11/24/2025
Recently, videos posted to social media showed an individual flying a drone in Waterton Lakes National Park, Banff National Park, and other protected areas.
Following an investigation by Parks Canada and a ruling by the Alberta Court of Justice, the individual has been ordered to comply with the following court-imposed conditions:
▪️Pay a $2,500 fine for taking off and landing a drone in Waterton Lakes National Park
▪️Pay a $2,500 fine for taking off and landing a drone in Banff National Park
▪️Make a $500 donation to the Lethbridge Polytechnic Conservation Enforcement Degree Program
▪️Make a $500 donation to the Lethbridge Polytechnic Natural Resource Enforcement Diploma Program
▪️A one-year ban from visiting Waterton Lakes National Park
▪️Remove all social media content depicting illegal drone use in national parks and refrain from creating or uploading such content in the future
▪️Publish a public educational post informing viewers about drone regulations in national parks
Flying drones in national parks is strictly prohibited.
Park Wardens issue charges not only for operating a drone within national parks at the time of the incident, but also as a result of investigations into posted online content.
Drones interfere with park operations. They cause serious problems for essential park operations like search and rescue missions, firefighting, and more. Help to protect wildlife, respect other visitors and preserve natural soundscapes - leave your drone at home!
Report any illegal drone activity to Parks Dispatch 1-888-927-3367.
Know the rules and regulations for the park: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/waterton/visit/regles-rules