The Town of Canmore, Alberta, has helped more than 190 people find a secure place to stay through its Safe Park program since 2021. This initiative offers designated overnight parking for seasonal employees who live in their vehicles while working in the community.
To join the program, workers must pay a fee and show proof that they are employed by a local business. Interest in the service is currently higher than the number of available spots, with 73 people applying for the program during the last year.
The program usually runs from May 1 to September 30 each year to cover the busiest tourist months. However, officials recently added a two-week extension that keeps the sites open until October 15 to better support local staff.
The idea for the program began with a 2019 study on the needs of residents living in vehicles. This research led the Canmore Town Council to launch a small test version in 2020 before opening the full program the following year.
