Andrew Boitchenko, Minister of Tourism and Sport, has announced Alberta's first three All-Season Resort Areas. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko

Alberta names first All-Season Resorts, environmental groups concerned

Dec 10, 2025 | 3:31 PM

While the Alberta Government says a new designation for three areas in southern Alberta will be great for tourists, two groups say they are “deeply concerned” about the accompanying policy.

Castle, Fortress, and Nakiska are the province’s first all-season resort areas, which the government believes will make it easier for people to stay and play year-round.

A map showing the locations of Alberta’s first All-Season Resort Areas. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

Andrew Boitchenko, Minister of Tourism and Sport, says red tape has restricted these resorts to winter operations and limited the ability to make facility upgrades or even maintain existing facilities.

Legislation under the All-Season Resorts Act, he says, will simplify regulatory processes while maintaining Alberta’s high environmental standards.

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“Our government is proud to champion former Premier Peter Lougheed’s vision for Alberta’s Rockies, ensuring future generations can continue to access and enjoy these beautiful areas. By helping revitalize Alberta’s legendary ski resorts, we are striking the right balance of economic growth, environmental stewardship and Indigenous opportunity,” says Boitchenko.

A news release from the province states that environmental excellence remains a core requirement.

All projects must meet Alberta’s existing environmental standards, including the Public Lands Act, Water Act, and Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, and will be subject to environmental assessment. Plans must address wildlife protection, water conservation, wildfire mitigation and sustainable visitor behaviour.

Over the next decade, the three All-Season Resorts will have the potential to create 24,000 new jobs, $3.6 billion in GDP, and $4 billion in visitor spending.

Resort developers and operators will be encouraged to partner with local businesses and use locally-sourced materials, staff, suppliers, and service providers.

Not everyone is happy about the designations, however, as the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) Southern Alberta Chapter says the Act exposes Alberta’s parks, protected areas, and public lands to the development of year-round, privatized resorts.

The group says that, while sustainable tourism development is laudable, it is important not to just expand commercial development in regions that are already overburdened by visitation.

CPAWS states in a news release, “While the policy states that designations must be made in accordance with applicable legislation, we already see the first designations thwarting this direction by changing park boundaries and delisting areas to accommodate expanded developments that may risk environmental values and equitable access to Albertans’ public lands.”

The Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) points out that two of the first three All-Season Resorts are in Kananaskis, “which is already showing signs of over-visitation.”

CPAWS says the All-Seasons Resort Act would remove the Provincial Recreation Area designation from the Nakiska Ski Area, remove 131 hectares of provincial park land from Fortress Mountain Resort, and change the boundaries of Castle Wildland Provincial Park.

The AWA says it would like to see several updates to the All-Season Resorts Act to include:

• A clear, consistent, transparent, accountable, rigorous, and legally binding process on how public lands will be considered for an ASRA designation.
• Commitments to ensuring no loss of existing protected areas.
• Clarity on how ASRA designations will align with the Alberta Land Stewardship Act in the absence of completed regional and subregional plans, as well as how consistency with existing environmental policies and plans (Species at Risk Recovery Plans, Canada and Alberta Nature Strategies, Plan for Parks, Kananaskis Country Recreational Policy, Castle Management Plan, etc.) will be ensured.
• Strengthened designation criteria that prioritizes the protection of ecosystems and their services.
• Mechanisms that avoid increasing tourism concentration and pressure on the environment.

You can watch the full news conference from the Alberta Government below: