FAQs

Community plans are a requirement of the Canada National Parks Act. The Field Community Plan (2010) and Lake Louise Community Plan (2003) are being updated to align with the most recent Yoho and Banff national park management plans (2022). Parks Canada is seeking feedback on the draft updated community plans. 

These plans will guide land use, development and construction inside legislated community boundaries for the next 10 years or more. Public engagement is an important part of the planning process to ensure these plans are informed by the perspectives of all interested Canadians, including community residents, stakeholders and interested Indigenous communities. 

Community plans must reflect existing limits to growth and be in alignment with the vision and strategic priorities set out in park management plans. Previously legislated limits to growth cannot change but the updated community plans will be modernized to incorporate new knowledge and address emerging issues.

Updating the community plans for Lake Louise, Alberta and Field, B.C. will take place this winter. All interested Canadians are invited to read the draft community plans and provide feedback by email by Monday, March 16.  

Additional engagement opportunities are available to local community residents, stakeholders and businesses. Contact llyklotissementsurbains-llyktownsites@pc.gc.ca for more information. 

Parks Canada is committed to ensuring that the communities of Lake Louise, Alberta and Field, B.C. remain sustainable service centres and places for welcoming and orienting visitors to the parks while providing comfortable living environments for those who need to live in the park to support the provision of park services. 

National park communities have set boundaries and legislated limits to growth. All commercial and housing parcels are fully allocated in Lake Louise, Alberta and previously legislated limits to growth have not changed.

There are seven communities located inside national parks in Canada. Five of these communities are administered by Parks Canada including Field, B.C. in Yoho National Park; Lake Louise, Alberta in Banff National Park; Waterton, Alberta in Waterton Lakes National Park; Waskesiu, Saskatchewan in Prince Albert National Park; and Wasagaming, Manitoba in Riding Mountain National Park. 

The Town of Banff is a self-governing, municipality created through an Incorporation Agreement and recognized under the Alberta Municipal Government Act. 

The Banff and Yoho national park management plans (2022) provide high-level strategic direction for the parks including specific objectives for national park communities. The updated community plans will provide Parks Canada with guidance about how to achieve those objectives, while also reiterating legislated limits to growth as required by the Canada National Parks Act.

National park communities have legislated geographic boundaries. The community plans will guide decision making within the communities’ geographic boundaries, and not for the national parks as a whole. Strategic direction for the entire Lake Louise area is provided by the Lake Louise Area Strategy in the Banff National Park Management Plan. 

Parks Canada is also developing a Visitor Use Management Plan for the Lake Louise Area. This plan addresses issues related to high visitation at specific locations such as Moraine Lake & Paradise Valley, and the Lake Louise lakeshore. These areas are outside of the legislated boundaries of the community of Lake Louise.