Kananaskis Conservation Pass

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

Eligible groups

• First Nations person with Status
• Albertan with low-income participating in an eligible 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

• First Nations individuals with status as defined under the Federal Indian Act qualify for an exemption and do not need to purchase a pass.
• Exemptions can be requested online or in-person. Exemptions can be applied to up to 5 vehicles and 2 trailers per individual.
• Applicants must register for a basic Alberta.ca Account to apply for an exemption. Once Alberta.ca Account registration is complete, applicants can click on 'Apply/Manage Exemptions' in the top navigation bar on the Kananaskis Conservation Pass purchasing page.
  • If you are having trouble with Alberta.ca Account setup, connect with the Alberta.ca Account support team.
  • For inquiries on applying for and managing your exemptions, email [email protected].
• To apply for an exemption online, individuals must upload a copy of their Status Card to demonstrate eligibility. The information provided will only be used temporarily to validate eligibility. It will not be stored.
• Exemptions will not expire; however, exemption holders will need to verify and update their account information every 5 years or as their vehicle information changes. Email reminders will be provided.
• First Nations individuals can continue to obtain exemptions in-person at the following information centres by presenting their Status Cards. No physical pass or hangtag will be provided.
  • Canmore Nordic Centre Day Lodge
  • Elbow Valley Visitor Information Centre
  • Kananaskis Visitor Information Centre at Barrier Lake
  • Peter Lougheed Park Discovery and Information Centre
  • William Watson Lodge
• Due to the location of Kananaskis Country in the province, this exemption will only apply to First Nations individuals with status.
• As Kananaskis is south of the Red Deer River, and is therefore not within any of the 4 Metis harvesting areas in Alberta under the Metis Harvesting in Alberta Policy (2018), no Indigenous-specific exemption will apply there to recognized Métis harvesters or Métis Settlement members.

• Recipients of Assured Income for Severely Handicapped (AISH), Income Support (IS), and the Alberta Adult Health Benefits and Alberta Child Health Benefits programs qualify for an exemption and do not need to purchase a pass. The Alberta Seniors Benefit is not an eligible program.
• Exemptions can be requested online or in-person. Exemptions are for 30 days and can be applied to one vehicle and one trailer per individual.
• Applicants must register for a basic Alberta.ca Account to apply for an exemption. Once Alberta.ca Account registration is complete, applicants can click on 'Apply/Manage Exemptions' in the top navigation bar on the Kananaskis Conservation Pass purchasing page.
  • If you are having trouble with Alberta.ca Account setup, connect with the Alberta.ca Account support team.
  • For inquiries on applying for and managing your exemptions, email [email protected].
• Online exemptions will require individuals to upload a copy of their applicable benefit card to demonstrate eligibility. The information provided will only be used temporarily to validate eligibility. It will not be stored.

• Eligible individuals can request a free 30-day pass for your vehicle or the vehicle you are travelling in at the following information centres (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
  • William Watson Lodge
• You will be asked to show your Government-issued identification that you received to participate in the support program (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 all Albertans.

• Vehicles of authorization holders, employees and subcontractors who are employed and living in Kananaskis Improvement District and/or Kananaskis Country may be eligible to receive an exemption:
  • if required to park in a public parking area in the boundary area for work purposes and there is no designated staff parking available; or
  • they are full-time employees working more than 30 hours and residing in the region (qualifying under the Need to Reside policy (PDF, 2.6 MB)), including in staff accommodation.
• One vehicle per resident is eligible for an exemption.
• Vehicles of cottage owners and private landowners are not exempt, as there will be no licence plate scanning for compliance done on private lands.

How to apply

• Discuss your eligibility and application with your employer. Your employer may have already submitted an exemption on your behalf. If you meet the eligibility criteria and your employer is not applying on your behalf, please submit an application. Processing time may take up to 7 business days.
• Applicants must register for a basic Alberta.ca Account to apply for an exemption. Once Alberta.ca Account registration is complete, applicants can click on 'Apply/Manage Exemptions' in the top navigation bar on the Kananaskis Conservation Pass purchasing page.
  • If you are having trouble with Alberta.ca Account setup, connect with the Alberta.ca Account.
  • For inquiries on applying for and managing your exemptions email [email protected].

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 access to public parking areas is required to conduct the work. Public parking areas include:

• campgrounds
• day-use areas
• roadside

Licence plate scanning for compliance will only occur in public parking areas.

Non-public area parking

An exemption is not required to carry out activities 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:

• any areas that have designated staff/contractor parking
• construction sites
• grazing corrals
• industrial disposition sites with no public access (for example, well sites)
• maintenance and utility servicing areas
• non-public recreation leases (for example, children’s camps, research stations and the Homestead Shooting Facility at Sibbald Flats)
• timber harvesting staging areas

Eligible personnel

Vehicles of authorization holders, employees and subcontractors may be eligible to receive an exemption if their licence plate is collected and provided by the authorization holder:

• if required to park in a public parking area in the boundary area for work purposes and there is no designated staff parking available; or
• if they are full-time employees working more than 30 hours and residing in KID/KC (qualifying under the Need to Reside policy), including staff accommodation.

Applicants will be asked to provide their:

• authorization type and authorization number
• business information
• Government of Alberta contact
• licence plates of fleet vehicles, sub-contractors and any eligible employee vehicles, up to a specified number of vehicles

Eligible vehicles

Vehicles used to conduct authorized business activities are eligible for exemption. This includes:

• Facility Operator Agreement holders
• 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)

How to apply

Applicants must register for a MyAlberta Digital ID for Business (MADI-B) account to apply for a business exemption. Once MADI-B registration is complete, applicants can click on Apply/Manage Exemptions in the top navigation bar on the Kananaskis Conservation Pass purchasing page.

If you are having trouble with MADI-B account setup, connect with the MADI-B support team.

For inquiries on applying/managing your exemptions email [email protected].

Work/fleet vehicles and personal employee vehicles for commuting to the worksite used for the primary purpose of conducting federal, provincial or municipal work qualify for an exemption, provided that accessing and parking in public areas is required. Public parking areas include:

• campgrounds
• day use areas
• roadside

Licence plate scanning for compliance will only occur in public parking areas.

Non-public area parking

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:

• administration and maintenance areas
• designated staff parking areas
• fire bases and field visits to industrials sites or other non-public areas
• Kananaskis Emergency Services Centre
• private residences

Eligible vehicles

• Government of Canada fleet vehicles operating in the Kananaskis Conservation Pass area
• 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 councillors and commuting employees
• municipal fleet/work vehicles used for emergency services including fire, AHS, EMS and RCMP

How to apply

Applicants must register for a MyAlberta Digital ID for Business (MADI-B) account to apply for a business exemption. Once MADI-B registration is complete, applicants can click on Apply/Manage Exemptions in the top navigation bar on the Kananaskis Conservation Pass purchasing page.

If you require assistance with MADI-B account setup, connect with the MADI-B support team.

For inquiries on applying/managing your exemptions, email [email protected].

This program recognizes the substantial volunteer contributions made by Albertans towards conservation in Kananaskis Country.

• Department volunteers or those who volunteer under a formal partnership agreement may be eligible for a complimentary annual pass.
  • To be eligible, volunteers must provide 40 or more hours of service per year (between December 1, 2021 and November 30, 2022), or in exceptional volunteer circumstances, as authorized by the department.
  • Supervisors will submit a list of all eligible volunteers in their program. Complimentary annual passes will be issued in the fall of each year, and passes will be active from December 1 to November 30 of the following year.

Learn more about how to volunteer in Kananaskis Country.

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)