A Recreation & Tourism Concept Plan for the Arctic Water Route

Phase 2: Fort McMurray to Fort Chipewyan to Fort Smith

In partnership with McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd., the Legacy Group has been contracted by the Alberta Government to provide the second phase of the Athabasca River project, which follows the Phase I work completed earlier by LTG and Stantec. This work will create a tourism concept plan for the lower section of the Athabasca River from Fort McMurray to Fort Smith. LTG is focussing its efforts on the market feasibility review, as well as on-river fieldwork including the river evaluation and classification work in the report.

Winter/Spring 2017 – Jim DeHart and Rod Taylor will be identifying significant recreation, tourism, historical and cultural features along the river including a technical assessment of all class II or higher rapids; evaluating the condition and sustainability of existing recreation and tourism features; determining the recreation and tourism experiences that the features and settings can provide visitors; identifying target markets and market demands; identifying gaps between the current recreation and tourism experiences on offer and the market expectations; highlighting potential options and scenarios to address the gaps and market the river’s features; identifying land use, environmental and other constraints to the development of the water route associated with the lower Athabasca River and Upper Slave River; determining potential resource development effects on river-based recreation and tourism opportunities and determining the order of magnitude costing of proposed infrastructure.