The Iron Horse Trail and regional tourism growth were among the topics discussed during the May 25 Town of St. Paul council meeting, with councillors highlighting the community’s position as a key stop for visitors travelling through northeastern Alberta.

One discussion focused on concerns raised by trail users regarding the lack of secure overnight parking for vehicles and trailers while visitors stay at local hotels or campgrounds.

Council explored options to address the issue in the future, including creating secure storage areas near the Iron Horse Campground. Ideas such as using shipping containers for temporary storage were mentioned during discussion, though councillors also raised questions about appearance, logistics and long-term feasibility.

While no immediate funding has been allocated for the project, the council acknowledged the concern as part of broader efforts to improve the visitor experience for trail users.

The discussion later shifted toward regional tourism strategy and the growing use of the “Travel Lakeland” branding approach to help unify tourism promotion across multiple communities.

Councillors spoke about the importance of municipalities working together regionally rather than competing individually when attracting visitors to the area.

The Iron Horse Trail was highlighted as one of St. Paul’s major tourism assets, particularly because the trail runs directly through town and allows ATV and snowmobile users to access local businesses, restaurants and services without leaving the trail system.

Council noted that St. Paul’s central location within the region also remains a significant advantage for attracting visitors and supporting tourism-related economic activity.

The conversation reflected broader regional efforts currently underway to strengthen tourism promotion, improve visitor experiences and encourage travellers to spend more time throughout the Lakeland region.