Bighorn Country public info sessions restart
Press Release
Government has rescheduled four public information sessions on the Bighorn Country proposal for Feb. 1 – 4.
In order to ensure Albertans have information on the proposed mix of parks and public lands in the Bighorn region, public information sessions are now scheduled for Drayton Valley, Edmonton, Red Deer and Sundre. Participants will have the opportunity to talk to program staff, view maps of the region, and submit feedback directly at more than 30 information stations.
“Many Albertans are deeply passionate about the Bighorn – that’s why we are consulting with all Albertans on a proposal for Bighorn Country. Already, we’ve engaged more than 50,000 Albertans and restarting these information sessions will allow us to reach even more. These sessions will make sure Albertans can ask questions, learn more about the proposal and share their views.”
Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks
Public information sessions will be held:
Drayton Valley
Friday, Feb. 1
Clean Energy Technology Centre Map
5400 22 Avenue
Drayton Valley
4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Edmonton
Saturday, Feb. 2
Polish Hall Map
10960 104 Street
Edmonton
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Red Deer
Sunday, Feb. 3
Westerner Centre Map
4847A 19 Street
Red Deer
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Sundre
Monday, Feb. 4
Royal Canadian Legion Map
135 6 Street SE
Sundre
4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Each of the sites have undergone a safety and security review. People can also review the proposal and provide feedback online by visiting talkaep.alberta.ca. The deadline for submitting feedback is Feb. 15.
Quick facts
- Bighorn Country includes public lands from the boundary of Banff National Park eastward towards Drayton Valley. It includes Clearwater County, most of Brazeau County and the current Bighorn Backcountry management area.
- The Bighorn region is recognized for its scenic beauty and natural diversity. It includes scenic mountains and foothills, rare plants and key habitat for numerous species at risk, such as grizzly bear, wolverine, harlequin duck, Athabasca rainbow trout and bull trout.
- The headwaters of the North Saskatchewan River and Red Deer River are located within Bighorn Country, providing clean drinking water to more than one million Albertans.
- Sharing this busy landscape is a wide variety of recreation and tourism activities. Hunting and fishing are popular, as well as camping, hiking, off-highway vehicle use, horseback riding, ice climbing and cross-country skiing.
- The Bighorn Country proposal includes new, expanded or amended parks, protected areas and public land use zones. This system of public lands is intended to provide a range of opportunities that suits the settings and demands of the region.
- The proposal means no significant change to recreation activities, but offers $40 million in new investment to improve services and infrastructure such as campsites, parking lots, trails and staging areas.
- The proposal supports continued practice of traditional uses and the exercise of treaty rights by Indigenous Peoples.
Related information
Media inquiries
Government of Alberta
780-422-4905
ILR5
