Kananaskis Conservation Pass

An exemption means an individual or group is not required to purchase the Kananaskis Conservation Pass for their vehicle(s).

The focus for enforcement initially will be on education. Exempted users will be able to apply and receive their exemption before fines are issued.

How to apply

• Residents, businesses and organizations who are eligible for an exemption, sign up online to receive further information about how to apply for an exemption by email.
• Low income Albertans who qualify for an exemption can request a free day or multi-day pass at any of the in-person purchase locations.
• Engagement is occurring with First Nations to determine how to best administer the First Nations exemption.

Eligible groups

You may be eligible for an exemption if you are a(n):

• First Nations person with Status
• Albertan with low-income participating in a provincial support program
• Resident of Kananaskis Improvement District
• Facility operator agreement holder
• Business or organization conducting approved activities under a government-issued authorization (for example, contract, disposition, permit)
• Provincial or municipal employee commuting to the work site or utilizing a fleet vehicle
• Volunteer who has met specified criteria for a rebate

For more details regarding eligibility, review the information in the sections below.

• First Nations individuals with status as defined under the Federal Indian Act qualify for an exemption and do not need to purchase a pass. This applies to personal vehicle(s) or the vehicle(s) being travelled in. This also includes trailers or towed vehicles. Annual and/or multi-year passes will be available.
• We are engaging with First Nations on how best to implement the vehicle exemption for the Kananaskis Conservation Pass for their members once licence plate scanning technology and the online exemptions portal are in place.
• This website will be updated with additional information once engagement is complete.
• In the interim, First Nations individuals with status do not need to show or carry proof of exemption - no physical pass or hangtag is required for the exemption to be valid. Staff or officers will not ask for proof of status card or issue a warning or ticket.
• If individuals feel more comfortable having a pass on hand during this interim engagement period, they can pick up a free day pass or multi-day pass at any of the in-person purchase locations:
  • Canmore Nordic Centre Day Lodge
  • Elbow Valley Visitor Information Centre
  • Kananaskis Visitor Information Centre at Barrier Lake
  • Peter Lougheed Park Discovery and Information Centre
• Due to the location of Kananaskis Country in the province, this exemption will only apply to First Nations individuals with status.
• There are no traditional Métis harvesting areas in Kananaskis, which are defined under the Métis Harvesting in Alberta Policy (2018). In contrast, the Public Lands Camping Pass boundary includes Metis harvesting areas north of the Red Deer River, which is why some Métis groups are exempt from the camping pass in those areas.

• Recipients of Assured Income for Severely Handicapped (AISH), Income Support (IS), and the Alberta Health Benefits (AHB) programs qualify for an exemption and do not need to purchase a pass.
• You can request a free low-income day pass or multi-day pass for your vehicle or the vehicle you are travelling in at any of the in-person purchase locations (download the map) (PDF, 3.9 MB):
  • Canmore Nordic Centre Day Lodge
  • Elbow Valley Visitor Information Centre (not yet wheelchair accessible; accessibility upgrades are underway)
  • Kananaskis Visitor Information Centre at Barrier Lake
  • Peter Lougheed Park Discovery and Information Centre
• You will be asked to show your Government-issued identification that you received to participate in each of the support programs (benefit card) as proof of eligibility.
• Annual passes are not available for the low-income exemption
• Free days for all visitors are being offered periodically to support access for Albertans with low-income.

• Kananaskis Improvement District residents who are employed and living at an address within the area and have a PO Box at the Canada Post in Kananaskis Village Centre qualify for an exemption and do not need to purchase a pass.
• This exemption is only available to these residents because this is a public parking area and licence plates will be scanned for compliance. Licence plate scanning will not occur at staff residences or other private areas that are not available to the general public.
• Vehicles of cottage owners and private landowners are not exempt, as there will be no licence plate scanning for compliance done on private lands.
• When applying for an exemption, you will be asked to provide the name of your employer, residence location, PO Box, licence plate, as well as employment term (permanent or seasonal).
• One vehicle per resident is eligible for an exemption.

• Work/fleet vehicles utilized for the primary purpose of conducting business under a Facility Operating Agreement (FOA) are exempt.
• Employee/sub-contractor vehicles utilized for the primary purpose of conducting facility operator duties in public parking areas where licence plates will be scanned (day use, roadside, and campgrounds) do qualify for an exemption. These licence plates will be collected and submitted by the FOA holder within their application.
• Generally, FOAs will be asked to provide their business contact, government contact, and the licence plates of fleet vehicles, sub-contractors and any eligible employee vehicles.

• Work or fleet vehicles used for the primary purpose of conducting approved business with the Government of Alberta or Kananaskis Improvement District qualify for an exemption, provided that accessing public parking areas is required to conduct the work. This will be assessed upon application.
• Approved business types:
  • Commercial contract holders, including supply, utility, water, construction, and road maintenance contractors
  • Industrial disposition holders
  • Recreation and tourism disposition holders, including commercial and not-for-profit
  • Research and collection permit holders
  • Grazing allotment permit holders
  • Professional outfitters
  • Guiding and instructing permit holders
  • Trapline holder (RFMA)
• Public parking areas include day-use areas, campgrounds, and roadside. Licence plate scanning for compliance will only occur in public parking areas.
• There is no need to apply for an exemption for carrying out activities at non-publicly accessible sites where licence plate scanning will not occur.
  • This includes areas that are not available or open to the general public including construction sites, maintenance and utility servicing areas, grazing corrals, timber harvesting staging areas, industrial disposition sites with no public access (for example, well sites), non-public recreation leases (for example, children’s camps, research stations, and the Homestead Shooting Facility at Sibbald Flats) and any areas that have designated staff/contractor parking.
  • Vehicles in these non-public areas do not qualify for an exemption, as their licence plates will not be scanned at these sites.
• Vehicles of employees and subcontractors are eligible to receive an exemption if their licence plate is collected and provided by the authorization holder and providing those employees are required to park in a public parking area for work purposes, they do not already qualify for an exemption as a resident, and there is not designated staff parking available.
• Generally, applicants will be asked to provide their business information, authorization type and reference, Government contact, and the licence plates of fleet vehicles, sub-contractors and any eligible employee vehicles, up to a specified number of vehicles.

• Work/fleet vehicles and employee personal vehicles for commuting to the worksite used for the primary purpose of conducting provincial or municipal work qualify for an exemption, provided that accessing and parking in public areas is required.
• Public parking areas include day use areas, campgrounds, and roadside. Licence plate scanning for compliance will only occur in public parking areas.
• There is no need for an exemption for regular duties carried out at non-publicly accessible sites or where employees park within a designated staff parking area where licence plate scanning will not occur.
  • This includes areas that are not available or open to the general public including Kananaskis Emergency Services Centre, staff accommodation and residences, designated staff parking areas, administration and maintenance areas, fire bases, and field visits to industrials sites or other non-public areas.
• Eligible provincial and municipal vehicles:
  • Government of Alberta fleet vehicles operating in the Kananaskis Conservation Pass area.
  • Personal vehicles of Government of Alberta employees whose place of work requires commuting to and parking in a public parking area with no designated staff parking.
  • Personal vehicles of KID commuting employees and councillors whose place of work requires parking in a public parking area with no designated staff parking.
  • Municipal fleet/work vehicles of emergency services including fire, AHS, EMS, and RCMP.
• An internal submission process is in development and information about how and when to apply will be shared once available.

• Department volunteers or those who volunteer under a formal partnership agreement (for example, Cooperating Societies) may be eligible for a rebate on an annual pass.
  • This would apply to volunteers after they have performed 40+ hours of service per year or in exceptional volunteer circumstances as authorized by the department.
  • This rebate also applies to co-operating society employees (full-time, paid) whose primary work-site is within the Kananaskis Conservation Pass area, and they are required to park in a public parking area.
• More information about this rebate will be provided once it is available.
• If you think you may qualify for a volunteer rebate, please retain your payment receipt. A process to submit for rebates is in development, and information will be shared once available.

The following individuals and groups are not eligible for exemptions, discounts, special rates, or rebates to the Kananaskis Conservation Pass and will need to purchase a pass when parking within the pass area.

• Visitors, guests, recreationists, clients, and program participants to any business when vehicles are parked in a publicly accessible location; including ski hills, golf courses, lodges, spas, hotels, hostels, guiding, and outfitting
• Filming and photography, weddings, and special events authorization holders (permits, Temporary Field Authorizations, or Kananaskis Improvement District business licences)
• Student excursions, environmental education programs, school buses, educational institutions
• Not-for-profit organizations and clubs, including youth, sports, outdoor recreation clubs/associations
• New Canadian and settlement service programs, including ‘Canoo’ Pass holders
• Seniors and veterans
• Dedicated bench program participants
• All drivers of rental vehicles unless the vehicle plate has been registered under an exemption
• Cottage leaseholders when parking anywhere other than on their leased property
• Private land owners when parking anywhere other than on their private property
• Visitors, guests, program participants, and recreationists to specialized recreation facilities (for example, William Watson Lodge, Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park, including when ski grooming fees are in effect)
• Hunting and fishing licence holders
• Media
• Elected officials (except Kananaskis Improvement District councillors)
• Commercial buses and coaches, taxis, ride services
• Commercial shuttling services authorization holders (permit, Temporary Field Authorizations, or Kananaskis Improvement District business licence)