FAQs

An area plan provides guidance for management and decision-making of a defined area. In this case, the Lake Minnewanka area in Banff National Park. You can think of an area plan as a roadmap that describes specific objectives and targets. It helps you map out where you are and where you want to go. 

This area plan will: 

• Be forward-looking
• Provide clear management direction
• Address considerations across land use dimensions
• Be grounded in law, policy, and the park management plan
• Reflect public values and views

A park management plan applies to a national park as a whole and is required by law under the Canada National Parks Act. It provides policy guidance for decision-making for the next 10 years and helps ensure that management and protection of the park is undertaken in an open and transparent manner.  

An area plan sits between management planning and operations. It is aligned with the management plan but provides a higher level of site-specific direction and detail. It guides park operations and future actions and decisions for a specific area within the park. 

As a guiding document, the area plan is informed and aligned with Parks Canada legislation, and policy, environmental requirements, and our commitment to involving Canadians in park management decisions.

The Lake Minnewanka area is an easily accessible and popular destination close to the town of Banff in Banff National Park. Lake Minnewanka area is the first major destination you come upon when travelling west from the east gate into Banff National Park along the Trans Canada Highway 1.  

The Lake Minnewanka area provides a unique edge-of-wilderness experience and has a rich history, wide spectrum of activities to enjoy, and stunning natural scenery. It receives significant visitation, contains numerous important cultural and natural resources, and contains several visitor facilities. The complexity of resources and land uses in this area necessitates a deliberate approach to planning and management. 

Parks Canada is committed to meaningful engagement on this initiative to ensure the views and values of Indigenous Peoples, stakeholders, and the public are reflected in the Lake Minnewanka Area Plan. This area plan will be developed in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples and Canadians, ensuring that management and protection of this area is undertaken in an open and transparent manner.  

National parks are dedicated to the people of Canada for their benefit, education, and enjoyment, so it is important for Parks Canada to hear about what is important to you. Your ideas are considered and reflected to the degree possible in developing the area plan, which will guide our decisions and approaches for the Lake Minnewanka area for the foreseeable future. 

Ecological integrity is the first priority for Parks Canada. The plan will consider ecological parameters and will address environmental concerns through examination and inclusion of strategies, objectives, and targets that support ecological integrity. 

Additionally, the plan will undergo a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to determine whether the potential impacts of the various strategies and objectives in it will likely be positive, neutral, or negative. As warranted, the SEA will outline where further impact assessment may be required at the implementation stage, and any factors that should be examined at that time. 

Parks Canada is carrying out engagement in four phases that align with the key stages of the planning process. Engagement will begin with conversations with Indigenous Peoples, key stakeholders, and Canadians in summer 2024. These will be followed by opportunities for both targeted engagement with specific groups and broader public input on the draft plan.  

1.  Phase one engagement opportunities will be offered until October 25, 2024. During this time, Parks Canada is inviting Indigenous Peoples, Canadians, and stakeholders to learn about the planning process, provide initial input on what should be addressed in the plan, and to ask questions, or share concerns. 
2.  Additional opportunities for engagement will be made available as the planning process unfolds and will be based in part on input from phase one engagement. 

You can get involved by: 

1. Leaving a comment and/or responding to a survey on the www.letstalkmountainparks.ca website 
2. Emailing your comments, ideas, or questions to opinion@pc.gc.ca. 
3. Sending your input via regular mail to: Office of the Superintendent, Parks Canada - Banff Field Unit P.O. Box 900, Banff, AB, Canada, T1L 1K2

All comments are reviewed carefully by the planning team and will be used throughout the planning process to help shape the final plan. 

For more information, please contact opinion@pc.gc.ca