Banff National Park
Banff National Park is a
Canadian National Park located in the
Canadian Rockies that covers
6,641 square kilometres (2,564 square miles). Established in 1885, it was the first area in Canada to be designated a national park. The park is located in the province of
Alberta, 120 to 200 kilometres (80 to 120 miles) west of
Calgary, and includes the town of
Banff in the
Bow River valley.
Banff National Park has towering mountain peaks, hundreds of lakes, numerous large
icefields and
glaciers, as well as more than a dozen rivers and streams. Dense
coniferous forests provide habitat for hundreds of species of mammals, birds, and other animals, including a few species that are
threatened.
The scenic
Icefields Parkway spans the length of the park, following the
Bow Valley and connecting to
Jasper National Park in the north. Provincial forests and
Yoho National Park are neighbors to the west. Mountain climbing, cross country skiing, camping and hiking along some of the
1,600 kilometres (1,000 miles) of trails are popular recreational opportunities enjoyed by tourists.
Throughout its history, Banff National Park has been shaped by tension between
conservation and
development interests. Banff National Park was established in 1885, in response to conflicting claims over who discovered
hot springs there, and who had the right to develop the hot springs for commercial interests. Instead, prime minister
John A. MacDonald set aside the hot springs as a small protected reserve, which was later expanded to include
Lake Louise, and other areas spanning north to the
Columbia Icefields.
Early history
Archaeological evidence found at
Vermillion Lakes, dates the first human activity in Banff to 10,300 B.P.
Prior to European contact,
aboriginals, including the
Stoneys,
Kootenay,
Tsuu T'ina,
Kainai,
Peigans, and
Siksika, were common in the region
where they hunted
bison and other
game.
Early explorers in the Canadian Rockies included
David Thompson and
Duncan McGillivray, who travelled up
Bow River and reached Banff in 1800. Thompson continued explorations of the Canadian Rockies, including areas west of
Rocky Mountain House in 1807, and through the
Athabasca Pass in 1811.
Other early explorers include Sir
George Simpson and Father
Pierre-Jean De Smet. In the 1850s, the
Palliser Expedition was authorized by the Government of
Great Britain to explore the
North-West Territory and explore possible routes to build a
railroad across the Canadian Rockies. This expedition was led by
John Palliser, who was accompanied by Dr.
James Hector,
Thomas Blakiston,
Eugene Bourgeau, and
John W. Sullivan.
Later in the 1800s,
Walter Wilcox and
R.L. Barrett reached the Columbia Icefield.
With the admission of
British Columbia to Canada on
July 20,
1871, Canada agreed to build a
transcontinental railroad. Construction of the railroad began in 1875, with
Kicking Horse Pass chosen, over the more northerly
Yellowhead Pass, as the route through the Canadian Rockies.
Ten years later, the last spike was driven in
Craigellachie, British Columbia.
Rocky Mountains Park established
With conflicting claims over discovery of
hot springs in Banff, Prime Minister John A. Macdonald decided to set aside a small reserve of 26 km² (10 mi²) around the hot springs at
Cave and Basin as a public park in 1885. Under the
Rocky Mountains Park Act, enacted on
23 June 1887, the park was expanded to 674 km² (260 mi²}
and named
Rocky Mountains Park. This was Canada's first
national park, and the second established in
North America, after
Yellowstone National Park. The Canadian Pacific Railway built the
Banff Springs Hotel and
Chateau Lake Louise to attract tourists and increase the number of rail passengers.
In 1902, the park was expanded to cover 11,400 km² (4,402 mi²), encompassing areas around Lake Louise, and the
Bow,
Red Deer,
Kananaskis, and
Spray Rivers. Bowing to pressure from
grazing and
logging interests, the size of the park was reduced in 1911 to 4,663 km² (1,800 mi²), eliminating many foothills areas from the park.
|
Banff Springs Hotel, 1902. |
The size of the park increased again in 1917 to 7,127 km² (2,752 mi²), and subsequently changed boundaries several more times.
In 1930, the size of Banff was fixed at 6,697 km² (2,586 mi²), with the passage of the
National Parks Act, and the park was renamed
Banff National Park. Banff took its name from the
Canadian Pacific Railway station, which was named after the
Banffshire region in
Scotland.
With the construction of a new east gate in 1933, Alberta transferred 0.84 km² to the park. This, along with other minor changes in the park boundaries in 1949, set the area of the park at 6,641 km² (2,564 mi²).
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Canadian Pacific Railway advertising brochure, highlighting Mount Assiniboine and Banff scenery. (c. 1917) |
Early on, Banff was popular with wealthy
European tourists who arrived in Canada, via trans-Atlantic
luxury liner and continued westward on the
railroad,
as well as upper-class American and Canadian tourists. Some visitors participated in
mountaineering activities, often hiring local
guides.
Tom Wilson, along with Jim and Bill Brewster, were among the first outfitters in Banff. The
Alpine Club of Canada, established in 1906 by
Arthur Oliver Wheeler and
Elizabeth Parker, organized
climbs and camps in the backcountry.
By 1911, Banff was accessible by
automobile from Calgary. Beginning in 1916, the Brewsters offered
motorcoach tours of Banff.
In 1920, access to Lake Louise by road was available, and the Banff-Windermere Road opened in 1923 to connect Banff with
British Columbia.
In 1887,
aboriginals signed
Treaty 7, which gave Canada rights to explore the land for resources. At the beginning of the twentieth century,
coal was
mined near
Lake Minnewanka in Banff. For a brief period, a mine operated at Anthracite, but was shut down in 1904. The
Bankhead mine, at
Cascade Mountain, was operated by Canadian Pacific Railway from 1903 to 1922. In 1926, the town was dismantled with many buildings moved to the town of Banff and elsewhere.
Prison and work camps
During
World War I, immigrants from
Austria,
Hungary,
Germany, and
Ukraine were sent to Banff to work in
internment camps. Initially, the camp was located at
Castle Mountain. During winter, camp was moved to Cave and Basin. Much early infrastructure and road was done by
Slavic Canadian internees since it was illegal for enemy
prisoners of war to do forced labour under the
Geneva Convention.
|
Castle Mountain internment camp (1915). |
In 1931, the
Government of Canada enacted the
Unemployment and Farm Relief Act which provided
public works projects in the
national parks during the
Great Depression. In Banff, workers constructed a new bathhouse and pool at
Upper Hot Springs, to supplement Cave and Basin. Other projects involved road building in the park, tasks around the Banff townsite, and construction of a highway connecting Banff and
Jasper.
In 1934, the
Public Works Construction Act was passed, providing continued funding for the public works projects mainly in Alberta. New projects included construction of a new registration facility at Banff's east gate, and construction of an administrative building in Banff. By 1940, the Icefields Parkway reached the Columbia Icefield area of Banff, and connected Banff and Jasper.
were once again set up in Banff during
World War II, with camps stationed at Lake Louise,
Stoney Creek, and
Healy Creek. Prison camps were largely comprised of
Mennonites from
Saskatchewan.
camps were not stationed in Banff during World War II, but rather were located in
Jasper National Park where they worked on the
Yellowhead Highway and other projects.
Winter tourism
Winter tourism in Banff began in February 1917, with the first Banff Winter Carnival. The carnival featured a large ice palace, which in 1917 was built by internees. Carnival events included
cross-country skiing,
ski jumping,
curling,
snowshoe, and
skijoring.
In the 1930s, the first
downhill ski resort,
Sunshine Village, was developed by the Brewsters.
Mount Norquay ski area was also developed during the 1930s, with the first
chair lift installed there in 1948.
Since 1968, when Banff Springs Hotel was winterized, Banff has been a year-round destination.
In the 1960s, the Trans-Canada Highway was constructed, providing another transportation corridor through the Bow Valley, in addition to the Bow Valley Parkway, making the park more accessible. Also in the 1960s,
Calgary International Airport was built.
Canada launched several bids to host the
Winter Olympics in Banff, with the first bid for the
1964 Winter Olympics which were eventually awarded to
Innsbruck, Austria. Canada narrowly lost a second bid, for the
1968 Winter Olympics, which were awarded to
Grenoble, France. Once again, Banff launched a bid to host the
1972 Winter Olympics, with plans to hold the Olympics at Lake Louise. The 1972 bid was most controversial, as the environmental lobby groups provided strong opposition to the bid, which had sponsorship from
Imperial Oil.
Bowing to pressure,
Jean Chrétien, then the head of Parks Canada, withdrew support for the bid, which was eventually lost to
Sapporo,
Japan. Banff went on to host several events when nearby Calgary was awarded the
1988 Winter OlympicsConservation
Since the original Rocky Mountains Park Act, subsequent acts and policies placed greater emphasis on conservation. With public sentiment tending towards enviromentalism,
Parks Canada issued major new policy in 1979, which emphasized conservation. The National Parks Act was amended in 1988, which made preserving
ecological integrity a top priority. The act also required each park to produce a management plan, with greater public participation.
In 1984, Banff was declared a
UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with the other national and
provincial parks that form the
Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, for the mountain landscapes containing mountain peaks, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls,
canyons and limestone caves as well as
fossils found here. With this designation came added obligations for conservation.
During the 1980s, Parks Canada moved to privatize many park services such as golf courses, and added user fees for use of other facilities and services to help deal with budget cuts. In 1990, the
Town of Banff was
incorporated, giving local residents more say regarding any proposed developments.
In the 1990s, development plans for the park, including expansion at Sunshine Village, were under fire with lawsuits filed by
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS). In the mid-1990s, the Banff-Bow Valley Study was initiated to find ways to better address environmental concerns, and issues relating to development in the park.
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Map of Banff National Park |
Banff National Park is located on Alberta's western border with British Columbia. Banff is about an hour and half driving distance from Calgary, and four hours from
Edmonton. Jasper National Park is located to the north, while Yoho National Park is to the west, and
Kootenay National Park is to the south.
Kananaskis Country, which includes
Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park,
Spray Valley Provincial Park, and
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, is located to the south and east of Banff.
The
Trans-Canada Highway passes through Banff National Park, from eastern boundary near
Canmore, through the towns of Banff and Lake Louise, and into Yoho National Park in British Columbia. The Banff townsite is the main commercial center in the national park. The village of Lake Louise is located at the junction of the Trans-Canada Highway and the Icefields Parkway, which extends north to the Jasper townsite.
Town of Banff
The town of Banff, established in 1883, is the main commercial center in Banff National Park, as well as a center for cultural activities. Banff is home to several cultural institutions, including the
Banff Centre, the
Whyte Museum, the
Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum,
Cave and Basin National Historic Site, and several
art galleries. Throughout its history, Banff has hosted many annual events, including Banff Indian Days which began in 1889, and the Banff Winter Carnival. Since 1976, The Banff Center has organized the
Banff Mountain Film Festival. In 1990, the town was incorporated as a municipality of Alberta, though still subject to the
National Parks Act and federal authority in regards to planning and development.
As of the 2005
census, the town of Banff has a population of 8,352, of which nearly 7,000 are permanent residents.
The Bow River flows through the town of Banff, with the
Bow Falls located on the outskirts of town.
Lake Louise
Lake Louise, a small village located 54 km (32 mi) west of the Banff townsite, is home to the landmark
Chateau Lake Louise at the edge of Lake Louise. Located 15 km (9.3 mi) from Lake Louise,
Moraine Lake provides a scenic vista of the
Valley of the Ten Peaks. This scene was pictured on the back of the $20
Canadian banknote, in the 1969-1979 ("Scenes of Canada") series. The
Lake Louise Mountain Resort is also located near the village.
Icefields Parkway
The
Icefields Parkway extends 230 kilometres (143 miles), connecting Lake Louise to Jasper, Alberta. The Parkway originates at Lake Louise, and extends north up the Bow Valley, past
Hector Lake,
Bow Lake, and
Peyto Lake. The Parkway then crosses a summit, and follows the
Mistaya River to
Saskatchewan Crossing, where it converges with the
Howse and
North Saskatchewan River.
The North Saskatchewan River flows east from Saskatchwan Crossing, out of Banff, into what is known as David Thompson country, and onto Edmonton. The
David Thompson Highway follows the North Saskatchewan River, past the man-made
Abraham Lake, and through David Thompson Country. At Saskatchewan Crossing, basic services are available, including gasoline, cafeteria, a gift shop, and small motel.
North of Saskatchewan Crossing, the Icefields Parkway follows the North Saskatchewan River up to the Columbia Icefield. The Parkway crosses into Jasper National Park at Sunwapta Pass at 2,023 meters (6,635 feet) in elevation
, and continues on from there to the Jasper townsite.
The Canadian Rockies consist of several northwest-southeast trending ranges. Closely following the
continental divide, the Main Ranges form the backbone of the Canadian Rockies. The Front Ranges are located east of the Main Ranges. Banff National Park extends eastward from the continental divide and includes the eastern slope of the Main Ranges and much of the Front Ranges. The latter include the mountains around the Banff townsite. The foothills are located to the east of the Park, between Calgary and Canmore. On the other side of the Park, the Western Ranges pass through Yoho and Kootenay National Parks. Still farther west is the
Rocky Mountain Trench, the western boundary of the Canadian Rockies region in
British Columbia.
The Canadian Rockies are comprised of
sedimentary rock, including
shale,
sandstone,
limestone, and
quartzite, that originated as deposits in a shallow inland sea. The
geologic formations in Banff range in age from
Precambrian eon to the
Jurassic period.The mountains were formed 80-120 million years ago, as a product of
thrust faults.
Over the past 80 million years,
erosion has taken its toll on the landscape, with more extensive erosion occurring in the foothills and Front Range than in the Main Range. Banff's mountains exhibit several different shapes that have been influenced by the composition of rock deposits, layers, and their structure. Numerous mountains in Banff are carved out of sedimentary layers that slope at 50-60° angles. Such
dip slope mountains have one side with a steep face, and the other with a more gradual slope that follows the layering of the rock formations, e.g.,
Mount Rundle, near the Banff townsite.
Other types of mountains in Banff include complex, irregular,
anticlinal,
synclinal, castellate, dogtooth, and sawback mountains.
exemplifies a castellate shape, with steep slopes and cliffs. The top section of Castle Mountain is comprised of a layer of
Paleozoic-era shale,
sandwiched between two limestone layers. Dogtooth mountains, such as
Mount Louis, exhibit sharp, jagged slopes. The
Sawback Range, which consists of dipping sedimentary layers, has been eroded by cross
gullies.
Scree deposits are common toward the bottom of many mountains and cliffs.
Banff's landscape has also been marked by glacial erosion, with deep
U-shaped valleys and many
hanging valleys that often form
waterfalls. Matterhorn-type mountains, such as
Mount Assiniboine, have been shaped by glacial erosion that has left a sharp peak. A number of small
gorges also exist, including
Mistaya Canyon and
Johnston Canyon.
Glaciers and icefields
Banff National Park has numerous large glaciers and icefields, many of which are easily accessed from the Icefields Parkway. Small
cirque glaciers are fairly common in the Main Ranges, situated in depressions on the side of many mountains. As with the majority of mountain glaciers around the world, the glaciers in Banff are retreating. Photographic evidence alone provides testimony to this retreat and the trend has become alarming enough that
glaciologists have commenced researching the glaciers in the park more thoroughly, and have been analyzing the impact that reduced glacier ice may have on water supplies to streams and rivers. The largest glaciated areas include the
Waputik and
Wapta Icefields, which both lie on the Banff-Yoho National Park border. Wapta Icefield covers approximately 80 km² (30.9 mi²) in area.
Outlets of Wapta Icefield on the Banff side of the continental divide include
Peyto,
Bow, and
Vulture Glaciers. Bow Glacier retreated an estimated 1,100 meters (3,600 ft) between the years 1850 and 1953
, and since that period, there has been further retreat which has left a newly formed lake at the terminal
moraine. Peyto Glacier has retreated approximately 2,000 meters ( 6,561 ft) since 1880
, and is at risk of disappearing entirly within the next 30 to 40 years.
Both
Crowfoot and
Hector Glaciers are also easily visible from the Icefields Parkway, yet they are singular glaciers and are not affiliated with any major icesheets.
The
Columbia Icefield, at the northern end of Banff, straddles the Banff and Jasper National Park border and extends into British Columbia.
Snow Dome, in the Columbia Icefields, forms the hydrological apex of North America, with origins of the
Athabasca,
Columbia, and
North Saskatchewan Rivers.
Saskatchewan Glacier, which is approximately 13 kilometers (8 miles) in length and 30 km² (11.6 mi²) in area
, is the major outlet of the Columbia Icefield that flows into Banff. Between the years 1893 and 1953, Saskatchewan Glacier had retreated a distance of 1,364 meters (4,474 ft), with the rate of retreat between the years 1948 and 1953 averaging 55 meters (180 ft) per year.
Overall, the glaciers of the Canadian Rockies lost 25% of their mass during the 20th century.
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Skiing on Parker Ridge, near the Columbia Icefield. |
Located on the eastern side of the Continental Divide, Banff National Park receives 472.3 mm (18.6 in.) of precipitation annually.
This is considerably less than received in Yoho National Park on the western side of the divide in British Columbia, with 884.2 mm (34.8 in.) annual precipitation at
Wapta Lake and 616.4 mm (26.3 in.) at Boulder Creek.
234 cm (92 in.) of snow falls on average falls each winter in the Banff townsite, while 289.7 cm (114 in.) falls in Lake Louise.
During winter months, temperatures in Banff are moderated, compared to Edmonton and other areas of central and northern Alberta, due to
chinook winds and other influences from British Columbia. The mean low temperature during January is -14.6 °C (6 °F), and the mean high temperature is -4.6 °C (24 °F) for the town of Banff.
Weather conditions during summer months are pleasant, with high temperatures during July averaging 21.9 °C (71 °F), and daily low temperatures averaging 7.4 °C (45 °F).
Ecoregions
Banff National Park spans three
ecoregions, including
montane,
subalpine, and
alpine. The subalpine ecoregion, which consists mainly of dense forest, comprises 53% of Banff's area. 27% of the park is located above the
treeline, in the alpine ecoregion
. The treeline in Banff lies approximately at 2,300 meters (7,544 feet)
, with open
meadows at alpine regions and some areas covered by glaciers. A small portion (3%) of the park, located at lower elevations, is in the montane ecoregion
.
Lodgepole pine forests dominate the montane region of Banff, with
Englemann spruce,
willow, and
aspen interspersed. Englemann spruce are more common in the subalpine regions of Banff, with some areas of lodgepole pine, and
subalpine fir. The montane areas, which tend to be the preferred habitat for wildlife, have been subjected to significant human development over the years.
Wildlife
The park has 56 mammals species that have been recorded.
Grizzly and
Black bears inhabit the forested regions.
Puma,
Lynx,
Wolverine,
weasel,
Northern River Otter and
wolves are the primary predatory mammals.
Elk and
White-tailed Deer are common in the valleys of the park, including around the Banff townsite, while
Moose tend to be more elusive, sticking primarily to wetland areas and near streams. In the alpine regions,
Mountain Goats,
Bighorn Sheep,
marmots and
pika are widespread. Other mammals such as
Beaver,
Porcupine,
squirrel,
chipmunks are the more commonly observed smaller mammals.
In 2005, a total of 5
caribou where counted, making this species one of the rarest mammals found in the park.
Due to the harsh winters, the park has few
reptiles and
amphibians with only one species of toad, three species of frog, one salamander species and two species of snakes that have been identified.
At least 280 species of birds can be found in Banff including
Bald and
Golden Eagles,
Red-tailed Hawk,
Osprey,
Falcon and
Merlin, all of which are predatory species. Additionally, commonly seen species such as the
Gray Jay,
American Three-toed Woodpecker,
Mountain Bluebird,
Clark's Nutcracker,
Mountain Chickadee and
pipit are frequently found in the lower elevations. The
White-tailed Ptarmigan is a ground bird that is often seen in the alpine zones. Rivers and lakes are frequented by over a hundred different species including
loons,
herons, and
mallards who spend their summers in the park.
in Banff include the Banff Springs
Snail physella johnsoni which is found in the hot springs of Banff.
Woodland caribou, found in Banff, are listed as a
threatened species, as are grizzly bears.
Mountain pine beetles
Mountain pine beetles have caused a number of large-scale infestations in Banff National Park, feeding off of the
phloem of mature lodgepole pines. Alberta's first known outbreak occurred in 1940, infecting 4,300 hectares (10,625 acres) of forest in Banff.
A second major outbreak occurred in the late 1970s and early 1980s in Banff and the surrounding Rocky Mountains region.
Banff National Park is the top
tourist attraction in Alberta and one of the most visited national parks in North America, with 3,927,557 visitors in 2004/2005.
During summer, 42% of park visitors are from Canada (23% from Alberta), while 35% are from the
United States, and 20% from Europe.
Tourism in Banff contributes an estimated $6 billion annually to the
economy.
A park pass is required for stopping in the park and permit checks are common during the summer months, especially at Lake Louise and the start of the Icefields Parkway. A permit is not required if travelling straight through the park without stopping. Approximately 5 million people pass through Banff annually on the Trans-Canada Highway without stopping.
Attractions in Banff include
Upper Hot Springs, and a 27-hole
golf course at Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, and three ski resorts including
Sunshine Village,
Lake Louise Mountain Resort, and
Mount Norquay ski resort. Day hikes, such as the
Cory Pass Loop, are popular with visitors. Other activities include alpine and nordic skiing, and
horseback riding.
Backcountry activities in Banff include
hiking,
camping,
climbing, and
skiing. Parks Canada requires those using backcountry campgrounds, Alpine Clup of Canada huts, or other backcountry facilities to purchase a wilderness pass. Reservations for using the campgrounds are also required.
Banff National Park is managed by
Parks Canada, under the
National Parks Act which was passed in 1930. Over time, park management policies have increasingly emphasized environmental protection, over development. In 1964, a policy statement was issued that reiterated ideals of conservation laid out in the 1930 act. With the controversial bid for the 1972 Winter Olympics, environmental groups became more influential, leading Parks Canada to withdraw its support for the bid. The 1979 Beaver Book was a major new policy, which emphasized
conservation. In 1988, the National Parks Act was amended, making the maintenance of ecological integrity the top priority. The amendment also paved the way for
non-governmental organizations to challenge Parks Canada in court, for breaches in adhering to the act. In 1994, Parks Canada established revised "Guiding Principles and Operating Policies", which included a mandate for the Banff-Bow Valley Study to draft management recommendations. As with other national parks, Banff is required to have a Park Management Plan. On a
provincial level, the park area and the included communities are administered by Alberta Municipal Affairs as
Improvement District No. 9 (Banff).
[Improvement District No. 9 (Banff) - Alberta Municipal Affairs]Ecology
Since the 19th century, humans have impacted Banff's ecology through introduction of
non-native species, controls on other species, and development in the
Bow Valley, among other human activities.
Bison once lived in the valleys of Banff, but were hunted by indigenous people and the last bison was killed off in 1858.
Elk are not indigenous to Banff, and were introduced in 1917 with 57 elk brought in from Yellowstone National Park.
The introduction of elk to Banff, combined with controls on
coyote and
wolves by Parks Canada beginning in the 1930s, has caused imbalance of the ecosystem.
Other species that have been displaced from the Bow Valley include grizzly bears, cougars, lynx, wolverines, otter, and moose. Beginning in 1985, gray wolves were recolonizing areas in the Bow Valley.
However, the wolf population has struggled, with 32 wolf deaths along the Trans-Canada Highway between 1987 and 2000, leaving 31 wolves remaining.
The population of
bull trout and other native species of fish in Banff's lakes has also dwindled, with the introduction of non-native species including
brook trout, and
rainbow trout.
,
Westslope cutthroat trout,
Chiselmouth are also rare native species, while
Chinook salmon,
White sturgeon,
Pacific lamprey, and
Banff longnose dace are likely extinct locally.
The
Banff longnose dace, once only found in Banff, is now an
extinct species.
The Trans-Canada Highway, passing through Banff, has been problematic, posing hazards for
wildlife due to vehicle
traffic and as an impediment to wildlife migration. Grizzly bears are among the species impacted by the highway, which together with other developments in Banff, has caused
fragmentation of the landscape. Grizzly bears prefer the montane habitat, which has been most impacted by development. Wildlife
underpasses have been constructed at a number of points along the Trans-Canada Highway to help alleviate this problem.
Fire management
Parks Canada management practices, notably
fire suppression, since Banff National Park was established have impacted the park's ecosystem. Since the early the 1980s, Parks Canada has adopted a strategy that employed
prescribed burns, which helps to mimic effects of natural fires.
Development
In 1978, expansion of Sunshine Village ski resort was approved, with added parking, hotel expansion, and development of Goat's Eye Mountain. Implementation of this development proposal was delayed through the 1980s, while environmental assessments were conducted. In 1989, Sunshine Village withdrew its development proposal, in light of government reservations, and submitted a revised proposal in 1992. This plan was approved by the government, pending environmental review. Subsequently,
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society filed a court
injunction, which halted the development.
Banff-Bow Valley Study
While the National Parks Act and the 1988 amendment emphasize ecological integrity, in practice Banff has suffered from inconsistent application of the policies.
In 1994, the Banff-Bow Valley Study was mandated by
Sheila Copps, the minister responsible for Parks Canada, to provide recommendations on how to better manage human use and development, and maintain ecological integrity.
While the two-year Banff-Bow Valley Study was underway, development projects were halted, including the expansion of Sunshine Village, and the
twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway between Castle Junction and Sunshine.
The panel issued over 500 recommendations, including limiting the growth of the Banff townsite, capping the town's population at 10,000, placing quotas for popular hiking trails, and curtailing development in the park.
Another recommendation was to fence off the townsite to reduce confrontations between people and elk. By fencing off the townsite, this measure was also intended to reduce access to this refuge for elk from predators, such as wolves that tended to avoid the townsite. Upon release of the report, Copps immediately moved to accept the proposal to cap the town population. She also ordered a small
airstrip to be removed, along with a buffalo padlock, and cadet camp, that inhibited wildlife movement.
In response to concerns and recommendations raised by the Banff Bow Valley Study, a number of development plans were curtailed in the 1990s. Plans to add nine holes at the Banff Springs Golf Resort were withdrawn in 1996.
Canmore
With the cap on growth in the town of Banff,
Canmore, located just outside the Banff boundary, has been growing rapidly to serve increasing demands of
tourists. Major developments proposals for Canmore have included the Three Sisters Golf Resorts, proposed in 1992, which has been subject of contentious debate, with environmental groups arguing that the development would fragment important
wildlife corridors in the Bow Valley.
*
List of Canadian national parks*
List of World Heritage Sites in the Americas
*
Official Parks Canada website*
Banff National Park in Bivouac.com*
Banff History
