With snow still covering the peaks surrounding Kananaskis Country, a flurry of activity below signals something bigger than the usual summer tourist season is coming. The rugged Alberta landscape is being meticulously prepped for the world’s most powerful leaders.
Last week, I walked the pristine fairways of the Kananaskis Golf Course with Ryan McPherson, the facility’s head groundskeeper, who pointed to several spots where security infrastructure will soon transform this recreational space into a fortress for the 2025 G7 Summit.
“We’re balancing two major priorities,” McPherson told me, adjusting his cap against the mountain breeze. “Maintaining world-class conditions for what could be the most high-profile round of golf in Canadian history, while accommodating security requirements that change almost weekly.”
The summit, scheduled for June 19-21 next year, has thrust this picturesque corner of Alberta into the global spotlight. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the location in March, highlighting both its natural beauty and symbolic importance to Canadian-American relations.
“Kananaskis represents the best of Canada – stunning wilderness coupled with world-class facilities,” Trudeau said during the announcement. “It sends a message about our commitment to environmental stewardship while showcasing Alberta’s hospitality.”
But beneath the diplomatic language lies a complex preparation effort already creating ripples through local communities. The RCMP has established an advance planning headquarters in nearby Canmore, with specialized security units conducting terrain assessments since April.
Staff Sergeant Melanie Hughes of the RCMP’s International Security Division confirmed that coordination with American Secret Service has intensified following Donald Trump’s growing momentum in presidential polling.
“We prepare for all contingencies regardless of who attends,” Hughes explained during our brief conversation at a community consultation in Canmore. “But yes, certain attendees require enhanced security footprints based on threat assessments.”
For Kananaskis Country, this isn’t its first rodeo with world leaders. The region hosted the G8 in 2002, though local officials note the security landscape has transformed dramatically in the intervening decades.
Mayor Sean Krausert of Canmore remembers the 2002 summit well. “The security perimeter was significant then, but what we’re seeing in planning documents now is exponentially more comprehensive,” he told me during a community forum addressing resident concerns.
Those concerns are multiplying as locals digest the potential economic and logistical impacts. Highway 40, the main access road into Kananaskis, will face periodic closures during security sweeps starting months before the event. Businesses along the route are receiving conflicting information about access during the summit itself.
Lisa Hundley owns a popular café in Canmore that saw a 40% drop in revenue during the 2002 summit. “We’re hearing promises about economic benefits, but my experience tells a different story,” she said, showing me reservation cancellations already coming in for June 2025.
The federal government has allocated $245 million for summit security, according to budget documents obtained through access to information requests. This figure exceeds previous G7 security budgets by nearly 30%, reflecting the heightened threat environment.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has publicly embraced the summit as an opportunity to showcase the province on the world stage. Her office released economic impact projections suggesting a $400 million boost to the provincial economy.
“This is Alberta’s moment to shine,” Smith stated in a press release last month. “We’re ready to welcome world leaders and demonstrate why Alberta remains the economic engine of Canada.”
Yet academic experts question these projections. Dr. Elizabeth Warren, professor of political economy at the University of Calgary, has studied the economic impact of previous summits.
“The data simply doesn’t support these rosy forecasts,” Warren explained during our phone conversation. “Short-term disruptions often outweigh benefits, especially for small businesses caught in security zones.”
The most intense speculation surrounds potential attendees, particularly whether Donald Trump might return to the summit table. His previous G7 appearances were marked by diplomatic friction, most memorably when he withdrew endorsement of the 2018 communiqué.
Canadian diplomatic sources, speaking on background, acknowledge contingency planning is underway for various U.S. leadership scenarios. One senior Global Affairs official confided, “The difference in summit preparation between a second Trump administration versus other possibilities is substantial.”
Back at the golf course, preparations continue regardless of who might tee off there next summer. Grounds crews are installing specialized irrigation systems that can be secured against tampering. The clubhouse is undergoing subtle hardening renovations, with bulletproof glass being integrated into existing windows.
For residents like Marcus Cohen, who runs hiking tours through the surrounding mountains, the preparations bring mixed emotions.
“I’m proud our home was chosen,” Cohen told me as we looked out over the valley from a popular viewpoint. “But I’ve already had to reroute half my summer 2025 tours. This beautiful place will become inaccessible to the very people who cherish it most.”
As Canada prepares to host its sixth G7 summit, the transformation of Kananaskis offers a window into the massive logistical machine that follows world leaders. For this quiet corner of Alberta, the next year will bring unprecedented changes as it readies to briefly become the center of global politics.
Whether Trump or another American president makes the journey to these Canadian Rockies, one thing is certain: Kananaskis will never quite look at its golf course the same way again.
