Public consultations are currently in progress regarding a proposed all-season resort in Alberta’s Kananaskis Country, a region renowned for its stunning natural beauty and biodiversity. The Alberta government unveiled plans in December to establish three all-season resorts across the province, asserting that this initiative could generate thousands of jobs and inject billions into the economy. The proposed resorts—Castle, Fortress, and Nakiska—will be the first of their kind on provincial land, although the reclassification has necessitated adjustments to existing provincial park boundaries.
Fortress Mountain: A New Era for Tourism
An open house event took place recently at Mount Royal University in Calgary, focusing on the redevelopment of Fortress Mountain, a site that has been dormant since its ski lift operations ceased in 2004. Located approximately 125 kilometres west of Calgary, Fortress Mountain currently offers only Cat skiing, but the new plans aim to transform it into a year-round destination featuring hotels, gondolas, extensive trail networks, and opportunities for private real estate investment.
David McKenna, representing Ridge North America, which is collaborating with Western Securities on the project, expressed the importance of gathering community input. “What we’re doing right now is trying to determine exactly what aspects Albertans would like to see included or excluded from this project. We genuinely want to collect as much feedback as possible,” McKenna stated.
Environmental Concerns Over Development
Despite the promise of job creation, the proposed resort has drawn criticism from environmental advocates who are apprehensive about its potential impact on local ecosystems. Gareth Thomson from the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley voiced concerns regarding the sufficiency of the environmental assessments conducted thus far. “The environmental assessment that was done failed to answer many of those questions and is insufficient. We don’t have answers to our questions, so we cannot support the development as it stands,” Thomson remarked. He highlighted that Kananaskis Country already hosts around 5 million visitors annually, surpassing the visitor numbers of Banff National Park, causing significant traffic congestion during peak times.
Chloe Hahn from the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society echoed these worries, noting, “Fortress overlaps with important wildlife habitat for multiple species, including grizzly bears and wolverines. We also have critical habitat for threatened bull trout overlapping with the site.”
Future Consultations and Community Engagement
The next public consultation session is scheduled for February 23 in Edmonton, providing another opportunity for stakeholders and local residents to voice their opinions on the proposed developments. As the Alberta government pushes forward with its ambitious plans, the balance between economic development and environmental stewardship remains a contentious issue.
Why it Matters
The proposed all-season resort development in Kananaskis Country represents a pivotal moment for Alberta, intertwining economic aspirations with the pressing need for environmental protection. As Alberta seeks to diversify its economy and enhance tourism, the voices of concerned citizens and environmentalists must be heard. The outcome of these consultations will shape not only the future of Kananaskis but also set a precedent for how Alberta approaches development in ecologically sensitive areas. Balancing economic growth with environmental integrity is more crucial now than ever, as decisions made today will have lasting consequences for generations to come.
