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Canmore
is located on the beautiful Bow River just 100 kilometers
(66 miles) west of Calgary, Alberta.
The
town of Canmore sits at the east entrance to Banff National
Park, a World Heritage Site, and just 15 minutes drive to
the town of Banff. The incredible beauty of Kananaskis Country,
Alberta’s most significant Provincial Mountain Park
system, borders us on the south and east. See Recreational
Activities for more on this pristine park.
 Canmore
occupies the montane zone on the lower slopes of the Bow
Valley and has unusually mild winter weather due to frequent
warm Chinook winds that drift into the valley from the Pacific
coast. It is the ideal winter climate for downhill and cross
country skiing and the moderate summer weather is perfect
for golfing, hiking, fishing and mountain biking, to name
just a few of the outdoor pursuits available to residents
and visitors.
The
setting is awe inspiring with towering mountains acting
as guardians over this small town in the river valley. Access
is easy with the Calgary International Airport just an hours
drive away on  the
scenic Trans Canada Highway. The Town of Canmore was settled
in 1883 during the building of the Canadian Pacific Railroad,
thanks to the abundance of high quality steam coal nearby
and grew steadily to a population of 450 in 1888. The last
coal mine closed in 1979 when the workings were sealed and
the land reclaimed. However, the miners, trappers and early
explorers were not the first to visit the Bow Valley. Early
evidence of campsites and pictographs on nearby canyon walls
attest to native occupation of the valley dating back thousands
of years. Native tribes from the foothills and plains used
the mountain passes to trade with other groups  to
the west. Interestingly enough, Canmore was part of Banff
National Park from 1902 until 1930 and continued as a game
reserve until 1956. In the last two decades, Canmore has
become home to many people seeking a quieter more relaxed
life style. It has also become a destination choice for
many visitors to the Canadian Rockies. The present population
of Canmore stands at approximately 11,500 full-time residents
and 3,700 part-time or recreational homeowners.
Canmore
came into worldwide prominence during the 1988 Calgary Winter
Olympics when we hosted the Nordic ski events at the newly
developed Canmore Nordic Centre. This fantastic facility
features over 70km of trails winding through forested bench
land above the Bow River, trails that in the summer are
taken over by hikers and mountain bikers.
The
citizens of Canmore are made up of a diverse mix of cultures,
age groups and occupations. The common thread is our love
of the small town atmosphere, our pristine environment and
most of all, the quality of life this brings to our residents
and visitors. We are proud of our heritage and our mining
history, a record of which can be leisurely viewed at the
Canmore Museum and Geosciences Centre. The local arts community
is a vibrant one with their work in evidence in the many
local galleries and shops. There is fun for everyone here
and the summers are packed with festivals and special mountain
events.
Wildlife
in the Bow Valley abounds, with Elk, Mountain Sheep, Deer,
Black Bears, Cougars, Coyotes and many other species making
the valley their home. As a significant number of residents
and visitors also share this grand natural space, much research,
thought and action have gone into making this coexistence
a workable reality. Hundreds of acres of wildlife habitat
and movement corridors have been set-aside as conservation
areas in order to help maintain a healthy ecosystem. The
same sense of stewardship is also being applied to preserving
the integrity of the Bow River, which flows south from the
Bow Glacier, through Lake Louise, Banff, Canmore, and Calgary.
The Bow River is one of the premium trout fishing rivers
in the country and we want to keep it that way.
Come
and see for yourself.
Check
out our Useful
Links page for more information
About Canmore | About Banff | Geographical Information
Recreational Information | Local Area Maps |
