Sagitawah RV Park, located in western Whitecourt near Highway 43, received approval from the Whitecourt town council to operate year-round for the next year, despite a request for a five-year exemption. The decision was made during the council’s regular meeting on November 12, following deliberations on the park’s flood risks and operational history.
The exemption allows Sagitawah RV Park to remain operational through May 14, 2025, before its regular season resumes on May 15.
Under its current permit, Sagitawah RV Park is authorized to operate seasonally from May 15 to October 15 each year. Senior Development Officer Kerina Sorochan informed the council that flood risks restricted winter operations, citing a June 2023 evacuation as the most recent incident.
According to an article published by Whitecourt Star, Sorochan noted that from 2018 to 2024, the park had been granted permit exemptions allowing winter operations. Prior to that, between 2000 and 2016, the park was not permitted to operate year-round due to flood hazards and inadequate fire protection.
The park submitted a new application for year-round operations on September 30. Sorochan reported that consultations with agencies, including the Whitecourt Fire Department, revealed concerns over emergency access through narrow tree-lined routes.
Alberta Parks raised issues about potential long-term habitation if year-round operations continued. The council approved the one-year exemption with conditions. These include ensuring adequate access for emergency vehicles, limiting customer stays to 60 days, and requiring the park to handle any evacuations. Additionally, 18 of the park’s 95 sites will remain closed without a new permit.
Councilor Paul Chauvet also expressed concern about unresolved conditions dating back to the park’s original 1991 permit. However, the motion for the one-year exemption, introduced by Councillor Bill McAree, passed unopposed. All councilors were present except for Derek Schlosser.
