History

Recent History of Wagner Natural Area

Thanks to the efforts of several interested groups and people, in 1971 the Alberta Government, acting in concert with individuals and fund granting bodies, purchased the north half of section 7, township 53, range 26, west of the 4th meridian, from local farmer Mr. William Wagner.
 
In July of 1975 the Alberta Government declared these 320 acres a Natural Area, administered by the Natural Areas Program of the then Public Lands Division of the Alberta Department of Energy and Natural Resources.  Over the years, the Alberta Government has purchased additional plots of land, contiguous with the original 320 acre property.

On July 27, 2004, Lieutenant Governor Lois Hole signed an Order in Council, consolidating these various plots of land into a parcel of approximately 540 acres.
 
Wagner Natural Area was the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s first project in Alberta.  The Conservancy has remained strongly interested in the Natural Area over the years, naming Wagner Natural Area one of the Conservancy’s Gifts to the Nation in 2006.  Also in 2006 the Conservancy was instrumental in the purchase of 80 acres of land immediately south of the Natural Area and now owns that property.