Alberta Rocky Mountains
Banff: It’s Elemental, My Dear
Located one hour east of Calgary Alberta, the town of Banff is nestled in Canada’s Rockies. The Rockies date back approximately 175 million years ago, when one tectonic plate moved and pushed the earth in the process. The "ripples" that popped up during the moving of one tectonic plate against another formed the Rocky Mountain Range. The first citizens in the area were the Cree, The Kootneys and the Black Plains. Archeological records showing First Nations settlements date back as far as 11,000 BC.
Banff History
The area was isolated until the first European explorers arrived in 1754. In 1800, the area was explored further and mapped by David Thompson and Duncan McGillivray. In 1886 with the advent of the Canadian Pacific Railway, the town of Banff became an actual tourist destination. It had formerly been a trading post for hunters and trappers. The CPR was actually constructed through the town, which before the railway was known as Sliding 29. The name Banff is short for Banffshire, the town in Scotland that was the birthplace of the then president of the CPR.
The advent of the CPR is directly related to the birth of Banff as a tourist destination. The hot springs at Sulphur Mountain were discovered by three railway workers. The first large hotel was built by the railway. Cornelius Van Horn, then the head of the CPR, travelled to Banff to see where his railway was going and remarked, "Since we can’t export the scenery, we’ll have to import the tourists."
In 1887 Banff was given National Park status by the Canadian government. By 1900, two brothers Bill and Jim Brewster, were making a steady living taking tourists on tours. Half a century later the area was a well known tourist spot for those lucky enough to have motor cars. Today, Banff is a world renowned tourist spot as well as home to the performing and visual arts and a plethora of year round festivals.
Nearby Lake Louise was discovered by a trapper by the name of Tom Wilson. While out exploring with some native Stoney guides, they came across a beautiful lake. The guide told tom its name was Ho-run-num-nay, and Tom named it Lake Louise after the daughter of Queen Elisabeth.
Things To Do in Banff
There are events all year around in Banff and Lake Louise, whether one likes to ski, hike, watch films, white water raft, play tennis, golf, go dog sledding ice fishing or take a ride in a helicopter and then ski down a mountain. The Banff Centre for the Arts offers a wide range of concerts, festivals, workshops and leadership development in every discipline.
Currently, the show Elemental is playing at nearby Lake Louise. Performed entirely on ice, this spectacle is performed by world renowned skaters and musicians. Created by Jon R. Mehari and Michelle Mikita, it brings together the wonders of nature together with the wonders of figure skating.
For more information on these and other year round events at Banff and Lake Louise go to these sites:
http://www.banfflakelouise.com/
http://www.banff.ca/activities-events/winter.htm
http://www.banffhorizons.com/
Banff and Lake Louise: Canadian Ski Resorts
Banff and Lake Louise, two communities nestled in the Canadian Rockies, offer some of the best powder skiing in the world! Only a 1.5 hour drive from Calgary, Banff is an incredible place to enjoy excellent skiing, ambiance, culture, dining, special events, art, heritage and culture.
There are three world class ski resorts to choose from: Banff Norquay, Lake Louise, and Sunshine Village, which offer over 225 trails, fresh untouched powder, and friendly hospitality! The unrivaled scenery of the area is characteristic of Banff National Park, where you’ll experience nature at it’s best, and see an abundance of wildlife including elk, deer, bears and bighorn sheep. Sunshine Village maintains one high speed gondola and 9 mountain-wide chair lifts; Norquay is a smaller hill offering 5 lifts; and Lake Louise features 10 lifts and 4 full service lodges.
Lake Louise Resort Information
Lake Louise has been voted number one for terrain challenge, value, and accommodation in North America by Skiing Magazine. Lake Louise also features many summer programs and activities within the Interpretive Centre; some of these include exhibits about wildlife featuring the Grizzly Bear, theatre presentations, guided walks, guided hikes, and breathtaking gondola rides. For other exhilarating ski experiences, try a Heli-Skiing package offered by CMH Heli-Skiing (Tel: (403) 762-7100 Web: www.cmhski.com). Don’t miss the special events at Lake Louise which include The Lake Louise Winter Kick Off Party in November, the Heavy Metal Jib Jam in November as well, the NorAm Downhill & Super G Races in December, the Ice Magic International Ice Sculpture Competition in January, the RCR Halfpipe Competition in February, the Powder 8 Canadian National Championships in March, the RCR Big Air Ski Competition in April, and the Annual Splash Down in May to name a few.
Official Lake Louise Website
Phone: (403) 256-8473
24 Hour Snow Phone: 403-762-4SNO(4766) or 403-522-3555
Address:
Box 5
Lake Louise, Alberta
Canada
T0L 1E0
Sunshine Village Ski Resort
Sunshine Village is located only fifteen minutes from Banff in the Canadian Rockies, and offers performance workshops, private lessons, and a Kid’s Kampus, and Adventure Ski Camps! Sunshine also has clubs to join including The Sunshine Ski and Snowboard Club, and the Extremely Vertical Freeriders club. Goat's Eye Mountain and Delirium Dive are runs that provide challenging terrain for all you advanced skiers and professional riders!This is definitely a tourist attraction not to miss! It’s a perfect stop for families, couples, or even locals - it’s one of the city’s top tourism spots! Visit the nearby restaurants, hotels and accomodations suitable for all tastes and group sizes. For evening entertainment visit one of the city’s nightclubs, pubs or lounge destinations. For more listings and tourist information check out the Yellow Pages. Be sure to find a map to Banff, a map to Lake Louise, and a map to Norquay so you don't get the ski hills mixed up.
Sunshine Village Reservations / General Enquires
Toll free within North America: 1-87-SKI-BANFF
Outside North American: 1 (403) 277 7669
reservations@skibanff.com
Calgary Office
#400 550 11th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB
T2R 1M7
Human Resources
Tel: (403) 760-5280
Fax: (403) 762-6513
Banff Norquay
Contact:
P.O. Box 1520
Banff, Alberta, Canada, T1L 1B4
Tel: (403) 762-4421 / Fax: (403) 762-8133
E-Mail: info@banffnorquay.com