MD of Bighorn to Pay $113,500 Toward Canmore Recreation Facilities in 2027

Residents of Exshaw, Dead Man’s Flats, Harvie Heights and Lac des Arcs will continue paying the same rates as Canmore residents to use Elevation Place and the Canmore Recreation Centre under a new five-year agreement between the Town of Canmore and MD of Bighorn.

The two municipalities announced Monday that they had approved a new Recreation Services Agreement covering 2027 through 2031, replacing an existing agreement that had been extended through the end of this year while negotiations continued.

Under the deal, the MD will make an annual contribution toward Canmore's costs of operating Elevation Place and the Canmore Recreation Centre. In exchange, Canmore has agreed not to charge MD residents different user or membership fees because they live outside the town.

The agreement states that the Town "shall not apply differential user fees and rates or differential membership fees" to MD residents using the facilities.

The arrangement reflects the fact that Canmore's major recreation facilities serve residents well beyond the town's municipal boundaries. The agreement says the municipalities recognize there are potential economies of scale in not duplicating recreation facilities and want residents to have access to recreation services on a "fair and equitable basis" regardless of where they live.

How Much Will the MD Pay?

The MD's contribution will be based on the population of its Bow Valley service area, which includes Exshaw, Dead Man’s Flats, Harvie Heights and Lac des Arcs.

The rate begins at $100 per resident in 2027 and will be adjusted annually using a five-year rolling average of the federal Consumer Price Index.

Based on a placeholder population of 1,135 residents, the agreement estimates the MD would contribute $113,500 in 2027.

The agreement estimates the MD's contribution would increase to $117,722 in 2028, $122,103 in 2029, $126,643 in 2030 and about $131,354 in 2031. Those estimates assume the population remains unchanged and use the current five-year average inflation rate of 3.72 percent.

The actual payments could differ.

The 1,135 figure is based on the 2021 federal census and is explicitly identified in the agreement as a placeholder. It will be updated for 2027 using the 2026 census, with subsequent adjustments possible based on annual residential occupancy and census estimates of the average number of residents per household.

The placeholder population includes 449 residents in Exshaw, 377 in Dead Man's Flats, 163 in Harvie Heights and 146 in Lac des Arcs.

“I'd like to thank chief administrative officers Kelly and Caudill for their leadership in bringing this initiative across the finish line,” MD of Bighorn Reeve Lisa Rosvold said in a statement.

“We invested a great deal of time and effort into this work, and it was rewarding to see our intermunicipal committee come together to reach a consensus that both municipalities could support.”

Canmore Mayor Sean Krausert said the agreement recognizes that Canmore's recreation facilities are also an asset for neighbouring communities.

“Canmore residents expect our recreation services to be delivered in a way that is fair and transparent while recognizing they are an asset for our neighbours as well,” Krausert said. “This agreement accomplishes that to the benefit of Canmore and MD residents alike.”

What About Future Recreation Facilities?

The agreement also lays some groundwork for how the municipalities will approach future recreation needs as Bow Valley communities grow.

The Town and MD have agreed to share annual information on facility use, population and growth projections, residential assessment and occupancy. They can also meet to discuss future recreation facility projects and capital plans.

But the agreement does not automatically commit the MD to paying for future Canmore recreation projects.

If both municipalities agree that a new indoor recreation facility should be built, they would negotiate a separate agreement. That could address funding contributions, provincial and federal grants, ownership and maintenance, with proposed projects considered on a case-by-case basis.

The municipalities have agreed to begin discussions about the recreation agreement that will follow this one no later than Feb. 28, 2031.

Although structured as a five-year agreement through the end of 2031, either municipality can terminate it with six months' written notice. The agreement can also be extended for an additional year if both municipalities' chief administrative officers agree in writing.

For Bow Corridor residents, however, the immediate effect is relatively simple: when the new contribution model begins in 2027, living outside Canmore will not mean paying more to swim, skate, work out or otherwise use Elevation Place and the Canmore Recreation Centre.