CALGARY - Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park is getting 30 kilometres of new bike trails, thanks to an infusion of more than $300,000 from all levels of government.
That's good news for summer visitors, who may have felt left behind four years ago when the province funded multimillion-dollar improvements for cross-country ski trails at the park.
The new money will create a 30-kilometre trail system designed primarily for mountain bikers, but also for hikers and runners.
Centre staff have teamed up with trail builders to design and cut trails for all levels of riders.
The new paths will link up with older trails to create a network with better flow. Vegetation overgrowing some older routes will be trimmed, and a new pump track with undulating terrain will be created in the park's mountain bike skills area, according to centre manager Michael Roycroft.
"This new, integrated trail system will offer something for every level of rider," Roycroft said. "We're really trying to turn this into a year-round centre."
In 2005, about 20 kilometres of cross-country ski and biathlon trails were widened and graded, and a new snow-making system was added. This brought the park up to international standards so it could host the Alberta 2005 World Cup races. The work was part of $26 million in facility upgrades between 2004 and 2008.
The new recreational trail system for summer users is much less ambitious. The province is investing $210,000 in the project. The federal government, through Infrastructure Canada, will spend $77,497 as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan. And the Town of Canmore is contributing $20,000 to create a 500-metre link from the new pathway network to the town's trail system.
Most of this year's pathway work, including five new kilometres, is slated to be finished by the end of October. Work on the remaining 25 kilometres is expected to resume next May and finish sometime in 2011.
For more details about year-round recreation at the park, visit tpr. alberta.ca/parks/kananaskis/parks_canmore.asp.
tedwards@theherald.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Banff History - POWs
I had a Great Great Uncle who was a POW in Banff during WWI. It is amazing to see how much things have changed in Alberta over the past century. The next time you are travelling the 1A be sure to stop at the Memorial just West of Castle Junction.
The Following Article is from the Calgary Herald.
David Finch is a Calgary historian.© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
Prisoners of war are worth remembering.
PoW number 505 was "committed to insane asylum." Number 62 escaped; 423 escaped and was recaptured; 8 escaped, was recaptured and was later "paroled" of his crimes, and 290 was wounded while trying to escape.
These men were imprisoned during the First World War, but not in Europe. They were interned in Banff National Park, at the Cave and Basin hot springs site and at Castle Mountain --two spectacular tourist settings. Unless you are looking at them through barbed wire.
Like thousands of others during the Great War, these people were designated "enemy aliens." Internment camps were operated in Field, B. C., and Sydney, N. S., --and every province in between.
Amy Zator was just 11 years old, her brothers Tadeus and Vaclaw were seven and two. Baby prisoner Alice Zaoral was six months old. Other families were left destitute when the father was imprisoned and the wife and children had to beg for relief. Saddest of all, perhaps, were the ones who died while in detention.
Hundreds of thousands of Europeans--Ukranians, Poles, Italians, Bulgarians, Turks, Croatians, Serbs, Hungarians, Russians, Jews and Romanians--came to Canada as hard-working settlers and labourers. For their dedication, almost 10,000 of them were declared "enemy aliens" and imprisoned during the war. Another 80,000 had to report to police each month.
In Banff Park, they built roads, worked on the golf course, and generally did whatever the park superintendent commanded. They were "volunteers" in that they were "allowed" to work.
Number 170 was interned first in 1915 in the Lethbridge camp, transferred later that year to the Castle Mountain facility, and in 1916 "paroled" with 25 others
when the Canmore Coal Company needed underground miners. In November 1916, he enlisted to fight for his adopted country in the 21st Infantry Battalion in Calgary. Then an officer noticed him.
An unsubstantiated rumour said number 170 was "an escaped prisoner of war from Detention Camp Castle Mountain" and so he was charged "as an alien enemy joining overseas forces." The day after his battalion left for Europe he was discovered dead in his cell. The coroner found his suicide was a rash act that "would appear to have been committed during a fit of despondency." His remains rest in Calgary's Union Cemetery.
The anger, racism and hatred against Europeans also caused riots. In February of 1916, the press erroneously reported that Germans had bombed the Canadian Parliament buildings and that Canada was being invaded.
A mob of 500 soldiers stormed the two downtown Calgary locations of the While Lunch Restaurant, pushed past the police and destroyed both eating establishments. They were rumoured to employ aliens.
Not content, the mob also demolished the McLennan Dancing Academy above one of the restaurants. No aliens there either.
The next night, 1,500 soldiers attacked the Riverside Hotel--owned by an Englishman, but rumoured to be German-owned--on the north bank of the Bow River. With their blood running high, they charged into downtown, looking for more buildings to destroy.
Luckily the weather was cold and the mob dispersed. Only four soldiers were charged and fined $50, or 60 days in prison.
In response to the riots, city council passed a resolution denying work to anyone born in enemy territory, even if he had changed his name and become a Canadian citizen.
Visit the displays at the Cave and Basin national historic site in Banff next time you visit the mountains to learn more about this part of Canadian history.
Lest we forget.
The Following Article is from the Calgary Herald.
David Finch is a Calgary historian.© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
Prisoners of war are worth remembering.
PoW number 505 was "committed to insane asylum." Number 62 escaped; 423 escaped and was recaptured; 8 escaped, was recaptured and was later "paroled" of his crimes, and 290 was wounded while trying to escape.
These men were imprisoned during the First World War, but not in Europe. They were interned in Banff National Park, at the Cave and Basin hot springs site and at Castle Mountain --two spectacular tourist settings. Unless you are looking at them through barbed wire.
Like thousands of others during the Great War, these people were designated "enemy aliens." Internment camps were operated in Field, B. C., and Sydney, N. S., --and every province in between.
Amy Zator was just 11 years old, her brothers Tadeus and Vaclaw were seven and two. Baby prisoner Alice Zaoral was six months old. Other families were left destitute when the father was imprisoned and the wife and children had to beg for relief. Saddest of all, perhaps, were the ones who died while in detention.
Hundreds of thousands of Europeans--Ukranians, Poles, Italians, Bulgarians, Turks, Croatians, Serbs, Hungarians, Russians, Jews and Romanians--came to Canada as hard-working settlers and labourers. For their dedication, almost 10,000 of them were declared "enemy aliens" and imprisoned during the war. Another 80,000 had to report to police each month.
In Banff Park, they built roads, worked on the golf course, and generally did whatever the park superintendent commanded. They were "volunteers" in that they were "allowed" to work.
Number 170 was interned first in 1915 in the Lethbridge camp, transferred later that year to the Castle Mountain facility, and in 1916 "paroled" with 25 others
when the Canmore Coal Company needed underground miners. In November 1916, he enlisted to fight for his adopted country in the 21st Infantry Battalion in Calgary. Then an officer noticed him.
An unsubstantiated rumour said number 170 was "an escaped prisoner of war from Detention Camp Castle Mountain" and so he was charged "as an alien enemy joining overseas forces." The day after his battalion left for Europe he was discovered dead in his cell. The coroner found his suicide was a rash act that "would appear to have been committed during a fit of despondency." His remains rest in Calgary's Union Cemetery.
The anger, racism and hatred against Europeans also caused riots. In February of 1916, the press erroneously reported that Germans had bombed the Canadian Parliament buildings and that Canada was being invaded.
A mob of 500 soldiers stormed the two downtown Calgary locations of the While Lunch Restaurant, pushed past the police and destroyed both eating establishments. They were rumoured to employ aliens.
Not content, the mob also demolished the McLennan Dancing Academy above one of the restaurants. No aliens there either.
The next night, 1,500 soldiers attacked the Riverside Hotel--owned by an Englishman, but rumoured to be German-owned--on the north bank of the Bow River. With their blood running high, they charged into downtown, looking for more buildings to destroy.
Luckily the weather was cold and the mob dispersed. Only four soldiers were charged and fined $50, or 60 days in prison.
In response to the riots, city council passed a resolution denying work to anyone born in enemy territory, even if he had changed his name and become a Canadian citizen.
Visit the displays at the Cave and Basin national historic site in Banff next time you visit the mountains to learn more about this part of Canadian history.
Lest we forget.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Mid September Update
The Indian Summer seems to be sticking around in Canmore and along with it strong Real Estate sales. We are currently sitting at 34 conditional / unconditional sales so far this month; with a strong mix of all types of properties. Prices continue to remain very attractive for buyers as inventory remains above 400 active listings.
The Larches and Aspens are all beginning to show their stunning golden colours. The outlook for the weekend is shaping up for excellent hiking and biking adventures. I would recommend Moraine Lake are, the Sunshine Meadows, or South on Highway 40 to take in the impressive show of colours.
Let's hope this beautiful fall is a sign of great things to come. Strong sales and endless Powder...
The Larches and Aspens are all beginning to show their stunning golden colours. The outlook for the weekend is shaping up for excellent hiking and biking adventures. I would recommend Moraine Lake are, the Sunshine Meadows, or South on Highway 40 to take in the impressive show of colours.
Let's hope this beautiful fall is a sign of great things to come. Strong sales and endless Powder...
Friday, September 11, 2009
Warden Service Celebrates 100 Years of Service
This weekend marks the Centennial celebrations for Canada's Warden Service. A number of events are planned in and around Banff. They Whyte museum will also be opening a new exhibit featuring the Warden Service. There have been some excellent articles lately worth the read:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/travel/Wild+woolly+wardens+celebrate+years/1982499/story.html
http://www.albertalocalnews.com/rockymountainoutlook/news/58308092.html
and the Crag & Canyon.
These people ensure that our Parks are not only protected for this generation of Canadians but for the future generations of the World.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/travel/Wild+woolly+wardens+celebrate+years/1982499/story.html
http://www.albertalocalnews.com/rockymountainoutlook/news/58308092.html
and the Crag & Canyon.
These people ensure that our Parks are not only protected for this generation of Canadians but for the future generations of the World.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Real Estate Becoming More Affordable
OTTAWA — Owning a home in Canada is getting more affordable but that trend could soon end as the real estate market continues to recover, according to a report Wednesday by RBC Economics.
RBC said costs related to home ownership eased in the second quarter of 2009 for the fifth-straight three-month period, with “modest improvement” seen across the country.
"Following the biggest quarterly improvements on record in the first quarter and continued improvement in the second quarter, the national home affordability level has been restored to pre-housing boom levels," said Robert Hogue, RBC senior economist said Wednesday.
"However, the recuperative phase of the affordability cycle seems to be drawing to a close with housing prices firming up in many parts of the country and mortgage rates no longer trending downward."
RBC measures affordability by the proportion of pre-tax household income needed to service the costs of owning a home.
"The levelling off of home affordability is not expected to stop the impressive resurgence in the housing market," Hogue said. "Supply of properties for sale is dropping as demand bounces back, which is working to heat up prices again in many parts of the country."
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
RBC said costs related to home ownership eased in the second quarter of 2009 for the fifth-straight three-month period, with “modest improvement” seen across the country.
"Following the biggest quarterly improvements on record in the first quarter and continued improvement in the second quarter, the national home affordability level has been restored to pre-housing boom levels," said Robert Hogue, RBC senior economist said Wednesday.
"However, the recuperative phase of the affordability cycle seems to be drawing to a close with housing prices firming up in many parts of the country and mortgage rates no longer trending downward."
RBC measures affordability by the proportion of pre-tax household income needed to service the costs of owning a home.
"The levelling off of home affordability is not expected to stop the impressive resurgence in the housing market," Hogue said. "Supply of properties for sale is dropping as demand bounces back, which is working to heat up prices again in many parts of the country."
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Canmore - Labour Day Weekend
As we continue to enjoy the beautiful weather in Canmore it is time to start planning you final long weekend of the summer. Besides checking out Real Estate, Canmore has two major events this weekend:
Photo Courtesy of the Canmore Highland Games
- Saturday is the 'Downtown Street Fair' with Main Street shutting down for the day and local vendors and artists taking over the streets. 10:00 - 16:00
- Sunday is the Canmore 'Highland Games' pipes, heavy sports, sheep dogs, and Ceilidh. 07:00 - 23:00 in Centennial Park.
Local trails continue to be in great shape for hiking and biking. Hope to see you out here this weekend.
Photo Courtesy of the Canmore Highland Games
- Saturday is the 'Downtown Street Fair' with Main Street shutting down for the day and local vendors and artists taking over the streets. 10:00 - 16:00
- Sunday is the Canmore 'Highland Games' pipes, heavy sports, sheep dogs, and Ceilidh. 07:00 - 23:00 in Centennial Park.
Local trails continue to be in great shape for hiking and biking. Hope to see you out here this weekend.
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