This release was issued under a previous government.

Kananaskis emergency services

The new facility will provide fire and advanced life support ambulance services for both residents and the many tourists who take advantage of recreational opportunities in the Kananaskis region.

Located adjacent to Kananaskis Village on Highway 40, the facility will be home to 24-hour dispatch operations that will support all emergency response in the Kananaskis Region.

“This new investment will result in enhanced safety for Albertans and visitors to the province who are drawn year-round, to Kananaskis. The Government of Alberta strongly believes in the value of enhancing emergency services support for this popular tourism and recreation area.”

Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks

The growth of the Kananaskis region as a tourism and recreation hot spot has significantly impacted the demand for emergency services in the area. Since it was built in 1986 to support activity in the Kananaskis Valley for the 1988 Olympics, the Centre has become a vital contributor to public safety in the region, housing staff, vehicles, and support for fire safety services, emergency medical services, and backcountry search and rescue dispatch.

Since 2000, the Centre’s dispatch calls have increased more than tenfold, averaging more than 5,000 calls per year. The dispatch service also provides vital support for the Kananaskis Public Safety team, which is involved in 24/7 on-call response for backcountry rescue and emergency services.

Currently, services at the Kananaskis Emergency Services Centre are co-funded by the Government of Alberta and the Kananaskis Improvement District. Planning and site development is expected to begin in 2016, and emergency services will remain fully operational during the project.