Town of Coalhurst launches new website

Posted on May 28, 2026 by Sunny South News

Town of Coalhurst

The Town of Coalhurst has announced the launch of its new municipal website, offering a more welcoming, modern and intuitive way to connect with the community online.

Created to reflect Coalhurst’s new brand and improve the user experience, the new site combines a refreshed look with intuitive navigation and a structure designed around how people look for information. The website aims to make it simpler for residents, businesses and visitors to find municipal services, council information, community news and local resources.

“Our website should reflect the kind of community Coalhurst is — welcoming, accessible and connected,” said Mayor Deb Florence. “This new platform makes it easier for residents to find information, stay informed and engage with their town. Access to information and clear communication are essential to public accountability, and this platform helps us deliver that.”

New features include:

• a community event submission tool and calendar

• report-a-problem forms for operations concerns, website issues and bylaw complaints

• updated contact forms for Town staff and Council

• subscribe to receive website alerts, events, news and notices by email

• an alphabetized, searchable business directory that helps showcase local enterprises

Together, these enhancements create a more accessible, responsive and service- focused online experience.

The launch marks the culmination of a multi-year effort to modernize the town’s digital presence. In December 2022, council directed administration to “create a functional, user-friendly website,” with the intention to modernize its look and improve navigation, usability and access to information.

Following that direction, administration researched options, obtained quotes and brought forward recommendations. In late 2024, Council approved funding for a combined Town Branding and Website Redevelopment Project, recognizing the opportunity to strengthen both Coalhurst’s identity and its online presence.

“A municipal website is often the front door to a community,” said Chief Administrative Officer Karlene Betteridge. “With Council’s approval of a new brand and website for Coalhurst, we saw an opportunity to rethink not just how the site looks, but how it represents who we are as a community.”

Community input helped shape the work through a Town Identity and Branding survey conducted in December 2024. The feedback informed the development of Coalhurst’s new visual identity, which was officially unveiled during Miners Days on July 26, 2025.

With the brand established, website redevelopment moved forward, with Upanup as the town’s third-party development contractor. Administration worked closely with the project team to guide the site’s development, prepare content and complete transition requirements ahead of launch.

Now live, the new website brings Coalhurst’s brand to life through a design that is welcoming, modern and rooted in community pride. More than a website refresh, it serves as a digital front door to the community — one that reflects Coalhurst’s character, values and commitment to clear, accessible communication.

“This launch represents an important step in modernizing how we communicate while positioning Coalhurst as a welcoming place to live, visit, invest, and do business,” said Betteridge. “Located just minutes from the City of Lethbridge, Coalhurst offers a small-town feel that is truly special. The new brand and website were intentionally designed to reflect that character — our strong sense of community, pride in our history, and the welcoming spirit built by the residents who call Coalhurst home.”

Everyone is encouraged to explore the new website and its features at http://www.coalhurst.ca