Safe Park Pilot Program

What is Safe Park?

Safe Park is a seasonal program that is designed to support individuals who are employed in our community and who reside in their vehicles. This year, the program is open to both individual participants and local businesses. Permits are issued to eligible participants through an application process, on a first-come, first-served basis. The 2022 program begins June 1 and runs until Sept. 30. 

Without a Safe Park permit, overnight camping is not allowed within the Town of Canmore; unpermitted vehicles will be ticketed. Overnight camping on municipal lots, on residential streets, or in areas not designated for camping, is prohibited in Canmore.

Individuals click here

Businesses click here

To renew your enrolment, click here

Program Details

• The pilot program operates from June 1 – Sept. 30, 2022. Program hours are 8:00 p.m. – 8:00 a.m.
• Eligible program participants will be provided with a designated parking space and will be required to adhere to program responsibilities to remain in the program. For example, participants will be responsible for keeping their parking stall clean and free of animal attractants.
• Participants will be assigned one lot for the entire summer but will renew their registration and pay for their space every two weeks. 
• There is a $10 per night fee to join the program which must be pre-paid in bi-weekly installments.
• There will be 25-50 parking stalls in the program. There will be four lots total, each with 5-10 designated program stalls. Sites will be scattered across two municipal lots and two private partner lots.
•  Each Safe Park site will have a bear-safe garbage bin and a maintained porta-potty in close proximity, and each lot will be monitored overnight by a contracted security company.

The Importance of Safe Park

The Safe Park pilot is informed by research completed by the Town of Canmore in 2019 in response to a significant increase in people camping in the parking lots surrounding Save-On-Foods and Elevation Place. This research found that some of our seasonal workforce chooses to live in campers or other converted vehicles. Council subsequently approved the piloting of the Safe Park program in 2019, 2020, and 2021, as a way to meet the needs of this specific group of residents to help sustain a seasonal workforce and support an inclusive and accessible community.

Program Applications

Only eligible applicants will be admitted into the program. To be considered eligible, individuals will need to demonstrate:

• Employment in the Bow Valley (must work an average of 20 hours per week)
  • Demonstrated by a letter from your employer or recent pay stub
  • Participants who lose employment while in the program will be assessed on a case-by-case basis
• A valid driver’s license, valid vehicle registration, and valid vehicle insurance
• Ownership of an operational vehicle that fits within a standard parking stall
• A clear understanding of the pdf participant responsibility agreement (183 KB)
• A $20 program deposit fee

If you would like more information about this program, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Participation Guidelines

• Proof of employment at the start of the program and every two weeks when payment is due. 
• Behave respectfully
• Use washroom facilities provided, and adhere any COVID-19 protocols (if any at time of program start) 
• Only use parking stall within the program hours (8 p.m. – 8 a.m.) 
• Respect quiet hours (as per Town of Canmore Noise & Nuisance Control Bylaw) 
• Dispose of waste in bear safe bins provided 
• Keep equipment and supplies within the vehicle 
• Refrain from attracting, feeding, or disturbing wildlife 
• Refrain from criminal behaviour 
• No more than two individuals residing in a vehicle 

Safe Park + Businesses

This year, the Safe Park program will be open to both individual participants and local businesses.

Are you a local business owner and want to learn more about what that means for your employees Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Background

In the summer of 2018, the Town of Canmore noticed that the number of individuals who live or camp in their vehicles increased significantly. Most apparent were the overnight parked vehicles behind Save-On-Foods and beside Elevation Place.  

A seasonal outreach worker was hired in the spring of 2019 to work with individuals camping in the area to provide social support and to gather information on needs and demographics. Council heard the results of the data collected through the summer over two council meetings on Sept. 17 and Oct. 1 and approved the implementation of an overnight parking program pilot on Feb. 4, 2020.  The full reports can be found here. 

Frequently Asked Questions