This year, 2010, celebrates 125 years of National Parks in Canada. It is the 125th birthday of Banff National Park – the first National Park in Canada.
With just one week to go until Canada Day on July 1st, we thought we should update you with what is going on in Banff!
Canada Day is Canada’s birthday! Canada was established as a self governing country in 1867 making Canada 143 years old next week on July 1st 2010.
There will be lots going on across the country – here is what will be happening in Banff (hosted by Parks Canada):
- 9:00am – 10:30am. Pancake breakfast at the Parks Administration Building, 101 Mountain Avenue.
- 12:00 – 5:00pm. The celebrations including live entertainment will continue at Central Park.
- 5:00pm Canada Day Parade
- 6:30pm – 11:00pm. More live entertainment and fun to be had at Central Park. Fireworks finale at 11:00pm.
With Banff National Park also celebrating it’s 125th anniversary, this Canada Day in Banff is set to be a really awesome day for all.
- Entry into Banff National Park is free on July 1st!
- Banff weather forecast is predicting sunny skies and temperatures close to 30°C (86°F).
- More information can be found on Parks Canada’s website: www.parkscanada.gc.ca
9 – 11 a.m.
Parks Canada Pancake Breakfast
Parks Canada Admin Grounds
$3 per person
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Sidewalk Art
Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Community Art Committee Sidewalk Art
Banff Town Hall
Noon
Central Park Activities Commence
5 – 6:15 p.m.
Banff Canada Day Parade
Banff Avenue
6:30 – 11 p.m.
Central Park Entertainment
11 p.m.
Banff Canada Day Fireworks
View from Central Park or Bow Avenue
Central Park Activities
What to Bring:
The Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) is holding a contest giving US residents the chance to win an ultimate Canadian vacation. The winner will choose from 5 Canadian adventures, one of which includes a four night stay in Banff National Park.
Canada overtook the US to move from ninth to fifth place
Canada is moving up in the world! Canada overtook the US to move from ninth to fifth place in The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2009 released this month by the World Economic Forum. Canada’s high ranking is the result of “excellent” natural and cultural resources, the world’s top-ranked air infrastructure system and the business community’s consensus that the Canadian government is making a concerted effort to promote tourism overseas, according to the report.
“The report reflects the positive impact of the government’s increased support for tourism,” says Greg Klassen, Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) vice president of Marketing. “It’s also significant for the investment community that Canada is recognized as a great place to develop tourism infrastructure.”
Switzerland, Austria and Germany topped the list again, while France jumped from 10th place to fourth in the new ranking. The United States dropped from seventh to eighth.
The World Economic Forum interviewed 13,000 executives around the world, including 79 Canadians. The organization weighed a variety of factors making countries attractive for tourism developers, including transport and tourism infrastructure, regulations, access to labour, safety and security, government tourism policy and natural and cultural resources.
Canada was particularly recognized for its resources—both natural and cultural. Canada has a reputation of offering access to spectacular natural beauty and also has nine natural sites recognized by the United Nations as World Heritage Sites.
Source: CTC news staff (18/03/09) & the Travel Alberta web editors
Booking your Banff Ski Rentals is very much recommended, especially during the busy holiday periods.
By booking in advance, you will receive additional discounts on your Banff Ski Rentals, not available to you when you actually in resort, so preparation is key.
What sort of deals would I receive by pre-booking my rentals you may ask yourself? Not only do you not have to pay until you are actually in resort, you will also receive the following deals:
1) Same rate on Mid and High Performance ski and board rentals
2) Free Taxi to and from the Banff Ski Rentals shop or..
3) Free ski and snowboard deliveries to your hotel
4) 3+ days ski or board rental gets 15% shopping discount in the ski rentals store
5) 5+ days ski or board rental gets FREE dinner voucher
A credit card is required to secure the booking, but no payment is taken until you are in resort.
To take advantage and book visit Canada-Ski or rocky-peak Ski Holidays
Thinking of a ski holiday in Canada? Considering visiting any of the following ski resorts: Banff Norquay, Fernie, Jasper Marmot Basin, Kicking Horse, Kimberley, Lake Louise, Nakiska, Panorama, Sunshine Village, Whistler Blackcomb? Then read on!
Things to consider before deciding where to go on a ski holiday in Canada. The following is based on statistics gathered direct from the ski hills by rocky-peak Ski Holidays.
? Price
We all have a budget to stick to, well, most of us anyway!
Best value ski resort: Jasper Marmot Basin
Most Expensive ski resort: Whistler Blackcomb
? Terrain (Based on % of resort)
Mostly beginner: Jasper Marmot Basin
Mostly intermediate: Nakiska
Mostly advanced: Whistler Blackcomb (Kicking Horse is close second)
Mostly Expert: Panorama
? Time of year
Earliest opening: Sunshine Village, Banff
Latest Closing: Whistler Blackcomb
Be aware that the coldest months are January and February. Some of the best rates of the season are in January and as long as you have plenty of warm clothes just in case, it is definately worth taking advantage of these rates.
? Duration
Longest season: Whistler Blackcomb (Sunshine Village, Banff close second)
Whistler Blackcomb opens November and closes in early June – how great is that?! Blackcomb Mountain also has a glacier which can be skiied on in the summer.
Sunshine Village, Banff closes end of May. If you are wanting to stay a season then go for the resorts with the longest season. If you are coming out for just week, it is best stick with just one resort, that way you will get to know the runs well. For two week ski holidays think about spending one week in one resort, and the other week in another.
If you don’t want to do the split resort ski holiday, Banff, for example, has access to Banff Norquay, Lake Louise and Sunshine Village and if you are prepared to travel a couple of hours, Kicking Horse onboard the popular Kicking Horse Express Ski Bus. Lake Louise also has easy access to all these resorts too.
? Snow Quantity
Greatest average snowfall: Whistler Blackcomb (Fernie is close second)
This might be why Fernie was rated number 5 best ski resort in North America in Skiing Magazine’s “Top 25 Resorts in North America”. Whistler Blackcomb was number one again!
If you are after deep powder, then increase your chances by visiting the resorts with the highest average snowfall. One thing to remember though is that you can have a powder day in most resorts if your timing is right (and you are lucky!), however, skiing while that snow is coming down is not that much fun as you can not see too much so don’t pray for too much snow at once!
? Snow Quality
Best quality: Sunshine Village, Banff
Quality not quantity comes to mind. Head to the higher resorts for the best quality snow. If the temperatures rise a bit, you still know you will be getting good quality snow, not that horrible slushy stuff. The higher the resorts, the lower the temperatures are going to be so that is something to bear in mind.
In my opinion, Sunshine Village, Banff has the best quality snow. It is ideally located on the Continental Divide and is a high resort and so Sunshine Village, Banff often receives snow when the other ski resorts aren’t.
? Best Powder
Kicking Horse without a doubt! Kicking Horse has it’s famous "champagne powder" that you can just cruise through. The air is so dry, you will find it is almost impossible to make snowballs out of this light fluffy powder. If it looks like the snow is going to hit Kicking Horse Mountain Resort while you are out here, be sure to hop on the Powder Express Bus to Kicking Horse.
? Racing
Do you like to Race?
The best for racing are Lake Louise and Nakiska. With their groomed runs you fly!
? Greatest Vertical
Do you like long runs?!
Whistler Blackcomb has the greatest vertical in North America (closely followed by Vail) and Kicking Horse has the greatest vertical in the Canadian Rockies. You will find your ankles will burn if you try to do the run from top to bottom in one go. It is certainly a buzz when you do a great last long run from top to bottom to finish your day.
? Skiable Terrain
Whistler Blackcomb comes first to no surprise. Lake Louise has the greatest skiable terrain in the Canadian Rockies. Both these resorts have enough runs for you to be finding new runs year after year!
? Family friendly resorts
All the resorts cater to families, some more so than others. Sunshine Village, Banff, Banff Norquay, Lake Louise, Jasper Marmot Basin and Whistler Blackcomb are all excellent for families of mixed ages and abilities.
? Accommodation preferences
You may want to decide what sort of ski accommodation you would like before you choose the ski resort as not all accommodation types are available at every resort. Larger resort homes are available in Whistler Blackcomb and Fernie unlike Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper which have just mostly hotel rooms. Ski-in, ski-out properties can only be found at Kicking Horse, Fernie, Kimberley, Panorama, Whistler Blackcomb, and Sunshine Village .
I hope I have been able to give you a few things to think about when planning your ski holiday in Canada. For more information and expert advice, be sure to contact rocky-peak Ski Holidays for your ski holiday in Canada.