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Priced Out of Rent, Some Canmore Workers Are Moving Into Their Vans
With one-bedroom rents averaging $2,300 in the Alberta mountain town, a town-run overnight parking program is nearing capacity as more workers trade leases for life on wheels
Published: July 19, 2026
In Canmore, Alberta, a growing number of workers are giving up on renting altogether and moving into vans instead. The town runs an overnight parking program called Safe Park that offers 50 stalls, a portable toilet, security patrols and shower access for people living in their vehicles, and organizers say demand is once again approaching full capacity after new eligibility rules aimed at prioritizing local workers. One river rafting guide who moved into his van after losing his apartment says shared rooms in Canmore can run about $1,000 a month, making van life the more practical option. According to Canmore Community Housing, the average one-bedroom rental now costs about $2,300 a month, while the Safe Park program itself costs just $350 for the entire summer. Some participants say they would prefer a conventional home but simply cannot find an affordable one, while others have embraced van living by choice, turning it into a full-time lifestyle complete with renovated kitchens, heating and plumbing.
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