Residents of the Municipal District of Bighorn will continue to access Canmore’s recreation facilities at local rates under a new five-year agreement between the two municipalities. The deal, which takes effect January 1, 2027 and runs through December 31, 2031, covers access to the Canmore Recreation Centre and Elevation Place.
The agreement replaces a complex contribution formula with a simpler per-capita model, starting at $100 per Bow Valley service area resident in the first year. Annual adjustments will be tied to the five-year rolling average of the Federal Consumer Price Index. The service area includes Dead Man’s Flats, Exshaw, Harvie Heights, and Lac des Arcs.
Negotiations had been contentious, with Canmore initially seeking to nearly double Bighorn’s contribution to $219,338 in 2026. MD council rejected that proposal as too high, leading to a one-year extension before this long-term deal was reached. Under the previous agreement, Bighorn’s annual contribution grew from $47,020 in 2020 to $110,271 in 2025.
The new agreement also commits both municipalities to share annual user statistics and meet as needed to discuss future recreation facility projects and capital plans. According to the Municipal District of Bighorn, the five-year deal provides predictability for both communities.
