Canmore Community Overview
Canmore is a town in Alberta, Canada, located in the Bow Valley with a permanent population of 11,442 (2005 municipal census). The non-permanent population is about 3,790 or 29% (combined population of 15,232). It is located just east of the world-famous Banff National Park, about 110 kilometres (70 mi) west of Calgary and immediately north of Kananaskis Country. The town lies in the Bow Valley, named so for the Bow River that passes through it. Its mountain setting is noted for The Three Sisters. Canmore's climate is relatively mild compared to most regions of Canada, with the coldest day in January averaging only −8 ℃ (18 ℉), with very low humidity that makes it feel considerably warmer than the thermometer indicates. Summers are short and cool, and winters are long but usually sunny and dry. The area boasts, on average, 330 days of sunshine annually, with the short wet season occurring through mid-May to early June. The rest of the summer is considered semi-arid.
Canmore is among the largest towns in Alberta and is actually larger than a number of cities in the province. Concerns over its urban growth adjacent to provincial and national park land has led to many efforts to place a limit on future development. The town is expected to reach its maximum "build out" following the completion of the SilverTip and Three Sisters Mountain Village developments sometime around 2015–2020.
Most of Canmore can be traversed within an hour by foot; the town centre surrounds 8th Street, or "Main Street" (as it is known colloquially), which was originally a residential road boasting some of the oldest architecture in the town; now, however, it is lined with small shops and galleries. Much of the recent development is taking place in the Three Sisters Mountain Village, SilverTip Resort, and around the town centre. 6th Street is a particularly lovely stretch of real estate, where the residents enjoy proximity to local shops, bars, and restaurants and beautiful views of the Three Sisters and the Rundle range.
Bisected by the Trans-Canada Highway, located on the Canadian Pacific Railway and run through by the Bow River, Canmore is ideally situated on a number of major transportation routes, which has influenced its economy in terms of industry and tourism.
Many of the new developments, time shares and vacation suites are built with sustainable development in mind, and in 2006 the Three Sisters Mountain Village development was recipient of an international award for being the best sustainable development in North America. Within town, there are also some buildings using geothermal energy, and the town's new Municipal Services Building is the first building in Alberta to achieve LEED Silver certification status.
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