ABOUT US

MORE THAN JUST A RESTAURANT

Located in the historic town of Coleman in Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, The Rum Runner is a beloved family-friendly restaurant and pub that celebrates the area's rich history of rum-running. The establishment pays homage to this era through its building, artifacts on display, and overall atmosphere. Conveniently located off Highway 3, The Rum Runner is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike. Regular events, including monthly live music performances, add to the welcoming atmosphere of this establishment known for its delicious food.

The Rum Runner Restaurant & Pub in Coleman, Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, Canada - History and About

HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS

We have a collection of historical artifacts on display!

The Rum Runner Restaurant & Pub in Coleman, Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, Canada - Historical Artifact - Lake Louise canoe

The Rum Runner Restaurant & Pub in Coleman, Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, Canada

Canoe salvaged from Lake Louise

Miners' ID Badges

Our bar was featured in a musical

RUM RUNNING HISTORY

A thriving bootleg business was present in the Crowsnest Pass during the Prohibition Era (1916-1924).

The area's most notorious "rum-runner" was Emilio Picariello. Emperor Pic (as he came to be known) was a wealthy Blairmore merchant and one-time town counsellor. Emperor Pic was living the high-life without a care in the world until he was involved in an altercation with the Alberta Provincial Police (APP).

The APP had secretly obtained a search warrant for Picariello's Alberta Hotel in downtown Blairmore. Picariello and his son Steve had just returned from Fernie, BC with a load of whiskey and one of their informants told them of the raid. Steve took off headed west when he ran into an APP checkpoint near Coleman. He was shot as he tried to break through the baracade.

After being informed that his son was fatally wounded, Picariello drove to the APP barracks in Coleman with his housekeeper Florence Lassandro. It was here that a confrontation, which is still the subject of some conjectrre, ofccured between Picariello and APP Constable Lawson.

When the dust had settled, Lawson had been shot and killed. Emilio Picariello and FLorence Lassandro were both hanged for the murder. Lassandro was the only woman ever hanged in Alberta.

To learn more, visit the local Crowsnest Museum & Archives, located in Coleman!

COLEMAN MUSEUM