All commercial guiding on public lands requires permits.
In our cases, we have four permits to cover our activities:
- Alberta Parks Guiding Permit to cover our operations within areas managed by Alberta Parks;
- A Temporary Field Authorization covering our winter tours within the Public Land Use Zones;
- A Temporary Field Authorization covering our summer tours within the Public Land Use Zones; and
- A Food Handling Permit from Alberta Health Services.
Each of these permits (except for the Food Handling Permit) must be carried with you at all times while guiding. You will find a copy of each of them in the safety kits.
Traditionally guiding permits have not been enforced in our region.
This is starting to change and it’s generally a good thing for our industry. Please let us know if you are asked for our permits by any staff from Alberta Environment & Parks while leading a tour.
Alberta Parks Guiding Permit
This permit applies primarily to our tours at the Crescent Falls Provincial Recreation Area and the Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve.
A few things to note:
- Our tours cannot infringe on the enjoyment of the area by the public;
- Our tours must follow Leave No Trace principles;
- Our tours must be operated in accordance with our Risk & Emergency Management Plans;
- We do not have access to restricted areas;
- All the rules that apply to the public apply to us (this includes no camping or fires in the ecological reserve);
- We are not allowed to access the area between the falls at Crescent Falls; and
- Our access to the Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve is limited to the trails identified on the permit:
- Siffleur Falls Trail ;
- Survey Hill Trails;
- Glacier Trails; and
- Whirlpool Point.
You can review our AB Parks permit here.
Temporary Field Authorizations (TFA)
This permit applies to all our tours on public lands, outside of the areas managed by Alberta Parks. A few things to note:
- Our TFAs cover more areas than those currently used for our tours;
- Our maximum group size is 12 guests per guide (24 guests per guide for sightseeing);
- We can have up to 48 guests at the time at any given location;
- Our tours must be operated in accordance with our Risk & Emergency Management Plans;
- Our tours cannot infringe on the enjoyment of the area by the public;
- We do not have access to restricted areas;
- All the rules that apply to the public apply to us; and
- Our tours must follow Leave No Trace principles.
You can review the Summer TFA here.
Our understanding is that the requirements for TFA or Access Permits to guide on established trails are being relaxed. At this point, however, our tours are still covered under our existing TFA.
AHS Food Handling Permit
Our Food Handling Permit for the Canteen covers the snacks and lunches we serve on our tours. A few things to note:
- Food must be stored below 4°C or above 64°C when being transported; and
- A hand washing station must be set up whenever we handle food.
For the guided hikes, that means storing the lunches in a cooler until we distribute them to guests at the trailhead.
