Paid Parking Program

Paid parking and Canmore Resident Parking Permit parking only zones are in effect in the Town Centre and Quarry Lake. If you have any questions about the program, please see the FAQs below or fill in this inquiry form.

Canmore Resident Parking Permit

Apply for Resident Permit You will be directed to our vendor website (Blinkay) to register

The Canmore Resident Parking Permit allows permit holders to park for up to three hours daily in paid zones (you have to start a parking session every time you park in a paid zone) at both the Town Centre and Quarry Lake. The virtual permit also allows residents to park in all Canmore Resident Parking Permit-only zones around both the Town Centre and Quarry Lake.

To learn more and apply for yours click here. If you do not have an approved Canmore Resident Parking permit, you are required to pay for parking. Failure to pay may result in a violation ticket.

Using Your Canmore Resident Parking Permit in Payment Zones

You need to start a parking session each time you park in a payment zone (note when parking in Canmore Resident Parking Permit only zones, you will NOT have to register your session). You can do this in the following ways:
- Using the Blinkay app or web application
- Using the nearest pay machine

Pay Online For Parking Now

Town Centre You will be directed to our vendor website (Blinkay) to pay

Quarry Lake

Town Centre Program

*Click map to view PDF version*

Paid parking in effect seven days per week from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Green areas on map are paid parking:
- Peak season rates (May 15 – Oct.14): $3/hour,
- Low season rates (Oct. 15 – May 14): $2/hour,
Canmore Resident Parking Permit holders get up to 3 hours free in all paid zones per day (starting a parking session is required each time),
Blue areas on map are free 9-hour parking,
Red areas on map are Canmore Resident Parking Permit zones. Parking in these areas is only available to Canmore Resident Parking Permit holders,
Accessible stalls and loading zones remain free.

Town Centre Monthly Parking Permit

Monthly parking passes for the town centre (parking lots only) are available as an add-on option, to those who have a Canmore Resident Parking Permit.

Peak season rates (May 1 – Oct. 31): $83/month
Low season rates (Nov. 1 – April 30): $41.50/month

Using Your Town Centre Monthly Permit: The monthly parking pass allows for all-day parking in the four parking lots shown in green on the map above, it does not allow for all-day parking in any other area. Once you purchase this permit, you do not need to start a parking session when parking in one of these lots. If you are parking outside of one of these lots, or at Quarry Lake, you will need to start a parking session and use your three hours of time, allocated by your Canmore Resident Parking Permit.

pdf Click here (148 KB) for a step-by-step guide on how to purchase your pass.

Town Centre Non-Resident Employee Monthly Parking Permit

On November 1, 2022, Council approved the implementation of a Town Centre Non-resident Employee Monthly Parking Permit option for the off-peak season only. The program is anticipated to be available in 2023.

Quarry Lake Program

*Click map to view PDF version*

Paid parking in effect seven days per week during park hours:
- Peak season rates (May 15 – Oct. 14): $10/ two hours,
- Low season rates (Oct. 15 – May 14): $2.50/hour,
Canmore Resident Parking Permit holders get up to 3 hours free in all paid zones per day,
Red areas on map are Canmore Resident Parking Permit zones, parking is only available to Canmore Resident Parking Permit holders,
Accessible stalls remain free.

Pay Your Parking Ticket

To pay your parking ticket or find more information on ticket appeals click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

I registered for my Canmore Resident Parking Permit, do I have to do anything else when parking in a paid zone?

Yes. When parking in a payment zone with your Canmore Resident Parking Permit you must start a new parking session each time, which registers your license plate in the system for a "set" time period. There are two ways you can do this:
- Using the Blinkay app or web application
- Using the nearest pay machine

Click here for a guide about how to use the Blinkay app with your approved Canmore Resident Parking Permit.

When will paid parking start?

Paid parking is in effect now.

Do Canmore Residents have to pay for parking?

Residents of Canmore can get up to three hours of free parking per day in paid zones (starting a new parking session each time is required via Blinkay app or pay machine) in the Town Centre and at Quarry Lake, as long as they have registered for the Canmore Resident Parking Permit. If you do not have an approved Canmore Resident Parking permit, you are required to pay for parking. Failure to pay may result in a violation ticket. For more information click here.

Can other Bow Valley residents apply for the Canmore Resident Parking Permit?

No, a Canmore Resident Parking Permit is not available to other Bow Valley residents.

- Parking is expensive, including costs for land, infrastructure, maintenance, and enforcement. Costs of parking are funded though taxes by residents and business taxes.
- In order to maintain room on our roadways for people who need to and wish to drive, Canmore invests in infrastructure and services to encourage and enable our residents and visitors to walk, cycle, and use local and regional transit.
- Pay-parking allows for a portion of the high costs of parking and transportation infrastructure and services to be shared by those arriving by car.

There are several options for free parking near the Town Centre and lower-priced options at Quarry Lake within the plan, including:
- Over 200 free parking stalls within a short walking distance (5-10 minutes) of the Town Centre. You can view a map of these stalls above.
- Customer parking available in private stalls within the Town Centre, approximately 350 stalls, subject to restrictions.
- Changed hours and rates at Quarry Lake:
- $10/two hours – peak season (May 15 – Oct. 14)
- $2.50/hour – off season (Oct. 15 – May 14)

How will paid parking improve the parking experience in the Town Centre?

The following are some of the ways paid parking will improve the user experience: Ensures prime parking is used for the highest value uses. Ensures parking is available most times on each block face and in each parking lot. Reduces up to 30% of vehicle congestion by significantly reducing time spent hunting for spots. Funds transportation initiatives like fare-free transit. Funds Town Centre enhancements.

Where can I park for free?

Free 9-hour parking will be available in a number of spots within a short walking distance to the Town Centre:

- Approximately 75 spaces in the Elevation Place panhandle – average walking time of less than ten minutes to the Town Centre
- Approximately 100 spaces in the gravel parking area behind Home Hardware on Railway Avenue - average walking time of eight minutes to the Town Centre
- Approximately 100 spaces on Fairholme Drive – average walking time of seven minutes to the Town Centre
- Approximately 75 spaces on 7 Avenue – average walking time of six minutes to the Town Centre

How do I pay for parking?

Payment for parking can be made by smartphone app, virtual pay stations on the web, or by credit card at pay stations. Need assistance? Speak to a friendly parking ambassador or fill out the inquiry form below.

Will accessible parking be free?

Accessible parking is free as long as the vehicle is displaying a valid accessible permit. You can find a map showing all barrier-free parking stalls in the Town of Canmore on this webpage.

Why not just build a parkade?

A parkade would only add roughly an extra 160 stalls to our parking stock, which is not enough during peak periods. The parkade would sit largely empty for seven months of the year and come at a cost of millions to local taxpayers. A parkade would cost approximately $1M/year (annualized) to taxpayers, and a large percentage of taxpayers would not use it. Charging for parking gives those that need it the choice of when and how often they use it, while not putting that cost on the rest of the community.

Where can I learn more about what other parking strategies the Town of Canmore is pursuing?

To learn more about parking management in the Town of Canmore, visit our Integrated Parking Management webpage.

Where can I find a map showing barrier-free parking stalls in the Town of Canmore?

You can find a map showing all barrier-free parking stalls in the Town of Canmore on this webpage.

Questions?

Please fill out this form and a member of our team will get back to you.

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