The Canmore Area Trails Master Plan (CATMP) is the provincial government’s proposal to manage trails in one of North America’s most important wildlife corridors. It will shape how and where we recreate in the Bow Valley for decades to come. This Plan has real potential, but it also needs key improvements to ensure it protects wildlife while supporting a high-quality trail experience.
A Panel Discussion and Information Session
Join us Wednesday, January 14 for a panel discussion and information session. You’ll have a chance to review and discuss the trail maps proposed for your favorite places in the Bow Valley, hear about the Master Plan, and learn what you can do to help ensure that the Plan works for both people and wildlife. Our panelists include:
Peggy Holroyd, Planner, Alberta Forestry and Parks
Bill Hunt, Senior Conservation Lead, Yellowstone to Yukon
Dr. Tony Clevenger, Bow Valley Naturalists
Laura Quelch, E.D., Canmore & Area Mountain Bike Association
Gareth Thomson, E.D., Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley
Admission is free (but donations will be gratefully accepted) - and we ask that you preregister by clicking here, which also allows you to send us your questions about the plan ahead of time!
That same webpage will help you learn more about our concerns, and see our suggestions on how to respond to the government’s request for input before the 21 January deadline.
Why This Matters
Over two-thirds of Bow Valley trails are currently unauthorized, and new “pirate trails” are being built each year. Research shows unmanaged recreation can reduce grizzly and wolf use by hundreds of metres to kilometres around trails.
The CATMP includes strong design components such as trail-free zones, seasonal closures, trail bundling, and decommissioning of ~275 km of unauthorized routes, but lacks clear strategies for:
Public education
On-the-ground enforcement
Wildlife and human-use monitoring
Long-term governance
These elements are essential if the Plan is to achieve its goals.
Photo by Government of Alberta. Note the timestamp on the two images.
Our Call to Action
Your don't need to be a scientist or planner to make a difference. Here's how you can help before the January 21, 2026 deadline:
1. Read the Plan
To comment on the overall direction, you only need to read 12 pages (pages 3–15).
2. Attend Our Information Session
📅 Wednesday, January 14, 2026
🕖 7:00–9:00 pm
📍 Canmore Seniors’ Centre, Creekside Hall
3. Complete the Government Survey
We’ve created survey response suggestions to help you provide effective, informed feedback.
4. Add Comments to the Interactive Map
Sharing your knowledge of favourite trails and areas of concern is a critical input for the government. We’ve also created a step-by-step map engagement guide.
5. Write to the Minister
Consider writing to the Honourable Todd Loewen, Minister of Forestry and Parks. Email him, call his office, or write a letter at FP.Minister@gov.ab.ca or (780) 644-7353. Don’t forget to cc our local MLA (Banff.Kananaskis@assembly.ab.ca) and the NDP’s shadow Minister of Forestry and Parks, Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse (Edmonton.Rutherford@assembly.ab.ca).
6. Visit our website to read our comments about the Master Plan and the scientific basis for our work.
Together, we can shape a trail system that works for people, wildlife, and future generations.
Upcoming Events
FireSmart Information Session
Tuesday, January 13 | 4:30–6:00 PM
Creekside Hall, Canmore Seniors’ Centre
Curious about FireSmart and the Neighbourhood Recognition Program? Join Simon Bagshaw, Regional FireSmart Coordinator, and the Biosphere Institute team to learn how neighbourhoods can get organized, complete hazard assessments, and apply for funding ahead of the 2026 fire season. Have your questions answered and connect with community members who have already begun forming FireSmart committees.
Earth Talk: Tipi Lantern Workshop
Monday, January 19 | 7:00 PM
Canmore Public Library
Join Stoney Nakoda artist Samantha Smalleyes for a hands-on tipi lantern workshop. Samantha will teach participants how to construct tipi lanterns while sharing traditional stories about stars and constellations that offer insight on relationships with land and environment from a Stoney perspective. Click here to register.
ENBIX Workshop – Life Cycle Assessments: An Introduction to Embodied Carbon
Wednesday, January 28 | 8:30 AM–12:00 PM
Canmore Rec Centre, Room 115
Join Joe Henke for an in-person workshop introducing the fundamentals of life cycle assessments and embodied carbon. Learn the difference between operational and embodied emissions, how building massing influences carbon impacts, how to interpret Environmental Product Declarations, and what tools and regulations are shaping LCA practice today. This session is ideal for builders, developers, energy advisors, and anyone working in the building and renovation industry. Tickets are $15 with breakfast. Click here to register.
