Wildlife Corridors and the Three Sisters Decision: Lessons and Recommendations for Implementing NRCB Project Approvals

Abstract

The Three Sisters decision, issued by Alberta’s Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) in 1992, approved a major recreational, tourism and residential development in the Town of Canmore. One condition of approval was that wildlife movement corridors be maintained across the Three Sisters property. This paper describes the origins and evolution of the controversy surrounding this requirement and presents recommendations for strengthening the implementation process for NRCB decisions.