Living in the Pass

The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass was established by the amalgamation of all the towns, villages and hamlets in the Crowsnest Valley into one unified government as of January 1, 1979. The municipality has a population of 5,749 (in 2006).

Located about 250 km southwest of Calgary and 140 km west of Lethbridge the valley connects Alberta and British Columbia via Highway #3 and the Canadian Pacific Railway through Crowsnest Pass, the lowest of the three main Alberta passes over the continental divide. The municipaility is listed at an elevation of 1,320 metres (4,329 feet) and occupies about 373 square kilometres.

The dominant climate region is cordilleran prairie with an average high and low summer temperature of 18.9 and 5.1 degrees Centigrade. The average winter high and low tempertaure is -0.2 and -11.3 degrees Centigrade. Annual precipitation is 440 millimetres with 210 millimetres falling in May through August. For gardeners, the valley and neighbouring area is considered a Zone 3 region.