Latest news with #PeterLougheed
CTV News
13-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Wildlife overpass in Alberta named after former premier Peter Lougheed
The Peter Lougheed Wildlife Overpass overpass is located near Lac Des Arcs, approximately 81 kilometres west of Calgary and 29 kilometres east of Canmore. ( Alberta announced the name of a new wildlife overpass on the Trans-Canada Highway on Friday, saying the structure will pay tribute to former premier Peter Lougheed. The overpass is located near Lac Des Arcs, approximately 81 kilometres west of Calgary and 29 kilometres east of Canmore. Construction on the $17.5 million project began in 2022 and was completed last fall. The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App Devin Dreeshen, minister of transportation and economic corridors, says naming the structure in honour of Lougheed provides a long-lasting reminder of his work to preserve the area. 'In 1977, premier Lougheed was invited to take a helicopter tour of what is now Kananaskis Country. He was so impressed that he saw that his PC government soon create Kananaskis Country to preserve the breathtaking landscape, rivers, streams and waterfalls,' he said Friday. 'Today, Kananaskis Country spans 4,000 square kilometres and includes five provincial parks.' The newly named Peter Lougheed Wildlife Overpass is the first in Alberta to be constructed outside of a national park. According to the province, the wildlife crossing is expected to reduce collisions in the area by an estimated 80 per cent. The province says animal-vehicle collisions account for about 60 per cent of reported collisions on rural highways. 'This overpass is a major milestone in advancing wildlife crossings in one of the most important landscapes for wildlife movement in the entire Yellowstone to Yukon region,' said Jodi Hilty, president and chief scientist, Y2Y. 'This crossing will help elk, deer, bears and other animals across the Trans-Canada Highway in a way that is safe for them and the tens of thousands of people driving this highway every day,' added Tim Johnson, landscape connectivity specialist, Y2Y.
Calgary Herald
11-06-2025
- Calgary Herald
How Kananaskis came to be the destination it is today
While the world's most powerful leaders are coming to Kananaskis this week for the G7 summit, the area has been attracting visitors and residents for centuries. Article content People may have lived here as far back as 4500 BC. The Blackfoot and Stoney First Nations made the area home in the early 1800s. Europeans found it about a century and a half ago, with the Kananaskis name bestowed upon it, possibly to honour a First Nations warrior. Article content Article content Article content With Europeans, came development. As the railway expanded west, the Canadian Pacific Railway announced it would stop in Kananaski to head west at 4:03 each day. Commerce in the area expanded, too. When Bow River Mills opened, there was a sense of excitement about the new enterprise. These ads for the business appeared in the Calgary Herald in 1888. Article content Article content Kananaskis importantly, however, became known for its natural beauty as this 1892 story about photographs of the area indicated. Other newspaper stories from the late 1800s and early 1900s indicate it was common for school groups, church groups and other organizations to visit Kananaskis for picnics and hikes. Article content By the mid-1900s a number of provincial parks had been started in Kananaskis, but Premier Peter Lougheed — and local environmental groups — saw the need for better protection of the area. In 1975, Alberta's provincial government proposed the idea of officially turning the Kananaskis area into a provincial park. Article content Article content Article content The announcement led to much discussion about the idea as this full page background piece shows. Article content Article content Article content Kananaskis Provincial Park was officially dedicated in September 1978, with development costs then expected to be $40 million. It was lauded for combining both recreational and wilderness areas, while predicted to become a model for future projects on the eastern slopes of the Rockies. Article content TURN PAGE from Sept. 23, 1978 front page: Article content Article content Over the years, Kananaskis Country developed into more than 4,200 square kilometres of land that consists of many five provincial parks, four wildland provincial parks and many provincial recreation areas. It's a visitor mecca for those who enjoy nature, hiking, canoeing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Article content
CTV News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Kananaskis: An explainer on Alberta's cherished park and G7 host location
A road sign warning of no access to the site of the G7 leaders' summit is pictured in Kananaskis, Alta., Monday, June 2, CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh CALGARY — For the next week, Derek Ryder will be temporarily divorced from his favourite mountain range and beloved trails in Kananaskis, Alta., so the world's most powerful people can safely gather for the G7 leaders summit. The spokesman for Friends of Kananaskis Country, an environmental stewardship group for the region, has been trekking in Kananaskis Country, informally known as K-Country, since 1976. 'I've been basically everywhere,' says Ryder, who added he's traversed more kilometres in Kananaskis than he can count. As the G7 leaders prepare for the annual meeting in Kananaskis, which first hosted the summit in 2002, the world's eyes will be on the region's dense forest and jagged alpine. What is Kananaskis? Comprising several provincial parks, Kananaskis was created by former Alberta premier Peter Lougheed in 1978. The Alberta Parks website says Lougheed was convinced to establish the park after a single helicopter ride over the jagged mountains. From above, the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge — chosen as the leaders' residence for the summit — is a mere pinprick surrounded by over 4,000 square kilometres of Rocky Mountain wilderness abutting Banff National Park. Unlike past summits in urban centres, the leaders are to be cordoned off from the outside world. Kananaskis has a small local population of 156, according to the most recent census. 'Block one road on two ends, and you pretty much have an isolated world in K-Country,' Ryder says. Who will be at the G7? Prime Minister Mark Carney will chair the summit. He is to be joined by: U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The presidents of the European Council and European Commission usually represent the European Union. A prominent group of invited non-G7 leaders are also to attend, including Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The late Pope Francis was at last year's G7, becoming the first pontiff to address the forum. There's been no public chatter about whether Pope Leo XIV might be in Kananaskis. The three-day summit starts Sunday. How do you get to Kananaskis Village? Kananaskis Village is roughly 75 kilometres southwest of Calgary. It has two entry points. The first is off the Trans-Canada Highway en route to Canmore and Banff. Drivers can otherwise enter through a rural road. Other sections of the park, mostly south of the village, are still set to be open during the summit. Is it similar to Banff? Though it shares a mountain range with Banff National Park, Ryder says the wilderness in Kananaskis has a unique feel that separates itself from the national parks. 'To me, it feels less like a museum,' he says. The area's popularity has increased over the past decade, adds Trevor Julian, executive director of Friends of Kananaskis. But its relatively quieter trails are alluring to some hikers, he says. Banff, meanwhile, attracts more than four million people every year. 'I find there's so many hidden pockets of Kananaskis where you can go for the day — or days — and not see people.' Julian says. Are bears a risk? Kananaskis is native bear territory, Ryder says, and the animals happily traverse through Kananaskis Village on any given day. Two layers of fences line the perimeter of the village. Ryder doesn't believe that will keep them out. 'Fences, unless they're electrified, don't stop bears from doing anything,' Ryder says. But bears are more interested in eating plants than wreaking havoc on talks between prime ministers and presidents, he says. During the 2002 summit in Kananaskis, a bear climbed a tree near the site and, as conservation officers tried to lure it down, the animal fell and died from its injuries. 'There's no magic in this,' Ryder says. 'There's only really good people doing the best job we can.' What else should I know about Kananaskis? In 2013, Kananaskis saw hundreds of kilometres of trails washed away by sudden flooding, which also forced out 110,000 people downstream in Calgary. The historic flood wiped out much of the picturesque 36-hole golf course at Kananaskis and took five years to rebuild. Darren Robinson, general manager of Kananaskis Country Golf Club, says a few employees stayed on during the closure. Ryder, who has written a book about the flood, says it 'massacred' trails and the road winding through Kananaskis. In some areas, the flood redirected water flows in such a way that former ponds are now dry pits. 'It was pretty traumatic,' he says. Ryder was among an army of volunteers who helped rebuild trails, bridges and boardwalks, though many trails have permanently disappeared. 'In restoring K-Country, I think in a lot of ways, we restored ourselves,' he says. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025. Matthew Scace, The Canadian Press
CTV News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Kananaskis: An explainer on Alberta's cherished park and G7 host location
A road sign warning of no access to the site of the G7 leaders' summit is pictured in Kananaskis, Alta., Monday, June 2, CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh CALGARY — For the next week, Derek Ryder will be temporarily divorced from his favourite mountain range and beloved trails in Kananaskis, Alta., so the world's most powerful people can safely gather for the G7 leaders summit. The spokesman for Friends of Kananaskis Country, an environmental stewardship group for the region, has been trekking in Kananaskis Country, informally known as K-Country, since 1976. 'I've been basically everywhere,' says Ryder, who added he's traversed more kilometres in Kananaskis than he can count. As the G7 leaders prepare for the annual meeting in Kananaskis, which first hosted the summit in 2002, the world's eyes will be on the region's dense forest and jagged alpine. What is Kananaskis? Comprising several provincial parks, Kananaskis was created by former Alberta premier Peter Lougheed in 1978. The Alberta Parks website says Lougheed was convinced to establish the park after a single helicopter ride over the jagged mountains. From above, the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge — chosen as the leaders' residence for the summit — is a mere pinprick surrounded by over 4,000 square kilometres of Rocky Mountain wilderness abutting Banff National Park. Unlike past summits in urban centres, the leaders are to be cordoned off from the outside world. Kananaskis has a small local population of 156, according to the most recent census. 'Block one road on two ends, and you pretty much have an isolated world in K-Country,' Ryder says. Who will be at the G7? Prime Minister Mark Carney will chair the summit. He is to be joined by: U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The presidents of the European Council and European Commission usually represent the European Union. A prominent group of invited non-G7 leaders are also to attend, including Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The late Pope Francis was at last year's G7, becoming the first pontiff to address the forum. There's been no public chatter about whether Pope Leo XIV might be in Kananaskis. The three-day summit starts Sunday. How do you get to Kananaskis Village? Kananaskis Village is roughly 75 kilometres southwest of Calgary. It has two entry points. The first is off the Trans-Canada Highway en route to Canmore and Banff. Drivers can otherwise enter through a rural road. Other sections of the park, mostly south of the village, are still set to be open during the summit. Is it similar to Banff? Though it shares a mountain range with Banff National Park, Ryder says the wilderness in Kananaskis has a unique feel that separates itself from the national parks. 'To me, it feels less like a museum,' he says. The area's popularity has increased over the past decade, adds Trevor Julian, executive director of Friends of Kananaskis. But its relatively quieter trails are alluring to some hikers, he says. Banff, meanwhile, attracts more than four million people every year. 'I find there's so many hidden pockets of Kananaskis where you can go for the day — or days — and not see people.' Julian says. Are bears a risk? Kananaskis is native bear territory, Ryder says, and the animals happily traverse through Kananaskis Village on any given day. Two layers of fences line the perimeter of the village. Ryder doesn't believe that will keep them out. 'Fences, unless they're electrified, don't stop bears from doing anything,' Ryder says. But bears are more interested in eating plants than wreaking havoc on talks between prime ministers and presidents, he says. During the 2002 summit in Kananaskis, a bear climbed a tree near the site and, as conservation officers tried to lure it down, the animal fell and died from its injuries. 'There's no magic in this,' Ryder says. 'There's only really good people doing the best job we can.' What else should I know about Kananaskis? In 2013, Kananaskis saw hundreds of kilometres of trails washed away by sudden flooding, which also forced out 110,000 people downstream in Calgary. The historic flood wiped out much of the picturesque 36-hole golf course at Kananaskis and took five years to rebuild. Darren Robinson, general manager of Kananaskis Country Golf Club, says a few employees stayed on during the closure. Ryder, who has written a book about the flood, says it 'massacred' trails and the road winding through Kananaskis. In some areas, the flood redirected water flows in such a way that former ponds are now dry pits. 'It was pretty traumatic,' he says. Ryder was among an army of volunteers who helped rebuild trails, bridges and boardwalks, though many trails have permanently disappeared. 'In restoring K-Country, I think in a lot of ways, we restored ourselves,' he says. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025. Matthew Scace, The Canadian Press
Calgary Herald
09-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Opinion: I miss the original (Progressive) Conservative Party of Alberta
Article content It feels like we are living in a time of unprecedented challenge in Alberta's relationship with Canada. But we were similarly challenged when we faced the 1970's energy crisis. Article content Article content In 1971, the provincial Progressive Conservatives under Peter Lougheed formed a majority government, resulting in a 44-year continuous dynasty that ended with the NDP election in 2015. Article content Article content When I moved to Calgary in the mid-1980s, I had the privilege of meeting Lougheed and serving on his constituency board in Calgary West. I miss his leadership, and I want to share some of what I miss. Article content Article content Lougheed stood tall for Alberta at a time when we needed it, including many a battle with the federal government. In that sense, some may feel Premier Danielle Smith is following in that tradition, but what is happening now couldn't be more different. Article content Here are some of Lougheed's principles: Article content Lead through vision and with responsibility for outcomes. There are basically two ways for leaders to attract followers — they can set a compelling vision and take responsibility to work through the inevitable challenges blocking that vision, or focus their followers on feeling like victims needing to be saved (by the leader). Every situation can be framed either way — it all lies in the narrative. Treat people with respect and dignity. Allies and adversaries all need to be heard and understood. Take responsibility. Every organization faces challenges. Stock markets seek quarterly results because any business, any size, can fail in a matter of months if it does not address challenges. A CEO who can't work with others to manage these challenges is quickly replaced. Establish values and principles, and stick to them. Article content These principles included: Article content As a non-renewable resource, cash from petroleum production is not ours to spend; it belongs to future Albertans. Lougheed created the Heritage Savings Trust Fund, which became the model for sovereign resource funds throughout the world (most notably Norway). If we had stuck with his plan, we would have a fund of more than $1 trillion today. To achieve our vision, take responsibility for developing technology. Lougheed established world-class research and innovation institutes in energy technology, medical research and data science to find solutions to current and future challenges, and to enhance Alberta's opportunities for economic diversification. Build bridges to Canadian provinces. The Heritage Trust Fund was used to lend money to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Quebec. How many friends would Alberta have today if we had chosen to continue to use our favourable advantage strategically to support other provinces? Our corporate sector must pull its weight. Lougheed forced the oil and gas sector to pace its growth and to constantly improve technology and environmental protection. In response, industry members complained and revoked his Petroleum Club membership. He took that criticism because he prioritized Alberta citizens. Twenty years after he left office, Lougheed warned against the pitfalls of unbridled oilsands expansion without requiring companion improvements in technology and emissions management.
