Provide feedback on proposed Railway Lands redevelopment

The Town of Banff is hosting a meeting to provide Banff business and tourism leaders with an opportunity to give feedback on proposed future development around the Banff Train Station. The Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) would guide future land uses in the land owned by Canadian Pacific Railways LTD.

The proposed plan submitted by the long-time leaseholder, Liricon/Norquay, includes adding more parking north of the tracks, amenities for arriving visitors, railway heritage buildings or rail cars, businesses, a shared street for Railway Avenue and a welcoming plaza. The plan includes some housing and reserves space for a potential future gondola terminal. The municipality is required to review ARP applications and can request changes, reject the plan or approve it and submit to Parks Canada for final ministerial approval.

Feedback is being collected from the community for Town Council’s consideration along with presentations at a March 20 Public Hearing.

The business focus group session is Tuesday, February 13 at 9:30 a.m. at the Moose Hotel. Registration is required to help manage space requirements. People unable to attend the business focus group can attend the large community workshop on February 20. The same information is provided and the same questions are used to gather input. Participants are asked to attend only one of the sessions.



To download the proposed ARP and to register, visit banff.ca/railwaylands

Metal bins for commercial waste are phased out

The Town is phasing out the use of 1,500-litre metal garbage and cardboard collection bins for the Non-Residential sector by March 31, 2024. The new plastic bins are safer for staff and easier to move. They also create less wear and tear on garbage trucks, helping them last longer.

The metal bins have been gradually removed from service over the past few years. New trucks will not be able to service the old 1,500-litre metal bins, starting on March 31, 2024.

The new plastic bins will be provided for free. If the new bins are ordered by March 15, the metal bins will also be removed for free and will be recycled. Please contact Town staff by calling 403.762.1280 or email Operations@banff.ca by March 15, 2024, to schedule a bin change.

More information is available at banff.ca/NonResRecycling

Single-Ise Items Reduction Strategy underway

While single-use item strategies are facing a struggle in some other Alberta communities, the Banff model is showing high compliance, fitting of the national park. The initiative started with a community group presenting to Banff Town Council in 2019 about the waste produced with single-use items and a recommendation to provide a symbolic learning opportunity for customers. Built on business collaboration and workshops in 2021-22, the first phase was implemented in 2023, with food and beverage businesses providing single-use items only if customers requested.

The second phase started in January 2024 with the banning of new single-use plastic bags for customers and reusable food ware for dine-in customers. The Town continues to work with businesses on recommendations for dishwashers and accommodating extensions or exemptions, but the Environment Team reports higher than expected participation. Many businesses with long-time residents managing operations use measures more environmentally responsible than the bylaw requires. Even restaurants with chains in other communities, such as Tim Hortons and A&W, have showed early adoption of the measures that help reduce waste and litter in our community.

To learn more about the requirements, or to contact the town for advice, signage and support, visit banff.ca/singleuseitems or email Zero.waste@Banff.ca 

Everybody loves a Banff parade

The Banff Canada Day celebrations will feature the return of the full parade in 2024. Businesses and local service organizations are invited to participate with mountain-themed features. People-powered entries are encouraged to align with the environmental goals in Banff, but the Town recognizes some displays are possible only with motor vehicle support.

Businesses are encouraged to begin planning staff and displays for the July 1 event and watch for parade participation details, including entry width limits. Details will be provided at banff.ca/CanadaDay. Parade participation information and application form will be published February 9.

Calling on businesses for low-income resident discounts

The Banff community has faced significant inflation in the cost of living over the last year. Although the impact is being felt across Canada, a larger portion of Banff’s population are at the lower end of the income spectrum, when compared to other communities. The recently released Banff Community Social Assessment shows income levels have not kept pace with other resort communities such as Whistler and Jasper. (Learn about the Community Social Assessment at banff.ca/CommunitySocialAssessment or attend a public presentation on March 18, 5-7 p.m. at the Catharine Robb Whyte Building. Call 403.762.1251 or email fcss@banff.ca to register.)

The issue of affordability is being targeted by one of the goals of the new Tourism for Good long-term plan, which includes a community well-being strategy to ensure that tourism gives back to local communities and to provide a living wage for employees.

The Town offers many free and low-cost programs for residents to lessen the impact of our high cost of living. Many programs are supported by business contributions such as the Banff Lodging Company’s Pauw Foundation, which make some services completely free. Other community businesses such as the Banff Hospitality Collective donate time and money to help locals in a range of ways. Still other companies such as Pursuit offer direct discounts to locals and community funding targeted in ways to have a lasting impact.

The Banff Access Program helps people earning lower incomes with access to more free or low-cost services. The Town certifies the income level and, with an ID card, the resident can access discounts on classes, programs, transit passes outside town, and more member benefits.

Through the Access Program, many Banff businesses also offer discounts targeted specifically for locals who can most benefit from the program. Employers are encouraged to remind their staff about this program to help take the bite out of high costs.

Learn more about how your business can join the Access Program Business Partnership 

Ask your employees to sign up for Alerts today!

Banff is surrounded by unparalleled beauty. But our mountain community is also surrounded by many risks and natural hazards. Our collective ability to respond to emergencies depends on information about what’s happening and what people can do for their safety and security.

Banff’s emergency alerts system is extremely valuable for sending notification by email, SMS text or mobile app notification on urgent situations such as:

• Approaching wildfire
• Increasing risk of flooding  
• Severe storms
• Train derailment
• Hostile individual

The collective safety for Banff residents and especially visitors is improved when more people sign up to receive the most important information about emergencies.

Many situations are also localized, with emergencies affecting only a small location of town.

The Town’s Emergency Alerts, powered by Calgary-based Voyent Alerts, helps people receive the most up-to-date, accurate information about specific locations. The service also provides the added benefit of non-emergency notifications specific to a location, such as parking bans, water outages, power outages, and road closures.

Businesses are urged to recommend their employees sign up for Banff’s Emergency Alerts and pin their place of work as well as home in their registration. If all staff members sign up, your business will always have someone on shift who knows what to do when emergencies happen.

Learn more about emergency plans, being ready for evacuation and how to sign up for alerts at banff.ca/emergency

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