More Than 300 Quarry Lake Parking Tickets Still Outstanding This Summer

More than 300 parking tickets issued at Quarry Lake between June and mid-August were still outstanding when the Town of Canmore compiled new figures this week, though some motorists may still be within the pay period before further enforcement begins.

The Town provided the figures to Bow Valley Insider after several readers reached out with questions following an Aug. 20 article about parking and crowding at the popular recreation area.

That article found that 741 parking tickets had been issued at Quarry Lake between June 1 and Aug. 13, including 509 for parking without payment.

The new information provides a closer look at what happens after those tickets are issued, including how many have been paid, where ticketed vehicles are registered and what happens when a fine remains outstanding.

Between June 1 and Aug. 13, 261 tickets issued to Alberta-plated vehicles remained unpaid, along with 44 issued to vehicles with out-of-province plates, according to the Town.

That means at least 305 tickets issued during that period were still outstanding when the Town provided its response.

However, that does not mean all 305 tickets are delinquent or will ultimately go unpaid.

As of Aug. 27, some people who received tickets in late July or August could still be within the period before the Town takes further action and may still intend to pay. The figures therefore provide a snapshot of outstanding tickets in late August rather than a final payment rate for tickets issued this summer.

The Town said that, more broadly, 371 parking tickets issued at Quarry Lake between April 1 and Aug. 26 had been paid.

Parking tickets that remain unpaid 30 days after they are issued are transferred to a Provincial Violation Ticket for further enforcement and collection, according to Nicky Pacas, communications advisor for the Town of Canmore.

Most Tickets Went to Alberta Vehicles

The new figures also provide a geographic breakdown of vehicles ticketed at Quarry Lake.

Between June 1 and Aug. 13, 559 tickets were issued to vehicles with Alberta licence plates, while 91 were issued to vehicles registered outside the province.

The Town does not know how many of the Alberta-plated vehicles belong to Canmore residents.

“The Town of Canmore does not track whether a vehicle belongs to a Canmore resident, as residency information is not attached to parking tickets issued to vehicles,” Pacas said in a written response.

Of the 559 tickets issued to Alberta vehicles, 261 remained outstanding, or about 47 percent. Of the 91 issued to out-of-province vehicles, 44 remained outstanding, or about 48 percent.

Again, those figures should not be interpreted as final non-payment rates because some of the tickets may not yet have reached the 30-day threshold.

Quarry Lake Fines Don't Escalate

The Town also clarified what happens to the value of a parking fine when someone receives a ticket at Quarry Lake.

Parking violations at the park carry a set fine of $90, regardless of the specific parking violation. There are no higher or escalating municipal fines specific to Quarry Lake.

That adds context to one of the issues raised in Bow Valley Insider's original story.

During peak season, parking at Quarry Lake costs $20 for every two hours. A visitor staying longer than eight hours can therefore pay more to park legally for the day than the $90 value of a parking ticket.

In 2024, the Town also eliminated the early-payment discount at Quarry Lake that previously allowed a $90 ticket to be reduced to $45 if it was paid within seven days. That discount remains available for parking tickets elsewhere in Canmore.

The Town previously told Bow Valley Insider that it does not track how long ticketed vehicles remain at Quarry Lake. As a result, there is no evidence showing whether visitors are deliberately choosing to risk a $90 ticket rather than paying for a full day of parking.

No Seasonal Parking Pass Being Considered

Readers also asked whether the Town has considered offering a seasonal Quarry Lake parking pass, either to Canmore residents or all users.

It hasn't.

“The Town of Canmore has not discussed offering a seasonal parking pass for Quarry Lake,” Pacas said.

Canmore residents currently receive three hours of free parking per day at Quarry Lake. Between June 1 and Aug. 12, that benefit was used in 8,759 parking transactions.

After the three free hours, residents pay the same parking rates as other users.

The latest answers come as the Town continues to examine longer-term questions about parking and access at Quarry Lake through updates to its Open Spaces and Trails Plan and Integrated Transportation Plan.

Public engagement for the Open Spaces and Trails Plan has already identified Quarry Lake as a concern, with residents raising issues around overuse and the cost of parking beyond the three free hours.