Henry Doeve is running for mayor of Coaldale in the 2025 municipal elections. (Photo: Henry Doeve)

By David Opinko

Henry Doeve running for mayor of Coaldale

Sep 24, 2025 | 2:55 PM

It is a two-man race to determine Coaldale’s next mayor.

Henry Doeve has announced that he has entered the 2025 municipal elections, which are set for October 20.

He says the labour dispute between the Town of Coaldale and its unionized workforce was the main reason he wanted to run.

The Town ended up locking its employees out of their job sites on Sept. 6, as the two sides have been unable to reach a new agreement. Both sides have publicly accused the other of utilizing unfair practices and false statements.

“I’m just opposed to labour negotiations being done in public,” says Doeve. “It really leaves a sour taste in my mouth for labour negotiations to be a political piece. I think our employees deserve more respect and more appreciation than that.”

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READ MORE: Town of Coaldale employees rally after being locked out

Doeve says that there has to be a better way of doing things.

He told LNN that he wants to bring the community together.

“The top priority is to celebrate the community, just Coaldale first, community first. When things happen and things come forward, that it’s done as a community.”

Another major concern for Doeve is the potential for big-box retail stores to come into Coaldale.

He says he values the town’s many local businesses that have supported the community for decades, and that these retail giants often result in local companies closing and people losing their jobs.

Doeve has lived in Coaldale for 43 years and says it is “near and dear to my heart.”

He has been on a variety of boards, commissions and committees for over two decades, which he believes has given him a strong understanding of the importance of good governance.

A couple of those include the University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Polytechnic, as well as 10 years as a councillor in Lethbridge County.

Doeve is also the president of the Link Pathway Committee, which has been working to build a cycling and walking trail between Coaldale and Lethbridge.

Doeve will challenge incumbent Jack Van Rijn for the mayor’s chair, and you can learn more about Van Rijn’s campaign in the article linked below.

READ MORE: Coaldale mayor running for re-election

More coverage of the 2025 Municipal Election from LNN is available here.