Sustainably developing Canmore’s public parks

In 1999, the Town of Canmore had leased the Quarry Lake lands from the provincial government in order to preserve the lands for the benefit of the community and visitors. The land (approximately 225 acres) had been the No. 3 open pit coal mine that was active between 1969 to 1971 and in 1906-07 at the No. 4 seam (about 210 metres below the surface). The original site reclamation took place in the 1970's, with debris and equipment being removed and grass planted. Former mine employees Stephenson and Walter Riva have been credited with taking the lead for the reclamation. 

In May of 1996, a local developer attempted to acquire and re-zone the land for residential development. This led to a group of Canmore residents establishing the Quarry Lake Foundation, with the goal of preserving the lands as a park for the enjoyment of all. The Foundation changed its name in 2002 to be the Rocky Mountain Heritage Foundation.

Stan Milner, a well-respected corporate leader in Alberta who owned a home in Canmore, was involved with the Foundation and lobbied the Alberta Government to support the protection of the lands for conservation purposes – resulting in the Town and the Foundation purchasing the land as 50/50 owners. The Foundation was intended as a protective safeguard so the Town wouldn’t have unilateral decision-making.

Today, the Rocky Mountain Heritage Foundation is a charitable organization that holds land in the Bow Valley for long term protection for conservation and/or recreational purposes.