Federal/Canada Lands Surveying Services
Calgary's Licensed Canada Lands Surveyor, Serving Treaty 7 Communities
15+ Years
of Canada Lands Surveying Experience
Trusted by
Lawyers, Realtors & Home Builders
Over 150
5-Star Reviews on Google!
Third Rock Geomatics is one of the few Calgary-based surveying firms with a licensed Canada Lands Surveyor (CLS) on staff. We provide professional survey services on First Nation reserve lands throughout the Calgary region and southern Alberta.
From boundary surveys to construction layout and everything in between, our team understands the federal survey framework and will deliver with the responsiveness your project requires
We have used and recommended Third Rock on countless occasions.
We find them to be attentive, thorough, having clear explanations, quick action, responsive and simply pleasant to work with.
Their communication is second to none when compared to other survey companies—essentially, they make the entire process easy and seamless.
John H,
5-Star Google Review
What Is Federal/Canada Lands Surveying?
First Nation reserve lands are administered under federal jurisdiction, not the Alberta provincial land titles system. Band councils and land management departments — not the Alberta Land Titles Office — oversee reserve land interests.
Any land-related activity on a reserve, from construction to leases, allotments, and transfers, may require a formal survey conducted by a licensed Canada Lands Surveyor (CLS) under the Canada Lands Surveys Act. A CLS is the only surveyor authorized to perform boundary and legal surveys on these lands.
The federal process involves additional steps that provincial surveys do not, including survey instructions issued by the Surveyor General of Canada and registration of completed plans in the Canada Lands Survey Records.
The surveyor you choose needs to understand this framework and the specific land management practices of the nation they’re working with.
When You Might Need a Federal Land Survey
Canada Lands surveying applies whenever a project or transaction involves reserve lands. Common scenarios include:
- Registering a land transaction such as an allotment, lease, sublease, or permit that must be formally recorded in a land registry.
- New construction or infrastructure development that requires layout surveys, boundary confirmation, or as-built documentation on reserve lands.
- Creating or updating a Real Property Report (RPR) for a property on reserve lands, similar to the RPRs required in Calgary-area real estate transactions.
- Subdividing or rezoning parcels on reserve lands, which requires survey plans prepared and registered under federal standards.
- Resolving boundary uncertainties or encroachments where existing survey evidence needs to be located, verified, or updated.
- Community planning and land management, including housing development, road surveys, utility corridors, and integration with geographic information systems (GIS).
If your project involves First Nation reserve lands near Calgary, a licensed Canada Lands Surveyor is required for any cadastral or legal survey work.
Mohkínstsis (Calgary) Is Our Home
Calgary sits where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet, a place of confluence known in the Blackfoot language as Mohkínstsis.
We acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Îethka Nakoda Wîcastabi First Nations, and the Tsuut’ina Nation.
Why Choose Third Rock for Canada Lands Surveying?
Licensed ALS and CLS on Staff
Our team includes Aman Sidhu, a licensed Alberta Land Surveyor (ALS) and Canada Lands Surveyor (CLS) with over 15 years of experience across Alberta and British Columbia.
Holding both designations means we can work seamlessly across provincial and federal land, providing a single point of contact whether your project involves reserve lands, adjacent provincial lands, or both.
Deep Knowledge of Calgary-Area Nations
We serve First Nation communities within the Calgary region, including Siksika Nation, Tsuut’ina Nation, and Stoney Nakoda Nation.
We understand that each nation has its own land management practices and administrative requirements, and we work within those frameworks.
Responsive, Calgary-Based Service
All three nations we currently serve are within day-trip distance of our Calgary office. That means efficient fieldwork, responsive communication, and lower logistical costs..
A Canada Lands Surveyor from any province can legally work on any reserve in Canada, but proximity matters. Being local allows us to mobilize quickly, respond to questions in real time, and stay engaged throughout the project without the overhead of extended travel.
Our Canada Lands Surveying Process
1) Initial Contact
Reach out via our website, phone, or email to tell us about your project.
We’ll discuss the scope of work, the nation and reserve involved, and any relevant background information.
2) Quotation
We’ll provide a detailed quote outlining the scope of work and associated costs for your review and approval.
Once approved, we’ll send a confirmation email along with an invoice.
3) Coordination & Approvals
Before fieldwork can begin, your organization will coordinate access permits with the First Nation’s administration for our field crew and vehicles.
On our end, we obtain formal survey instructions from the Surveyor General of Canada as required for all cadastral surveys on Canada Lands.
4) Fieldwork
Our survey crew will visit the site, introduce themselves, and carry out the necessary survey.
Physical monuments such as iron posts and markers will be placed as required.
5) Report Creation
We process the survey data and draft your documentation, whether a plan of survey, an RPR, or another deliverable.
All work undergoes thorough quality review before being signed and finalized.
6) Delivery & Registration
We deliver your completed documents and submit the plan of survey to the Surveyor General Branch for approval and recording in the Canada Lands Survey Records.
Where the nation maintains its own registry, we coordinate that submission as well.
*Our quotes cover all necessary aspects of the requested survey and documentation.
Additional services may incur extra charges.
Canada Lands Surveying Services We Provide
Real Property Reports
We deliver accurate RPRs on reserve lands, documenting boundaries, structures, and improvements for land transactions and mortgage purposes.
Subdivision Surveys
We prepare plans of survey for subdivisions on reserve lands, from planning through registration with the applicable authorities.
Construction Surveying
We provide construction layout and ongoing survey support for housing, infrastructure, and development projects on reserve lands.
Development Permit Surveys
We conduct surveys and prepare documentation to support DP applications on lands with permit-based land management frameworks.
Topographical Surveys
We provide detailed topographical surveys on reserve lands, mapping elevations, contours, and existing features to support project planning.
The Land Surveyor’s Opinion
We offer additional consultation services, including interpretation of existing survey plans, boundary assessments, and land-use advisory on reserve lands.
Your Land, Our Expertise
With Calgary-based Canada Lands Surveying expertise, Third Rock is ready to support the Treaty 7 communities we serve with the same care, precision, and responsiveness we bring to every project.
Tell us about your project, and we’ll provide a clear path forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada Lands Surveying Different From Provincial Land Surveying?
Yes. Provincial land surveyors (such as an Alberta Land Surveyor) are licensed to perform cadastral surveys within their province, while a Canada Lands Surveyor holds a separate federal designation under the Canada Lands Surveys Act and is the only surveyor authorized to perform legal surveys on Canada Lands, including First Nation reserve lands, national parks, and the northern territories.
The two designations are complementary, not interchangeable.
What Types of Surveys Can Be Completed on Canada Lands?
A Canada Lands Surveyor can provide plans of survey for land transactions (e.g., allotments, leases, permits), boundary markouts, construction layout surveys, topographic surveys, Real Property Reports, as-built surveys, and boundary integration with geographic information systems.
The type of survey depends on the project and the applicable land management framework.
Do First Nation Reserves Require a Canada Lands Surveyor?
Yes. First Nation reserve lands are administered under federal jurisdiction, not the provincial land titles system. Cadastral surveys — meaning any survey that defines or establishes boundaries for a legal purpose — must be performed by a licensed CLS.
The completed plans are submitted to the Surveyor General for approval and recorded in the Canada Lands Survey Records.
Can Third Rock Complete Surveys on First Nation Reserves?
Yes. With a licensed Canada Lands Surveyor on staff, Third Rock provides professional survey services on First Nation reserve lands in the Calgary region, including Siksika Nation, Tsuut’ina Nation, and Stoney Nakoda Nation.
We offer the same range of services on reserve lands that we deliver across Calgary.
How Do I Know If My Property Is Considered Canada Lands?
Canada Lands include First Nation reserves, national parks, the three northern territories, and certain other federal Crown lands as defined in the Canada Lands Surveys Act. If your property or project is located on a First Nation reserve, it is Canada Lands and requires a CLS for any legal survey work.
If you are unsure, contact us, and we can help you determine the land classification.
Who Can Perform a Canada Lands Survey?
Only a surveyor licensed by the Association of Canada Lands Surveyors (ACLS) can perform cadastral surveys on Canada Lands. Provincial land surveyors can apply to the ACLS to obtain a CLS licence.
A CLS from any province can work on any First Nation reserve in Canada, though proximity to the project site is a practical consideration for efficiency and cost.
The information on this page is intended as a general overview of Canada Lands surveying services and should not be taken as legal advice. Land management practices and requirements vary by nation and may change over time.
For questions about specific land transactions or legal requirements on reserve lands, we recommend speaking with your land manager, legal counsel, or the relevant First Nation’s lands department.