Generations of Tradition - Waterton’s Family Businesses
2026 marks my 50th year living in Waterton Lakes National Park. I married into a generational Business family (my husband is the 4th generation to operate Tamarack Outdoors) and have happily lived a huge portion of my life in this beautiful place. The story here is not just about me, but rather the many generational businesses that are part of the history and culture of Waterton since it became Canada’s 4th national Park!
The actual community of Waterton is very small. Most people come to work here for the 3-6 month season that includes the summer season. Many cottage families move in for the summer, too. There are approximately 130 residential dwellings and Business staff accommodations for as many as 300-400. Everything is intertwined. The businesses (including Parks Canada) need employees, the cottage community often provides quite a few of these employees and the cycle continues.
Most of the businesses in Waterton are owner operated small businesses. Many of these are run by generational family members who have made a lifestyle out of working hard in the summer and downsizing or even shutting down in the winter months. It has definitely created an interesting community. Everybody knows everybody. And that's another angle to this story! Unlike our sister parks in the US, the Canadian national parks all have at least a small visitor centre inside their boundaries. Waterton is the smallest community in the rocky mountain parks. Summer population is probably 500 people. And even though we have fewer services here than there were when my children were growing up, there's still about 35 people who call Waterton home in the winter. A post office, two hotels with restaurants, a food takeout place on weekends, and a post office! Winter in Waterton!
It’s a great place to live year round even though we experience many extremes in our winter weather. The Waterton area is the warmest part of Alberta in the winter and we get the most snow here too! But we also get the full force of warming Pacific trade winds (called Chinooks) and frequent massive overnight snow falls of as much as a meter! Never a dull moment!
I consider snow shovelling to be part of my fitness routine. As the winter season fades, we will begin to see many business people returning for the season and their first action will probably be digging out some part of their building that's blocked in by snow drifts. Everyone knows what to expect.
So when you come to visit our quaint little village, just remember that the person that you bought that coffee from, the guy behind the till in the gas station, the lady at the box office at the movie theatre, the host at the restaurant, are all very likely part of the family of the owners of the business! Say hi, ask for their story, enjoy what they can share about their Waterton!
We're happy you're here!
Written by Lauren Baker, who still works a short shift every day at the Tamarack! Stop in to introduce yourself! She loves to visit :)