Editing Lethbridge (section)

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Lethbridge}}

[[File:Downtown Lethbridge Skyline.jpg|thumb|[[Downtown Lethbridge]], facing northwest from 8th St. & 6th Ave. South]]

Lethbridge is [[southern Alberta]]'s commercial, distribution, financial and industrial centre (although [[Medicine Hat]] plays a similar role in southeastern Alberta). It has a trading area population of 341,180, including parts of [[British Columbia]],<ref name="bus-inv-profile" /> and provides jobs for up to 86,000&nbsp;people who commute to and within the city from a radius of {{cvt|100|km}}.<ref name="bus-inv-profile" />

Lethbridge's economy has traditionally been agriculture-based; however, it has diversified in recent years. Half of the workforce is employed in the health, education, retail and hospitality sectors,<ref name="stats">[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4802012&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&Data=Count&SearchText=lethbridge&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= Lethbridge Community Profile.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217060434/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4802012&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&Data=Count&SearchText=lethbridge&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=|date=December 17, 2007}} Statistics Canada. 2002. 2001 Community Profiles. Released June 27, 2002. Last modified: December 14, 2006. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 93F0053XIE</ref> and the top five employers are government-based.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chooselethbridge.ca/choosebusiness/workforce_6.jpg |title=Major employers of Lethbridge—2005|publisher=Economic Development Lethbridge|access-date=August 2, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060823023552/http://www.chooselethbridge.ca/choosebusiness/workforce_6.jpg|archive-date=August 23, 2006}}</ref> Several national companies are based in Lethbridge. From its founding in 1935, [[TST-CF Express|Canadian Freightways]] based its head office there until moving operations to Calgary in 1948, though its call centre remains in Lethbridge.<ref>[http://cf.cfmvmt.com/web/cf/cfwebsite.nsf/AllDoc/70F6E63C8217F0BB87256ED0007FC357?OpenDocument Company History], Canadian Freightways. Retrieved December 24, 2006. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020204708/http://cf.cfmvmt.com/web/cf/cfwebsite.nsf/AllDoc/70F6E63C8217F0BB87256ED0007FC357?OpenDocument |date=October 20, 2007}}</ref> [[TacoTime|Taco Time Canada]] was based in the city from 1978 to 1995 before moving to Calgary.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20061109165207/http://www.tacotimecanada.com/aboutus.php Company History], Taco Time Canada. Retrieved December 24, 2006.</ref> Minute Muffler, which began in 1969, is based in Lethbridge.<ref>[http://www.minutemufflerandbrake.com/history.htm The First 30 Years], Minute Muffler & Brake. Retrieved December 24, 2006. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061030184700/http://www.minutemufflerandbrake.com/history.htm |date=October 30, 2006}}</ref> International [[Freight transportation|shipping]] company H & R Transport has been based in the city since 1955.<ref>[http://www.hrtrans.com/about/history.asp Company History], H & R Transport. Retrieved December 24, 2006. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903090007/http://www.hrtrans.com/about/history.asp |date=September 3, 2006}}</ref> Braman Furniture, which has locations in [[Manitoba]] and [[Ontario]], was headquartered in Lethbridge from 1991 to 2008.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071216092007/http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/app/ccc/search/navigate.do?language=eng&portal=1&estblmntNo=123456100604&profile=completeProfile Braman Furniture International], Canadian Company Capabilities, Industry Canada. Last Updated: November 9, 2005.</ref>

Lethbridge serves as a hub for commercial activity in the region by providing services and amenities. There are many [[Transportation in Lethbridge|transport services in Lethbridge]], including [[Red Arrow Motorcoach|Red Arrow]] buses, [[Transportation in Lethbridge#Highways|four provincial highways]], [[Transportation in Lethbridge#Rail service|rail service]] and [[Lethbridge Airport]], are concentrated in or near the city. In 2004, the police services of Lethbridge and [[Coaldale, Alberta|Coaldale]] combined to form the [[Lethbridge Police Service]].<ref>[http://www.lethbridgepolice.ca/polcomsn.html Police Commission], Lethbridge Regional Police Service. Retrieved December 24, 2006. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070129022608/http://www.lethbridgepolice.ca/polcomsn.html |date=January 29, 2007}}</ref> Lethbridge provides municipal water to Coaldale, [[Coalhurst]], [[Diamond City, Alberta|Diamond City]], [[Iron Springs, Alberta|Iron Springs]], [[Monarch, Alberta|Monarch]], [[Shaughnessy, Alberta|Shaughnessy]] and [[Turin, Alberta|Turin]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Pipeline Project Flows Along|publisher=Sunny South News|date=March 14, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Monarch to tap into Lethbridge water|publisher=Lethbridge Herald|date=February 23, 2008}}</ref>

In 2002, the municipal government organized Economic Development Lethbridge, a body responsible for promoting and developing the city's commercial interests.<ref>[http://www.chooselethbridge.ca/about/ About Economic Development Lethbridge] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061012035241/http://www.chooselethbridge.ca/about/ |date=October 12, 2006}}. Retrieved December 24, 2006.</ref> Two years later, the city joined in a partnership with 24 other local communities to create an economic development alliance called SouthGrow, representing a population of over 140,000.<ref>[http://southgrow.com/sites/southgrow.com/files/AnnualReport_1.pdf Annual Report 2006] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914142625/http://southgrow.com/sites/southgrow.com/files/AnnualReport_1.pdf |date=September 14, 2015}}, SouthGrow. June 21, 2006.</ref> In 2006, Economic Development Lethbridge partnered with SouthGrow Regional Initiative and Alberta SouthWest Regional Alliance to create the Southern Alberta Alternative Energy Partnership. This partnership promotes business related to alternative energy, including [[wind power]], [[solar power]] and [[biofuel]], in the region.<ref>[http://www.saaep.ca/news_1.php Southern Alberta Economic Development Organizations Partner to Launch Major Alternative Energy Initiative] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312001305/http://www.saaep.ca/news_1.php |date=March 12, 2007}}. Southern Alberta Alternative Energy Partnership news release. November 6, 2006.</ref>