Set amidst the majestic and pristine Canadian Rockies and located only 106 Km from Calgary , Canmore is a mountain paradise and an experience within itself. Canmore's invigorating surroundings and friendly atmosphere make it a town for all walks of life. It has become increasing popular as a year round recreational playground as well as offering an equally pleasurable experience for those who enjoy the high life of spas, fine dining, art, culture and shopping.

The settlement of Canmore got its start in 1883 as a divisional point for the railway and because the location had an abundance of coal. The first Church was built in 1891 and a small schoolhouse was followed in 1894. Canmore remained a part of Banff National Park up until the turn of the 20 th century when the Park deemed mining inappropriate for a National Park, thereby moving the Park boundary slightly to where it is now.

Canmore has now emerged from Banff 's shadow as a destination all its own.

The 2005 town census shows a current population of 15,232, 24 percent which are non-permanent residents.

Even a short stay in this mountain paradise offers constantly changing vistas and activities. The range of activities in Canmore is endless and can appeal to every taste and level of experience. Summer days can be spent, hiking, climbing, mountain biking, rafting, fishing, and golfers have the choice of three stunning courses right in town or may choose to venture into Banff or Kananaskis Country.

Skiers and snowboarders can access a world-class combination of ski terrain, high speed lifts and on hill amenities for seven resorts; Sunshine Village Ski and Snowboard Resort, Lake Louise Ski Area, Mount Norquay, Marmot Ski Basin, Nakiska, Kicking Horse and Panorama, four of which are within an hour's drive from town. In addition to alpine skiing or snowboarding there is ice climbing, dog sledding, snowmobiling, and cross country skiing. The Canmore Nordic Centre was built to host the 1988 winter Olympics and offers 70 km of trails for cross country skiers of all abilities.

Wildlife enthusiasts can enjoy opportunities of seeing elk, deer, Rocky Mountain sheep, bears, pine martens, moose, marmots, hawks and pikas. Throughout the summer months, wildflowers are abundant and ever changing. Throughout the year, the mountain vistas offer photographers and artists an inspirational canvas.

Real Estate in Canmore...

Buyers and developers alike are confident that real estate in Canmore is a healthy location to put their money. There is limited land in Canmore because we are surrounded by wild life corridors and park land. Unlike, Banff, there are no restrictions to buying property in Canmore and since the land available will soon run out; a build out time of approximately 20 years, people are investing now to get their piece of the Canadian Rockies. Furthermore, Canmore has become more and more a place on a map; a destination resort town, comparable to Banff in its dining, art, culture and with its proximity to numerous recreational opportunities; it has become popular with overseas and local visitors. The growth of non-permanent residents grew by over 37 percent in the last two years to 3,790 in June 2005. Check out "the market" for more information on statistics and related articles.

About Banff...

Banff is located 15 minutes West of Canmore with the gates to Banff National Park located only 5 minutes from Canmore. Banff National Park was established in 1883 when attempts were made of the CPR Railway workers to stake a claim to natural hot springs they had discovered from the base of Sulphur Mountain . Banff National Park is Canada 's first National Park and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Canadian Heritage and Parks Canada have deemed Banff a special place with special requirements. The following comes from "The concept of the Eligible Resident in Canada 's National Park Communities", Canadian Heritage and Parks Canada .

Indeed many Canadians and overseas visitors would love to live or retire in this community. With limited community land for growth, the wish to live in the park naturally increases the cost of housing and decreases its availability. A difficult predicament remains; if there were no restrictions on who could live in the parks, eventually only few people would be able to afford to do so, and those who actually work in the parks, serving the needs of visitors, might be unable to find accommodation. Current Parks Canada regulations require that those choosing to live in the National park be able to satisfy the "eligible resident" requirement in the community.

The concept of the "eligible resident" was introduced during the 1960's. Over the next three decades, the "eligible' resident" concept evolved, yet by 1994, and audit indicated that 5-10% of the residents in the town of Banff might not meet the requirements. An eligible resident is:

a) an individual whose primary employment is in the park
b) an individual who operates a business in the park, and whose presence at the place of business is necessary for the day-to-day operation of the business;
c) a retired individual who resides in the part and who, i) for five consecutive years immediately prior to retirement; was employed primarily in the park or ii) operated a business in the park and whose presence at the place of business is necessary for the day-to-day operation of the business;
d) a retired individual who resided in the park at the time of the individual's retirement and who resided in the park on July 30, 1981 ;
e) an individual who is a student in full-time attendance at an educational institution that is located within the park and registered under the Income Tax Act;
f) an individual who is a lessee of those public lands in the park and who i) was the lessee of those public lands prior to May 19, 1911, or ii) is a descendent, by blood or adoption, of an individual who was the lessee of those public lands prior to May 19, 1911;
g)the spouse or a dependent of any individual referred to in paragraphs a) to f).

These guidelines are from the National Parks Lease and Licence of Occupation Regulations SOR/92-25.

For more information on the concept of "eligible resident" please contact The Banff Parks Canada Realty Department at 403-762-1564 or www.worldweb.com/parkscanada-banff/ .