CanmoreMountain Blog

Fun and Friendship at Trail Striders Running Camp, June 8-9

Whether you’re a casual jogger or a hardcore marathoner, the Trail Striders ladies only trail running weekend on June 8th and 9th offers the opportunity to make new friends through fitness in the beautiful backcountry of Canmore.

Trail Striders might be founded upon a shared quest for personal fitness, but the service offers much more to those who participate in its “running vacations”. Friendship, inspiration and a deep sense of accomplishment are what drive runners to partake in the Trail Striders weekend running events which feature training, workshops and plenty of relaxation time at organized wine tastings and tapas dinners.

According to TransRockies Inc.,who organizes the Trail Striders events, the ladies only trail running weekend in Canmore will focus on “relaxation, restoration, health, balance and education”. Participants can select a 5k, 10k or 15k course according to their goals and ability. Trainers will there to guide and encourage runners as well as to coach them on technique, nutrition, proper gear and all the elements of being a successful trail runner.

In the evening, participants will be treated to gourmet tapas from Canmore’s Iron Goat restaurant and wine from local vintner The Cellar Door. Workshops will include a lesson on using visualization techniques for training, along with instruction on skills like pacing, climbing and descending.

Cost for the event is $324 per person or $299 if you register before May 3rd. Accommodation is not included with your fee. If you’re seeking an affordable hotel in Canmore, the EconoLodge Canmore offers clean, comfortable rooms just 13 minutes from the Canmore Nordic Centre where the Trail Striders event begins.

Rocky Mountain Women's Run & Walk

Start Your Spring on the Right Foot: Rocky Mountain Soap Company Women’s Run. It’s that time of year again, where thermometers begin their inevitable climb back up out of the negatives and the snow on the ground starts its slow melt. While many will spend their remaining frosty days ripping up the mountains for one last ride, the inevitable cannot be denied: Spring is here! With the ski and snowboard season winding down for another year, it’s time that many must find another outlet to channel their fitness goals and keep motivating all those pesky New Year’s resolutions that by April seem like a distant memory.

So if you’re not taking advantage of the remaining weeks of mountain powder, why not start your bikini season prep by checking out the Rocky Mountain Soap Company’s Women’s Run & Walk in Canmore. Founded in 2008, the Women’s Run has become a springtime staple for many a local gal and their families alike. Starting out with a meager 600 participants, it now boasts over 2, 000 entrants per year and is still growing! Supporting the Mary A. Tidlund Charitable Foundation’s program, Pink and Green Ribbon Health Campaign, the money raised by participants all goes to support breast cancer as well as the local initiatives to clean up the environment. To date, the Women’s Run has raised over $25,000 for this very important cause.

Running (no pun intended) the weekend of Saturday May 11th and Sunday May 12th, both days feature a variety of different events for both the seasoned and novice athlete, with the big Half Marathon Event kicking things off with a bang at 9am on Saturday. As well as the main event, the Rocky Mountain Women’s Run also features both 10km and 5km walk/run courses, with the promise of something for everyone at any fitness and activity level. Online registration is now closed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t throw on your trainers and come out to support this year’s participants as they stride with pride through Canmore’s scenic terrain. Have a little one? There’s even a stroller-friendly jogging course for all the parents out there too.

Check out a great video on the Pink & Green Ribbon Health Campaign and its partnership with Rocky Mountain Soap Company’s Women’s Run & Walk.

If you’re looking for a hotel in Canmore to stay at during the Rocky Mountain Soap Company’s Women’s Run & Walk, why not book your accommodations at the Econolodge Canmore Mountain Lodge? Our cozy accommodations have an array of options for the perfect place for any tired runner to rest their head after a long day.

Indulge at the Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Fest, May 10th

For connoisseurs and casual consumers alike, the Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival offers a fantastic opportunity to sample some of the finest wine, scotch, spirits, beer and cuisine in the province. Hosted at the Fairmont Springs in picturesque Banff , Alberta (just 20 minutes from our Canmore EconoLodge), the event takes place over the weekend of May 10th and features a wide variety of locally and internationally produced wines to be sampled alongside delectable cuisine provided by Banff's top restaurants.

In addition to the featured wines, you can delight your palate with a selection of single malt and blended scotches, boutique liqueurs and craft brewed ales and lagers. It's all on display in the festival's Grand Tasting Hall, where guests can explore the latest trends in upscale food and drink while mingling with experts to learn about the process of producing high quality wine and spirits.

For some added excitement, you can cast your vote in the Grand Sample Search which recognizes the top cuisine samples at the festival. All the culinary delights at the fest are sourced from local restaurants, so be sure to support your pick and help our world-class Alberta businesses thrive.

Purchase your festival ticketsbefore April 9th and you will be entered to win some stellar prizes, in addition to all of the door prizes up for grabs at the tasting hall. And the fun doesn't end after the tastings: there are a variety of dinner and nightlife events that will extend the fun late into the night during festival weekend.

If you're looking for a comfortable place to lodge during the festival, why not book your accommodations at the EconoLodge Canmore? We offer better value for your money than any Banff hotel, and we are just a short drive from all the festivities.

Twenty Glorious Years

We urge visitors to check out one of the most fascinating coal mining ghost towns in Banff National Park, Alberta. Only minutes away from the Econolodge Canmore Mountain Lodge, Bankhead was a thriving mine site and residential area which opened in 1903 and closed twenty glorious years later in 1922. Three hundred underground coal miners traveled daily from their unique town of 1500 to haul out coal for the steam locomotives of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Their output was an amazing 600 tons a day! Closure of the mine was sudden and announced without a reason, although the low quality of the coal and strikes at the site were known to have affected its profitability.

While entrances to the mine shafts were closed off, plenty of the foundations and original remnants can be seen. Well-groomed self-guiding trails are accompanied by signs, displays, and interpretive information that allow walkers and hikers to identify the buildings and features they encounter, and obtain a first-class understanding of what mining in Lower Bankhead was all about. Visitors can walk atop 300 kilometers of the visible tunnels. Photographers will appreciate the many authentic displays and factual information about geology and mining visible through the windows of the transformer building, the lone remaining intact building. Besides buildings, camera bugs will be fascinated by other objects left behind such as one of the coal trains they are free to climb aboard.

Nothing remains of a once-flourishing town but ruins, accounts and memories. A planned company town, Bankhead was stylish and modern with features far ahead of other turn-of-the century towns, features which neither Banff nor Canmore had. Unique to this model town were a municipal water supply, a sewage system, indoor plumbing, and electrical lighting in many homes and on the streets.

Fortunately, not all needs to be left to one’s imagination. Rather than destroy all of its unwanted buildings, a Calgary contractor moved 38 of the original 100 or so houses 6 miles in 40 days to Banff. Bankhead Railway Station is now relocated on Tunnel Mountain Road, and has a map of the town site on its front door. Other buildings in 1926 were moved to Canmore.

Old timer ex-residents have recounted histories of the towns after they moved to those cities. They would have been children during the glorious twenty years of Bankhead. Besides their stories, dozens of photographs of then and now can be found in Ben Gadd’s excellent book, Bankhead: The Twenty Year Town. Mr. Gadd relates many amazing details of the town and home life, and gives explanations of the uniqueness of this mine’s techniques. He also makes readers want to investigate how the CPR was able to achieve what today would be unthinkable: creating a coal mining operation and town in a National Park.

Enroute to or from Bankhead, travelers can enjoy walking, hiking, or biking along the longest lake in the Canadian Rocky Mountain parks, Lake Minnewanka. Boat tours are also available. Sharp-eyed visitors may even catch a glimpse of some of the animal life in the area: elk, mule deer, mountain sheep, and bears!

A visit to Bankhead and Minnewanka is guaranteed to be an enriching experience. On your return to the Canmore Mountain Lodge, we invite you to treat yourself to the fine French cuisine of Chez Francois Restaurant.

2013 Canmore Trade Fair

Looking for a great weekend in Canmore? Be sure to come by and see the Canmore Trade Fair on May 11-12. This is not only a great family event, but also your chance to meet over 120 businesses in the Canmore area and lear about the great products and services this region has to offer. To keep things exciting, this year Canmore's largest trade fair will feature all-new contests including pie eating, Mystery Slueth Contest, and Diaper Derby (read: Baby Races). Other events for 2013 include quilting, egg decorating, lego building, and a number of culinary arts competitions including baking, trail mix, and pies!

This year's event has expanded to include a seconday space in the Canmore Golf and Curling Club Rink. Admission is by either a donation to the Bow Valley Food Bank, or $2.00 for adults, and $1.00 (all proceeds will go with the Bow Valley Food Bank).

To register as an exhibitor, please visit the Canmore Trade Fair registration site. If you're in need of accommodations in Canmore that weekend, be sure to contact us

Canmore Art Galleries

Winter enthusiasts love the abundance and variety of experiences in which they can indulge in Canmore. Canmore’s powder snow has drawn visitors since time immemorial. Whether you’re extremely active and unable to resist the lures of the nearby Olympic trails, or you wish a more contemplative retreat into the awe-inspiring outdoors, Canmore offers experiences unmatched in nature’s world of beauty.

Fearless skiers who have exhausted themselves on the slopes and camera-laden bushgoers weary from traveling Canmore’s myriad of awe-inspiring trails may have returned to their lodgings to relax after the day’s excitement. Tired, they may need reminding of another golden experience in the community, namely, a visit or tour of the local world-class art galleries.

Despite its size, Canmore has a high concentration of artists who either migrated here with their skills and traditions, or are talented locals with imaginations stimulated by the area’s exquisite surroundings. Both groups remained and reached the point where they could not resist developing their abilities. Public demand encouraged them to display their works of perfection. They responded to the need for keepsakes for an audience impressed with Canmore’s environment. Visitors want to remember and showcase the beauty of their vacations in their homes, or in the homes of friends.

Artist facilities in Canmore await your visit or tour to share their imaginative and fascinating creations. Through them you will be able to take home facsimiles of your memorable outdoor experiences. Blog readers are invited to sample the long list and websites of artists’ studios, public galleries, and commercial galleries.

Aboriginal artist, Jason Carter, features paintings, soapstone carvings, and musical acts in his Carter-Ryan Gallery and Live Art Venue on Main Street. Also on Main Street is The Avens Gallery, which, features glass sculptures as well as paintings. Close by on Main Street is Elevation Gallery which concentrates on the contemporary styles of some 20 visual artists. Jewellery and printmaking will also entice visitors to Elevation.

Space here limits, but does not exhaust, the list of galleries off Main Street. Be sure to visit the Edge Gallery not only for its exhibitions of original works but also for its specialty of professionally framing artistic treasures. The community-run Canmore Library Gallery adds different dimensions to your tour of facilities: they represent all media and organize school shows as well as their private shows. Customers seeking silk fabric and handpainted silk, as well as acrylics, pastels and more must not miss Dana Roman Studio. Virginia Ann Hemingson Art Gallery welcomes visitors in search of both vibrant and warm colours. Pottery can be enjoyed in the making at Of Cabbages & Kings Pottery Studio. Their studio works are available for purchase.

Galleries above are only part of the artist experience available to Canmore’s visitors. If you are reading this list in the comfortable surroundings of the Canmore Mountain Lodge and planning a visit, also check in with the tourist bureau to discover more opportunities which go on throughout the year. Some include the Christmas party and fair in December, and paint outs and picnicking with fellow artists during warmer conditions. Inquire about figure drawing and other drawing classes. And, don’t miss Canmore’s upcoming annual arts festival, which in 2013 is being held June 14, 15, and 16.

We know that visitors may have selected Canmore as their vacation destination for its powder snow, trails, trees, landscape scenes and sunsets. We hope you are now inspired to seek out and visit Canmore’s galleries, studios and artists. We also hope you will consider obtaining some of their wonderful creations and keepsakes to enjoy at home!

Why Is Canmore’s Winter Carnival So Successful?

Canmore’s Annual Winter Carnival, from February 1-18, 2013 is now underway. One might think that a long-standing event such as the Winter Carnival would eventually run out of steam and be forced to downsize and downgrade. The Question: Is it possible for this festival to retain its appeal and standards? The Answer: A resounding yes!

Again this year, this exceptional town is staging another exceptional event. Visitors from afar are expected to travel and enjoy a Winter Carnival second to none. Contingents from Calgary have already reserved accommodations at the Econolodge Canmore Mountain Lodge Resort. Visitors from across Canada, the States and around the world are arriving to take part in our activities. Why? Because Canmore’s Carnival offers bonus features not available in other locations who hold winter celebrations.

Events which are becoming a tradition are well-known everywhere, and are too lengthy to list in this blog. Not to worry, descriptions down to the most minute details for times, locations, prices (most are free) and other absorbing information can be obtained from Canmore’s Visitor Information Centre in the heart of downtown (907 7th Ave). Ask any one of Canmore Mountain Lodge’s knowledgeable staff for their favourite recommendations. Since “seeing is believing”, direct your computer to Canmore’s Downtown webcams or thrill to the excitement and fun of last year’s event on one of the YouTube videos.

The more popular activities of the Carnival include Kid ‘n’ Mutt Races, Log Sawing Competitions, Ice Carving, Snow Sculpting, Curling Bonspiels, a Bonhomme Carnival, and Exposure 2013.

These fun-filled attractions appeal to all age groups and skill levels. Their focus is on providing entertainment and bringing families together during the day and the night.

Think now how Canmore can boast that its events surpass those of other winter cities. For example, does your town fair feature your mayor in real races with real dog sleds and real sled dogs? Probably not! Likewise, is your town willing and prepared to clear its main street of all traffic and ice and then transform it into cross-country ski-tracks by trucking in hundreds of meters of snow groomed over the road surface? Even in the unlikelihood of that possibility, how many community-minded businesses would welcome participants to use the track with equipment provided free by them? In Canmore, Trail Sports is that Company! What about curling? We expect less hardy clubs to fall back into their cozy indoor home rinks for bonspiels. Canmore goes beyond for fresh air, outdoor air curling on a pond. Register now or curl up next to a blazing bonfire while you knock back a few hot chocolates.

Although the carnival began a few days ago you may have been too involved in Canmore’s other world class activities in the snow to take in all it offers. Don’t worry, the carnival carries on until the 18th of this month. You still have time to sharpen your skates, wax your skis, take your kids to art and reading performances, cheer on the Canmore Eagles hockey team, or take in an ice climbing tech talk. If you feel your energy finally dwindling from your activities, re-energize by dining in our award winning Chez Francois Restaurant and Lounge. What a finale to a successful carnival!

Canmore Winter and Spring 2013 Activities

It's a brand new year, and there's no shortage of fun things to see and do in Canmore. We've got plenty of winter fun leftover, and springtime opens the possibilities for adventure even further! If you're planning on staying at the Econolodge Canmore Mountain Lodge, be sure to check out some of these exiting events in the Canmore area!

February, 1 – 18 /2013
Canmore Winter Carnival

The 2013 Canmore Winter Carnival is a celebration of the season and a popular community event. Over nearly three weeks you can enjoy Kid 'n' Mutt races, Log Sawing, Ice Carving, Snow Sculpting, Curling on the Pond, Bonhomme Carnival (skating, ice castle, maple syrup snow taffy and traditional waffles!) and an Outdoor Photography Screening

http://tourismcanmore.com/canmore-winter-carnival

February, 14 – 16 /2013
Canmore 55+ Games

The Canmore Nordic Centre welcomes participants and spectators to the Alberta 55+ Games Nordic ski events. Racing will be based on trails in and around the Biathlon Stadium

http://www.albertagames.com/

March, 10 2013
Grizzly Ultra Ski Marathon Relay

Building on the success of the inaugural Grizzly Ultra trail running race, this five-leg solo and team race will test skier’s endurance on the Nordic Centre’s most scenic trails.

http://www.grizzlyultra.ca/

March, 17 /2013
Rocky Mountain Ski Challenge

Hosted by the Canmore Nordic Ski Club, the Rocky Mountain Ski Challenge is a fixture on the annual race schedule. The event features individual and team competitions

http://www.canmorenordic.com/main.php

March, 23 /2013
Canmore Winter Meltdown Triathlon

An on-snow triathlon event that features running, cycling and cross country skiing. A fun and challenging way to wrap up the winter season.

http://canmorewintermeltdown.com/

March, 30 – 31 /2013
Canmore Ski Fest

Looking for a real challenge? Try cross country skiing for 24 hours!

http://www.canmoreskifest.com/

May, 11 – 12 /2013

Rocky Mountain Women’s Run

With 5km, 10km and Mountain Half Marathon events, the Rocky Mountain Soap Women's Walk & Run attracts over 2,000 health-oriented women looking for a unique and active weekend experience with the women in their lives. All proceeds are given to the Pink and Green Ribbon Campaign, a program of the Mary A. Tidlund Charitable Foundation. Registration is now open!

http://www.rmswomensrun.com/main.php

Upcoming Canmore Events

November

Vic Lewis Band Festival
November 2 - 4, 2012

Named to honor a Canmore pioneer who introduced band music to Bow Valley students in the 1940’s... and who taught them for over twenty years... the Vic Lewis International Band Festival has earned a reputation as one of the best non-competitive music festivals in Alberta. Over 800 students in junior high and high school bands perform for adjudicators, participate in workshops, listen to faculty recitals and give public performances during the two days and two nights of the festival.
http://www.mountainartsfoundation.com/about_vic_lewis.html

Canmore Christmas Artisans’ Market
November 24 and 25, 2012, 10am - 4pm

Canmore Collegiate High School, 1800 8th Ave, Canmore AB
Join over 85 artisans and artists from the Bow Valley and surrounding areas, for the Valley’s premier market of handcrafted beauty. We have just what you’ve been looking for, for everyone on your shopping list, including you. This year, the 17th annual Canmore Christmas Artisans Market will feature luscious art for the home, personal treats, and traditional crafts. We’ll have blown and stained glass, pottery, fine wood work and hand crafted knives. Indulge in jewelry, silks, chocolates, lotions and handmade paper. Redecorate with furniture,
photography, paintings and wreaths. Snuggle up with cozy hats and fleeces and a hand bound journal, or slip on a one of a kind scarf or handbag. We’ve got tempting treats, gifts for the chef and the cutest things for baby. Admission is $2, in support of the Canmore Preschool. Kids free. A variety of savory snacks, sweet treats and hot and cold drinks will be available. For exhibitor information please contact Karen at kantrobus@yahoo.com

FIS Nakiska Ski Cross World Cup
December 6 - 8, 2012

World Cup cross-country ski racing will return to Canmore in December, 2012. Canmore last hosted the sport’s best racers a week before the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, when Canmore native Sara Renner delighted her hometown crowd by winning a bronze medal in the sprint event.

Canmore will be the site of racing for the weekend of December 15 & 16, 2012, with the added possibility of a mid-week race. Race formats are still to be determined, but it is anticipated that the Canmore competitions will include one sprint and two middle distance events. A final decision on race formats will be made by the International Ski Federation (FIS) in early June.

http://www.albertaworldcup.com/main.php

FIS Cross Country Ski World Cup
December 13-16, 2012

The world's best cross-country skiers will be returning to Canmore, Alberta in 2012! The Viessmann World Cup FIS Cross-Country event will run December 13-16, 2012 at the picturesque Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park and will feature the final World Cup races in Canada prior to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia
http://www.albertaworldcup.com/

New Year's Eve Party on the Pond
December 31, 2012

Skating under a starlit sky – lights twinkling against a mountain backdrop – music, laughter, family and friends – New Year’s Eve on the 10th Street Pond – a Canmore tradition. Take a horse and wagon ride, have a hot dog and hot chocolate, warm yourself by a blazing fire. Each year hundreds of families come out for Canmore’s annual Party on the Pond. Perhaps it’s because we’re a community of outdoor enthusiasts or maybe it’s the old-fashioned charm that the evening offers. Whatever the reason, we’d like to invite you to be part of a
Canmore tradition. See you there!
http://www.canmore.ca/About-Canmore/Community-Celebrations/

January

Canmore winter carnival

The carnival is a community wide celebration of the winter season. With activities like ice carving, street hockey, and dog sled races, the carnival is a 2 week long community event that draws families out of their warm houses and invited visitors from surrounding areas.
http://www.canmore.ca/About-Canmore/Community-Celebrations/Canmore-Winter-Carnival.html

Find Handcrafted Holiday Treasures at the Canmore Christmas Artisans Market

The holidays are about spending time in the warm company of friends and family. But they’re also about something else: goodies! From decorating to dining to gift giving of every kind, the holidays offer an opportunity to revel in, for lack of a better word, stuff. At the 17^th annual Canmore Christmas Artisans Market, you’ll find some of the best stuff that the holiday season has to offer. Peruse the handcrafted wares of over 85 talented local artisans to seek out the perfect gift, the tastiest stocking stuffer, or the coziest clothes. The market gives you a chance to find unique items that you just won’t get from a department store (with handmade quality that’s hard to come by in this era of mass production).

The offerings include art, crafts, glassware, pottery, fine woodwork, jewelry, silks, chocolates, lotions, furniture, photography, paintings, and so much more. It takes place from 10am - 4pm on November 24 and 25, 2012 at the Canmore Collegiate High School (1800 8th Ave). Admission is $2 in support of the Canmore Preschool and kids get in free. A variety of snacks and refreshments will be available. If you’re interested in exhibiting, contact Karen at kantrobus@yahoo.com. And be sure to book your warm and cozy holiday accommodations at the friendliest lodge in town, the Canmore Mountain Lodge.