Introduction
Parks in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, Alberta
Kananaskis Country highway entry sign
Kananaskis Country (also known as K-Country) is a multi-use area located west of Calgary in the foothills and front ranges of the Canadian Rockies, Alberta, Canada. Kananaskis Country has also been referred to as a recreation area and a park system.
The area's western edge borders Banff National Park and the Alberta-British Columbia border. The region owes its name to the Kananaskis River, which was named by John Palliser in 1858 after a legendary Cree Native. Covering an area of approximately 4,000 km2 (1,500 sq mi), Kananaskis Country was established by the Alberta Government in 1978 to provide a variety of land uses and designations. Land uses include resource extraction activities (such as forestry, cattle grazing, water, oil and gas), recreation, power generation, and residential communities. Land designations include public land and protected areas.
Upper Kananaskis Lake in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
History and administration
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Humans have occupied the Kananaskis area for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. Early First Nations groups followed a seasonal migration pattern based on following bison and other animals. The region was hunting territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Kootenay and the Stoneys (Nakoda). The Stoneys eventually became dominant in the area. After the Blackfoot Confederacy and the Stoneys signed Treaty 7 in 1877, the Stoneys moved to their reserve at nearby Morley (now called Mînî Thnî).
Explorers and traders entered the area in the late 1700s and 1800s. Methodist missionaries were some of the earliest to arrive. During the expedition of 1857–1860, the explorer John Palliser chose to name the pass he was going to cross Kananaskis Pass, "after the name of an Indian, of whom there is a legend, giving an account of his most wonderful recovery from the blow of an axe which had stunned but had failed to kill him". Palliser also gave the name Kananaskis to a river and two lakes in the region.
The late 19th century and early 20th century saw the development of commercial use such as lumbering, hydroelectric developments, and coal mining in the eastern slopes of the Rockies, which included what is now the Kananaskis region. When control over natural resources and Crown land was transferred from federal responsibility to Alberta in 1930, the province's natural resources were considered to be a source of considerable wealth that would stay within the province. This led to more commercial use and the establishing of a provincial park system. Tourism and recreational demand also increased after the Second World War.
Increased recreational use, especially after the completion of industrial access roads, led to serious environmental problems in the eastern slopes area. The environmental effects of the petroleum industry and coal mining were also causing problems that needed to be minimized. Environmental protection, including the importance of protecting and regulating stream flow, became a concern. These issues led to the establishment of Kananaskis Country, whose main intent was to provide recreational opportunities that were balanced with resource protection and commercial interests.
Clearcut area in Kananaskis Country. Logging is one of a number of commercial activities carried on in the region. The stream is Wilkinson Creek.
Three people were instrumental in forming Kananaskis Country: Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed; Minister of Highways and rancher Clarence Copithorne; and architect, environmentalist, and member of the Kananaskis Country Advisory Board, William G.(Bill) Milne. Peter Lougheed's relationship with Kananaskis Country was focused on diversifying the economy. He hoped to open the area to profit-generating activities, while at the same time protecting the area as much as possible. He expected that resource extraction industries in the area such as timber cutting and oil and gas recovery, along with tourism and recreation would strengthen Alberta’s economy. The impetus for forming Kananaskis Country started with Clarence Copithorne, who planned to upgrade highway access into the Kananaskis Valley for the purpose of controlling recreational use in the foothills. His vision was one of encouraging strenuous activities in locations that were easily accessible. Bill Milne encouraged public participation in planning and developing the area. Milne proposed a large multi-use area that would protect wildlife and the areas’s environment without too much commercial development. This proposal was endorsed by the premier. Kananaskis Country was officially dedicated by the premier in September 1978.
Although Kananaskis Country is often mistaken to be a single park, it comprises several provincial parks, wildland provincial parks, provincial recreation areas, an ecological reserve and Crown Land, and provides for various uses that include recreation, tourism, industry and preservation. The primary reason for Kananaskis Country's establishment, however, was to accommodate recreational pursuits. The Kananaskis Country subregional Integrated Resource Plan ensures that all activities are planned and facilities are developed to prioritize conservation and environmental protection. Not all areas of Kananaskis Country are covered by the same measure of protection and each area has its own permitted activities. The main (regional) Kananaskis parks office is located in Canmore.
Improvement District No. 5 (Kananaskis), which shares most of its boundaries with Kananaskis Country, is the municipal region that provides local government and municipal services including fire protection, ambulance service, garbage handling, water, sewer, collecting taxes, and business licensing. Kananaskis Improvement District's municipal office is located in Kananaskis Village.
