Agritourism Development - Factors Affecting - Foothills Tourism
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Factors Affecting Agritourism Development in the Foothills
CONTEXT
This resource includes high-level insights
on the political, economic, socio-cultural,
technological, and environmental context.
The short report provides existing and prospective agritourism industry
members the needed context to understand agritourism development
as it pertains to businesses in the Foothills region.
POLITICAL 3
ECONOMIC 5
SOCIOCULTURAL 8
TECHNOLOGICAL 11
LEGAL 14
ENVIRONMENTAL 20
Contents for this resource draw from Foothills Tourism Association’s summary report on
agritourism as a growth opportunity. For more information, please refer to the report or
contact Foothills Tourism Association.
2
POLITICAL
The Foothills is comprised of multiple a not-for-profit government corporation
municipalities including the hamlet of Bragg made up of elected officials from the 10
Creek in Rocky View County at its northern member municipalities of the Calgary
tip, the Town of Nanton and the surrounding Metropolitan Region. It was established
area of the Municipal District of Willow Creek in 2018 through the CMRB Regulation
No. 26 as its southern tip, the mountains to under the Municipal Government Act, and
the west, and Highway 2 to the east. four of its member municipalities include
Foothills County, Rocky View County, the
This means the area is Town of Okotoks, and the Town of High
River. The mandate of the corporation is
comprised of three municipal
to “support the long-term sustainability
districts or counties, six urban
of the Calgary Metropolitan Region by
municipal governments, and two 1) Ensuring environmentally responsible
First Nations reserves. land-use planning, growth management
and efficient use of land; 2) Developing
These 11 municipal jurisdictions include: policies regarding the coordination
Rocky View County, Foothills County, the of regional infrastructure investment
Municipal District of Willow Creek No.26, and service delivery; 3) Promoting the
as well as the towns of Nanton, Okotoks, economic wellbeing and competitiveness
High River, Turner Valley, Black Diamond, of the Calgary Metropolitan Region; and 4)
the Village of Longview, Eden Valley Developing policies outlining how the Board
Bearspaw First Nation (which forms part of shall engage the public in consultation.”
Stoney Nakoda Nation), and Tsuut’ina First
Nation including the townsite of Redwood In 2018, the Calgary Metropolitan Region
Meadows. Within the Foothills, Foothills Board, released its Interim Growth Plan,
County encompasses most of the area, pending the approval of its 2021 Growth
including which encompasses most of the & Servicing Plans. These plans were
Foothills, includes the hamlets of Aldersyde, developed to serve as a best-practice
Cayley, De Winton, Hartell, Heritage Pointe, guide for achieving long-term prosperity
Millarville, Naptha, Priddis, and Priddis in the Calgary Metropolitan Region by
Greens. providing policies and high-level guidance
The Calgary Metropolitan Region Board is to member municipalities including: 1)
3
Residential, commercial and industrial Plan and Servicing Plan. These plans are
land use; 2) Corridors for transportation, important to consider when planning for
recreation, energy transmission, utilities the development of agritourism activities in
and transit; 3) Infrastructure planning the Foothills as member municipalities will
and development; 4) Water quality, need to align their strategies and plans to
water use and management (including these documents, noting that non-member
flood mitigation); and 5) Environmental municipalities may not be required to align
sustainability and the conservation of with their strategies and plans. Relevant
agricultural lands. Importantly, these plans non-member municipalities include the
are aligned with policies of the South towns of Black Diamond, Turner Valley,
Saskatchewan Regional Plan and any parent Nanton, the Village of Longview, and the
policy documents, the Alberta Land-use Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26.
Framework and enacting legislation, and When planning for the development of
the Alberta Land Stewardship Act. agritourism, it is important to consider where
development is occurring in the Foothills as
The Calgary Metropolitan Region Growth different municipalities will have different
Plan (2021) and Calgary Metropolitan goals, strategies, regulations, and bylaws
Region Servicing Plan (2021) were finalized that will impact agritourism development. In
and approved by the Calgary Metropolitan other words, having a clear understanding
Region Board in May 2021. They have been of the jurisdictional landscape is key to the
submitted to the Minister of Municipal success of agritourism development in the
Affairs for review, and if approved by the Foothills.
Minister, will replace the Interim Growth
4
ECONOMIC
In 2017, Calgary Economic Development—a for the Calgary Metropolitan Region.” The
not-for-profit corporation funded by the plan identifies driver industries that are
City of Calgary, community partners, expected to lead employment growth in the
other orders of government, and the immediate term (1-2 years), short term (3-5
private sector—released an Agribusiness years), medium term (6-10 years), and long
Value Chain Study. The study identifies term (11-20 years).
agritourism activities as growth
opportunities for the local economy. More More specifically,
specifically, it mentions the opportunity
the plan identifies four driver
of building and expanding the distillery,
brewery, and micro-brewery base of the city
industries that are connected to
and its surrounding area, as well as scaling agritourism and are expected to
agritourism through craft beer tours, and lead employment growth in the
promotions with premiere restaurants as years to come.
examples. The study identifies the interest
of Canadian and Albertan travellers in In the immediate term, this includes value
participating in agritourism activities as added agriculture, which according to
well as the opportunity to incorporate the Regional Employment Forecast Final
agritourism as a marketed offering for Report (2020) includes “specialized food a
Alberta tourists. It specifically mentions nd beverage manufacturing.” During the
fostering partnerships between established short term, value added agriculture is
tourism assets and artisanal growers and/or identified, which is described as “speciality
farmers that could take on, or scale existing food manufacturing, seed cleaning,
agritourism activities. Similarly, Calgary’s cannabis production.” Finally, in the medium
economic development strategy—Calgary term, both value added agriculture, including
in the New Economy (2018)—identifies industries focussed on “plant proteins,
tourism as an “emerging & growth cluster”. micro-breweries/wineries”, and tourism,
which includes “food accommodation
As noted, the Calgary Metropolitan Region sector, outdoor adventures, equestrian,”
Board has released the Calgary Metropolitan are identified.
Region Growth Plan (2021). The growth
plan is “a policy framework for managing
growth and implementing long-term vision
5
Within the Foothills, the towns of Black For example, Rocky View County released
Diamond and Turner Valley published an its Economic Recovery Task Force 2020:
Intermunicipal Economic Development Rocky View County’s Economic Recovery
Strategy (2019). The strategy identifies and Resilience in Response to COVID-19
five strategic goals to improve economic (2020). It identifies the development of a
development in both municipalities: comprehensive marketing plan for Rocky
View County to raise awareness of what
1. Build economic development capacity; the county has to offer; noting the success
2. Foster a friendly-environment for new of “Shop Local” campaigns and their
development and existing businesses; online business directory on their website,
3. Support business retention and which highlight many local agricultural
expansion entrepreneurship; producers who offer farm-to-table
4. Target community-based economic experiences. Furthermore, the Economic
development; Recovery Taskforce identified the need
5. Make Black Diamond and Turner Valley for future marketing to grow the business
a destination. directory into business-to-business (B2B)
opportunities and cooperatively oriented
The strategy also notes that both towns will packaging of complementary products
continue to experience population growth and services for growing markets including
rates comparable to many of Calgary’s tourism and agritourism.
suburban communities. Importantly, the
tourism industry is identified as a large Understanding the economic
sector of the local economy in both towns,
development context of the
and it was highlighted in previous strategic
Foothills is key to successfully
plans as a key source of economic activity.
More specifically, the strategy identifies
developing agritourism.
agritourism as an emerging consumer trend
As is identifying ways that agritourism
that rural communities should leverage for
is aligned with existing economic
economic development growth.
development strategies and recovery
plans. It also fosters stronger opportunities
As a result of the pandemic, major tourist
to receive support from municipalities and
hubs such as Calgary continue to experience
economic development corporations.
a steep decline in economic activity,
with a year-over-year decrease in hotel
occupancy rates of 66%. However, there
is recognition of the role that agritourism
can play in the tourism recovery effort.
6
7
SOCIOCULTURAL
Since time immemorial, the land known became a boomtown after the discovery
today as the Foothills has be the home of oil and gas. As a result, the region grew
of Indigenous peoples. It forms part of in population. Between 1914 to 1947, the
Treat 7 Territory, which is comprised of the area was known as the heart of Alberta’s
Blackfoot Confederacy members, Siksika, petroleum industry. The Turner Valley Gas
Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations, the Plant, which is now recognized as a National
Stoney Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and and Provincial Historic Site, remained a
Wesley First Nations, and the Dene of large contributor to Western Canada’s
Tsuut’ina First Nations. Additionally, the energy supply until 1985. During these early
land is within the Metis Nation of Alberta’s flourishing years, the Village of Longview
Region 3. was made up of two communities, Little
New York and Little Chicago.20 However,
The Foothills has a diversity as the surrounding industries declined,
Little Chicago became a ghost town. Many
of agricultural areas with varied
of its remaining buildings were moved to
weather and soil conditions.
Black Diamond’s downtown to rebuild the
area after the 1949 fire that destroyed the
The southwest is more suitable for grazing,
downtown core. Nanton, which is at the
while the east is more suitable for crop
southern tip of the Foothills, was known as
farming. The region produces beef, bison,
the Tap House. It would provide free water
poultry, eggs, and various crops, and it
collected from the foothills of the Rockies
is home to both small- and large-scale
to travellers. Eventually, the town became
processing plants as well as grain handling
one of the first places in the country to
facilities.18 Bar U Ranch National Historic
bottle and sell water through what is known
Site (1882–1950) is also located in Foothills
today as Nanton Water & Soda Limited.
County, and it is considered “one of the first
and most enduring large corporate ranches
According to the Vanier Institute of the
of the West [and it] achieved international
Family, family farms have played a key
repute as a centre of breeding excellence
role in the history of Canada through their
for cattle and purebred Percheron horses.”
contributions to both local and provincial
economies. They also helped to shape
Since the late 1800s, the Foothills has
communities and familial identities. As
had a strong coal and oil history. In the
per Unlocking the Foothills Tourism
early 1900s, the town of Turner Valley
Potential (2020), family farms in Alberta
89
are an important means for communities 3.74% of the population identified as
throughout the province to sustain their speaking a non-official language. The
food security and stable supply chains. median annual income for families (couple
For example, farm direct marketing allows families, lone-parent families, and people
producers and family farms to assume without children) was $113,746 as of 2018.
accountability and benefit from the delivery During the same year, of the approximately
of quality food products directly to the 2,800 businesses in the Foothills, 97.5%
customer through various methods. These were small businesses employing between
include, farm gates, farmers’ markets, 1-49 employees.
u-picks, community supported agriculture,
and direct sales to restaurants. More and In 2016, the Foothills listed over 1,000
more people are interested in knowing where farms, with the main agricultural activities
and how their food is grown and raised, as being cattle and calf raising (approximately
well as who is behind its production. Family 125,000 animals) and cropland use (over
farms can cater to these interests while 350,00 acres). Notably, at the provincial level
increasing their business revenues and there was a 27.5% increase in young farmers
sustaining their family farms and rural way under 35 years (n=1,890) between 2011 and
of life. 2016. Additionally, female farm operators
in Alberta are above the national average
Additionally, a study conducted in Missouri, at 30.8 percent. The Foothills Tourism
concluded that farms implementing Association also identifies approximately
agritourism activities had an impact on the 409 visitor-facing businesses and service
conservation of tangible cultural heritage providers with a range of experiences,
resources, such as historic buildings and including food & drink and agritourism. Of
artifacts related to the local agricultural these businesses and service providers,
history. Since part of the appeal of visiting 29% (n=120) can be categorized as existing
a farm is learning about where food comes or prospective agritourism businesses.
from and how it is grown and harvested,
farmers are able to use these tangible Understanding the diverse makeup of
culture heritage resources to tell the story of the peoples, histories, and cultures of
their farm, while simultaneously maintaining the Foothills is essential to developing
the intangible cultural heritage value of agritourism activities. The unique stories
continuing the practice of agriculture. connected to agricultural production, the
people behind agriculture and food, and
In 2020, the Foothills had a population the tangible and intangible cultural heritage
of approximately 80,000, with almost 7% resources present in the area, all make the
identifying as a visible minority and 4.32% experiences for visitors unique and difficult
identifying as Indigenous. Additionally, to replicate.
10TECHNOLOGICAL
Agritourism development often requires may not necessarily work for out-of-town
tourism-specific skills and experience to be guests.
developed by individuals who are primary
focussed on agriculture. Some examples As a result of the pandemic, technology has
include customer service, hospitality, and become even more important for offering
online marketing. services and delivering value to prospective
visitors. Having an online presence with
Having an online presence key information, such as descriptions of
product and service offerings on readily
as an agritourism business is
used platforms by agritourists, has become
particularly important.
essential for many businesses’ survival in
both rural and urban areas. Additionally,
Providing accessible information to visitors
establishing innovative partnerships,
about a business, such as its operating
such as those between customer delivery
hours, is essential for attracting agritourists.
applications and producers, has become
Visitors need guarantees when planning
a more common service offered by
trips. This is especially evident in rural
businesses that have been forced to pivot
areas, where negative experiences can be
in the current climate.
had if after a driving all the way to a farm or
other agritourism business a visitor finds
Providing online spaces for industry
it closed. This is compounded by the fact
members, locals, and visitors to connect
that urbanites are not always accustomed
is an excellent way to build community
to “calling ahead,” which means strategies
around agritourism and support local
that may attract locals to an agritourism
businesses. In many cases, industry
business may not necessarily work for
members, locals, and visitors are unaware
out-of-town guests. Note, the pandemic is
of what is next door to them and as a
increasing call-ahead habits amongst all
result may lose out on opportunities to
visitor segments.
experience an agritourism activity or to
develop a unique agritourism partnership
This is compounded by the fact that
with another business. The official Foothills
urbanites are not accustomed to “calling
Tourism Association Facebook page,
ahead,” which means strategies that may
entitled Explore Foothills, has garnered
attract locals to an agritourism business
over 2,100 Likes and is updated almost
11daily. Content on the page features local projects to remote and rural communities
businesses and destinations in the region, nationally. While several communities in the
including food & drink experiences. Foothills were identified in the original project
Similarly, an industry-oriented Facebook proposal for broadband internet expansion,
group, created by the Foothills Tourism including the hamlets of Priddis, Millarville,
Association, entitled Growing Foothills and Bragg Creek, only Bragg Creek qualified
Together, has over 800 members, for infrastructure funding in March 2021.
comprised of local business owners and
tourism operators. These high numbers As the Foothills enters the post-pandemic
of online engagement show the strong era, there may be new opportunities to use
desire that people in the Foothills have to technology to benefit the agritourism industry.
network and find information about visiting More specifically, there may be opportunities
and experiencing the Foothills, including related to ensuring the health and safety
experiencing agritourism activities. of visitors and staff, including providing
information around up-to-date protocols, or
Ongoing growth and maintenance of the creative approaches to connecting visitors
region’s broadband internet service is vital to agritourism experiences. In the meantime,
to connecting rural businesses with visitors. it is important for industry members in the
In November 2020, the federal government Foothills to continue to grow their online
announced a $1.75 billion investment into presence and explore different partnerships
a Universal Broadband Fund which aims to that will further increase their resiliency in the
support high-speed internet infrastructure years ahead.
12LEGAL
There are many policies, laws, and related LAND-USE FRAMEWORK
regulations that impact where and how
agritourism activities can be developed in Land-use planning in Alberta begins
a municipal jurisdiction. Health and safety with the Land Use Framework, which
regulations, heritage conservation policies, was implemented by the Government of
or environmental policies will all impact Alberta in 2008. This framework outlines
these decisions. an approach for managing both public and
private lands as well as natural resources,
However, land-use frameworks, towards achieving the province’s long-
plans, and policies are perhaps term economic, environmental, and social
one of the most significant goals. This includes how land use will be
managed, as well as how decisions will be
influencers of where and how to
made regarding growth pressures at the
develop agritourism.
provincial level. The Land Use Framework
establishes seven land use regions and
It is important to remember that the Foothills
requires the development of a regional plan
is made up of 11 municipal jurisdictions,
for each region.
with four being part of the Calgary
Metropolitan Region Board. Four being part
SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN
of the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board:
REGIONAL PLAN
Foothills County, Town of High River, Town
of Okotoks, and Rocky View County. Every
The South Saskatchewan Regional Plan
municipal jurisdiction has its own municipal
is one of the seven regional plans that
development plan and subsequent sub-
establishes a long-term vision for the
plans and land use bylaws. This is important
South Saskatchewan Region, which
to consider when developing agritourism
includes the Foothills. The plan aligns
in the Foothills, as different policy and
provincial policies at the regional level and
regulatory frameworks will come into play
includes strategies for responsible energy
depending on the location of a potential
development, sustainable farming and
agritourism business. Below are some of
ranching, recreation, forest management,
the legal frameworks that will or currently
and nature-based tourism. Although
influence agritourism development in the
the plan does not identify agritourism
Foothills.
13specifically, it does identify tourism as a key including Section 3.1: Blueprint for Growth,
area of growth and opportunity. Additionally, Section 3.2: Economic Wellbeing, and 3.6:
it references objectives that could be An Amazing Quilt of Rural and Urban.
achieved through agritourism development.
This includes reducing the fragmentation Section 3.1: Blueprint for Growth
and conservation of agricultural land,
specifically recognizing that smaller parcels In Section 3.1.6.1, it states, “Municipalities
contribute to the diversification of the shall comply with the following locational
overall agricultural economy, particularly criteria when designating areas for
in the areas of local food, value-added placetypes: (a) employment areas should
production, and agricultural supporting only be located in preferred growth areas,
activities. except the following, which have no
locational criteria: i) resource extraction
CALGARY METROPOLITAN REGION and energy development; ii) agriculture-
GROWTH PLAN related business including processors,
producers, and other agri-business and
The Calgary Metropolitan Region Growth related accessory uses; and iii) home-
Plan (2021) is a policy framework for based business.” Since agritourism can
managing growth and implementing long- be considered a home-based business or
term goals for the Calgary Metropolitan an agriculture-related business including
Region. This includes future population processors, producers, and other agri-
and employment growth that reflect the business and related accessory uses,
aspirations for the Region. Pending the agritourism activities within these
approval by the Government of Alberta, parameters are not required to be in urban
the draft policy framework will guide future municipalities, hamlets growth areas, or
growth and development in the Foothills, joint planning areas. Instead, they can exist
including agritourism development. The in multiple locations within the municipality.
plan defines agri-tourism as, “tourism
that supports commercial agricultural Processors, in this plan, are defined
production at a working farm, ranch, or as, “Businesses that process (or
processing facility; tourism that generates transform) primary agricultural products
supplemental income for an agricultural into intermediary or final products for
producer; tourism related to activities that consumption (i.e. seed processors/
promote or market livestock and agricultural crushers, milling, slaughter houses, wool/
products such as fairs, market gardens and leather production, milk/cheese production,
rodeos.” In the plan there are three areas that food manufacturing, fibre production,
relate directly to agritourism development, preservation, packaging, etc.).”
14Producers, in this plan, are defined as, and sell locally produced food; and (d)
“Primary producers are ranchers and identify opportunities for agri-tourism, as
farmers, greenhouse operators, aqua- appropriate to the local scale and context.”
culturalists, beekeepers, and other Municipal jurisdictions are mandated to
individuals who create primary agricultural identify opportunities for agritourism
products via biological processes.” development, as well as develop policies
that will support a resilient and diversified
agricultural economy. This includes
Section 3.2: Economic Wellbeing supporting the growth of agribusinesses
and value-added agriculture and related
In Section 3.2.3: Agricultural Economy, industries, such as businesses with the
it sees agriculture playing an important potential for agritourism development.
cultural and economic role in large and
small communities across the Calgary Section 3.6: An Amazing Quilt of Rural and
Metropolitan Region. More specifically, Urban
it highlights the importance of having a
balance between conserving agricultural In Section 3.6: An Amazing Quilt of Rural
land and promoting other forms of economic and Urban, it mentions how the growth plan
development; in a manner that promotes will cultivate growth in a way that maintains
new land uses which are compatible with the rural, agricultural, and environmental
existing ones. Additionally, it recognizes characteristics of the rural area. It will
the importance of supporting value- focus most urban growth to higher density
added agriculture and related industries and mixed-use areas, including towns,
in proximity to producers as important for city centres, hamlet growth areas, and
supporting the agricultural industry. strategic joint planning areas. It identifies
this approach as benefiting all member
Subsection 3.2.3.1 states, “Municipal municipalities by promoting, enhancing,
Development Plans shall: (a) identify the role and supporting the common regional
that agriculture plays in the municipality and framework in two ways, with one pertaining
include policies to support a strong, resilient more to agritourism development.
and diversified agricultural economy; (b)
include policies to support growth of agri- Specifically, “offering lifestyles in rural
business and value-added agriculture places where people can live in nature,
and related industries, especially when hobby farm, keep horses for pleasure or
located in proximity to producers, as sport, or explore opportunities to generate
appropriate to the local scale and context; their own power, grow their own food,
(c) identify more opportunities to buy, share or operate a home-based business or a
15large agricultural operation.” Although Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26—
it does not have specific policies related must align with the South Saskatchewan
to celebrating the amazing quilt of rural Regional Plan.
and urban, this approach intersects within
the policies contained in the Growth Plan. In many cases,
Agritourism can be a catalyst to maintaining
municipal development plans
and offering lifestyles in rural places
and strategies do not explicitly
where people are able to live by having an
agritourism business on their property and
mention agritourism.
grow or raise their own food.
However, many do include terms and
reference activities that are connected to
INTERMUNICIPAL & MUNICIPAL
agritourism, such as local food production,
DEVELOPMENT PLANS
value-added agriculture, urban agriculture,
and farmers’ markets. Below are some
Each municipality has its own municipal
examples found in the Foothills.
or intermunicipal development plan. It is
a statutory policy document prepared by
Town of Turner Valley & Town of Black
a municipality and enforced by provincial
Diamond:
regulations. It outlines how growth
In the Joint Growth Strategy for the Towns
and development will be managed in
of Turner Valley + Black Diamond (2016),
a municipality. It also identifies how a
future development recommendations are
community will address immediate needs
included to “Build sustainable communities
and create long-term goals for guiding
by encouraging the following programs and
future development. An intermunicipal
planning techniques: agricultural urbanism
development plan is one that is prepared
and local food production to physically
collaboratively between two or more
and programmatically integrate a local
municipalities.
sustainable food culture and system into
the towns’ environment and communities,
Within the Foothills, the municipal
through programs such as: community
development plans of Rocky View County,
gardens, farmers markets, farm-to-table
Foothills County, the towns of Okotoks and
start-up, and educational events or school
High River, all need to align with the Calgary
programs.
Metropolitan Region Growth Plan. In
addition, the municipal development plans
Town of Nanton:
of these four jurisdictions—along with those
In the Town of Nanton Municipal
in the towns of Black Diamond, Turner Valley,
Development Plan (2019), two policies
Nanton, the Village of Longview, and the
concerning economic development
1617
relate to agritourism. The first focusses Town of Black Diamond:
on agriculture, specifically mentioning The Town of Black Diamond Land Use
supporting the production of primary Bylaw No. 98-14 (2007) identifies bed and
agricultural commodities and value-added breakfast accommodation as an activity
agriculture industries, as well as supporting that it defines as, “a principal dwelling where
locally produced food and food products sleeping accommodation with or without
to be consumed at home and exported to light meals is provided to members of the
all markets as a component to health and traveling public for remuneration.”54 It also
wellness. The second focusses on tourism, specifies requirements such as providing
and encourages businesses, volunteers, one (1) parking spot per rented room,
public service groups, and cultural amenities plus the number required for the dwelling,
oriented to Nanton’s tourism industry and to not employ any person other than
to work together and continue to define an occupant of the principal residential
Nanton as an Authentic Alberta experience. building in which the bed and breakfast
accommodation operation takes place.
LAND USE BYLAWS Town of Okotoks:
The Town of Okotoks Draft Land-use
Because land use bylaws are reflective of By-law (2021) mentions agritourism as
intermunicipal or municipal development an example of an activity permitted in
plans, most bylaws do not explicitly mention Agricultural & Land Holdings Districts. More
agritourism in the Foothills. However, specifically, it mentions that “agritourism
many do identify activities that can be can support local agriculture and economic
considered part of agritourism, such as bed development.” It also mentions agritourism
and breakfasts, guest ranches, farmers’ activities, including farmers’ markets,
markets, or lodging for example. Since farm gate sales and other farm-based
there is a vast array of land-use bylaws with businesses. Last, it identifies Agriculture-
different yet sometimes similar activities Urban zoning as “community oriented,
related to agritourism, it is important to small-scale agriculture including, (but not
collaborate among the different municipal limited to), community gardens, edible
jurisdictions to build awareness amongst landscaping, rooftop gardens. It excludes
industry members about the pathways Cannabis production. It may include keeping
available to develop agritourism activities of animal(s) in accordance with relevant
in different areas. Below are some examples municipal and/or provincial regulations.”
found within the Foothills.
18Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26: Foothills County:
The Municipal District of Willow Creek The Foothills County Land Use Bylaw
No. 26: Land use Bylaw No. 1826 (2020) (2019) identifies bed and breakfasts in its
identifies certain agritourism related uses bylaws. It specifically identifies this activity
as discretionary uses for rural zoning, such as a discretionary use within Agricultural
as bed and breakfasts, tourist homes, and Districts. It also mentions the maximum
guest ranches. It specifically defines a guest number of commercial accommodation
ranch as, “a ranch or resort in an agricultural units (4) and the maximum stay time (14
setting designed for vacationers offering days). Additionally, the bylaws identify
primarily lodging, horseback riding and Direct Control District #32 – Agricultural
other activities typical of western ranches.” Societies, which allows for, “the operation
of agricultural societies, and accessory
Town of Nanton: community recreational facilities providing
The Town of Nanton Land Use Bylaw services and facilities for the agricultural
1246-13 (2013) also identifies bed and related, recreational, tourism, or social
breakfast; breweries, distilleries, and needs of the community. This recognizes
wineries; markets; and market gardens as the need for the community associations
permissible activities. More specifically, and agricultural societies to operate
it defines a market as, “a development as a viable business thus allowing for a
indoors or outdoors which provides to multitude of uses accessory to the principal
vendors, stalls or other similarly restricted use of the site...” Some discretionary
areas for the demonstration of products uses as accessories to the primary use
and services, disposal and sale of goods, as an Agricultural Society include minor
wares or merchandise to the public, at a campground, cultural facilities, food service,
single location or premises, including but and public market.
not limited to farmers’ markets, flea markets,
craft shows or trade fairs.” Market gardens
are defined as “the growing of vegetables
or fruit for commercial purposes. This use
includes an area for the display and sale of
goods or produce grown or raised on site.”
19ENVIRONMENTAL
The landscape of a destination is one of Montane Cordillera, the Boreal Plains, and
its most prevalent features and can have a the Prairies Terrestrial Ecozones converge
significant impact on a visitor’s agritourism near the Foothills.
experience and satisfaction. Agricultural
landscapes reflect local cultures, traditions, Landscapes play a particularly defining role
and ways of living by illustrating how people in agritourism development as alterations
have altered the natural environment. to the landscape is needed for agricultural
Alberta is divided into 6 Natural Regions and production. In fact, many of UNESCO’s
Subregions. These are based on features cultural heritage landscape designations
such as soils, landscape patterns, and around the world feature unique agricultural
vegetation. The Foothills is in the “mixed landscapes, from terraced rice fields to
grassland” Natural Subregion. Over the last stone vineyard walls. These landscapes
century, much of Alberta’s grasslands have form part of the foodways of a place, which
been converted to agricultural land uses. include the who, what, where, why, and
how food is grown, produced, prepared,
The Foothills’ location in the Rocky and shared. Foodways also reflect the
Mountains-Prairie transition zone, means uniqueness of a place’s geographic
visitors do not need to travel far to witness landscape and the ingredients that can be
noticeable landscape changes in the area. grown there because of the unique terroirs.
In fact, the Foothills sits Conserving natural landscape features,
like mountain viewsheds or forest borders,
at the transition of three
can benefit agritourism development.
physiographic regions, the
These natural heritage features can also
Rocky Mountain Foothills, the help to anchor visitor activities to place. A
Southern Alberta Uplands, and key motivation for many rural tourists and
the Western Alberta Plains. agritourists is enjoying rural landscapes,
and this can happen through farm-stay
This makes the East-West corridor a experiences, participating in farm activities,
defining landscape feature since the area’s experiencing traditional hospitality, being
change in elevation impacts vegetation, close to farm animals, tasting farm-grown
wildlife, and weather patterns. Additionally, foods, viewing countryside scenes (e.g.,
this geographic diversity explains why the farmstead buildings/structures, cultural/
20natural landscape), and experiencing the It is important to consider the
living cultural heritage of rural life. Similarly, impact of climate change on
having healthy natural environments
agritourism development.
makes it easier to connect agritourism to
other activities that agritourists may be
interested in, including watching wildlife
Impacts such as flooding, severe storms,
and simply appreciating the natural
and other significant changes in weather
landscape. A key part of conserving the
patterns, as well as soil degradation and
integrity of natural and rural landscapes
erosion, will have an impact on what can be
is being mindful that there is a carrying
raised or grown in the Foothills. Agritourism
capacity to visitation. At a certain point,
development should consider integrating
too many cars, buses, and tourists detract
approaches and process that actively
from the “rural getaway” experience that
support healthy ecosystems, such as using
agritourists are seek.
renewable energy sources, encouraging
organic and regenerative farming, and
Agritourism activities are strongly
eliminating single use plastics from the
connected to the landscapes in which
visitor experience.
they take place, climate impact must be
considered.
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