers, mild winters, and windy climate. Lethbridge lies approximately 215 km (134 mi) southeast of Calgary on the Oldman River, 169 km (105 mi) west of Medicine Hat, and 105 km (65 mi) northwest of the Canada–United States border at the Sweetgrass–Coutts Border Crossing. Lethbridge is the commercial, educational, financial, industrial and transportation centre of southern Alberta. The city's economy developed from drift mining for coal in the late 19th century and agriculture in the early 20th century. Half of the workforce is employed in the health, education, retail, and hospitality sectors, and the top five employers are government-based. Post-secondary institutes in the city include the University of Lethbridge, the only university in Alberta south of Calgary, as well as Lethbridge Polytechnic and Red Crow College. Cultural venues in the city include performing art theatres, galleries, museums, gardens, and sports centres.