The Town of Sylvan Lake is reminding residents and visitors that new smoke-free rules are now in effect along the lakefront, following the busy 1913 Days festival this past weekend. The updated Smoke-Free Bylaw expands where smoking and vaping are banned, covering all lakefront parks, greenspaces, the beach, and sidewalks along Lakeshore Drive and Centennial Street from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
The expanded Lakefront No Smoking Zone now includes sidewalks on Lakeshore Drive from 34 Street to 53 Street and on Centennial Street from Lakeshore Drive to 50 Avenue, in addition to Centennial Park, Lighthouse Park, and the Lakefront Park washroom area. The rules apply to all forms of smoking, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and vaping products.
The changes are part of a broader 2026 Lakefront Improvements and Enhancements plan, funded through the Visitor Pay Parking program. The town hired four extra seasonal bylaw officers and five additional parks staff this year to help enforce the new rules. Fines start at $250 for a first offence, rising to $500 for a second and $1,000 for any further violations.
The push for stricter smoking rules came from resident feedback in a 2025 Laker Feedback Survey, where people highlighted concerns about garbage, tent use, noise, and compliance with existing regulations. A 2017 cleanup that collected over 8,600 cigarette butts from the shoreline also played a role in sparking the original smoking ban in 2018.
The timing is especially relevant as Sylvan Lake hosted the 113th annual 1913 Days festival on June 19 and 20, drawing large crowds to the waterfront for heritage celebrations. Town officials suggest people review the full bylaw details ahead of future visits. Questions can be directed to Ron Lebsack, Director of Parks and Protective Services, at [email protected].
