Banff

Canadian Rockies supports teachers’ agreement

The Canadian Rockies Public School (CRPS) board has vowed to support an agreement reached last week between the Province and the Alberta Teachers Association which outlines salaries for teachers, workload and hours of instruction.

Trustees from the CRPS board unanimously voted in favour of the tentative four-year agreement during the in-camera portion of its regular meeting on March 20, citing stability in allowing the school board to focus on its vision and goals.

“The labour stability for four years is a very big component of that, which helps us continue to move forward,” said CRPS superintendent Chris MacPhee. “The board is confident in the reassurances that the education minister (Jeff Johnson) is giving in support of the agreement moving into the future.” Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outloook.

Banff Centre partners with advanced research institute

A new partnership between two renowned institutions will explore ways in which both science and the arts are connected and further develop the skills people in each discipline face.

On Thursday (Feb. 7), The Banff Centre hosted a roundtable discussion to announce its partnership with The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), a move that began with an idea between the leaders of each organization.

Originally established in 1982, CIFAR is an independent research institute focused on bringing together internationally respected scholars/scientists and addressing major global questions and challenges. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Crowd gathers for chain store public hearing in Banff

A packed council chambers in Banff played host to a public hearing last Thursday (Jan. 31) concerning one of the more heated topics affecting the small mountain town – whether quotas should be put in place to regulate the number of chain stores.

Banff council passed first reading of proposed bylaw 314 this past September, which would create a quota system to control corporate or formula-based chain stores and restaurants in town.

As part of first reading, council was required to hold a formal public hearing before the issue is brought back at the next meeting on Feb. 25. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Council opts for temporary skating oval for 2014 games

Council has elected to go ahead with a plan to build a temporary 400-metre outdoor skating oval in anticipation of next winter’s Alberta Winter Games, which is being co-hosted by Banff and Canmore.

Last month, organizers of the 2014 Games made a presentation to council requesting a permanent skating oval be put in place at Millennium Park to host long track speed skating events and have year-round potential for indoor soccer and tennis.

The intent of the proposal was to create a lasting Games legacy that would also increase accessible skating opportunities, economic activity associated with competitions and increase sports tourism and sport development. Read the fully story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Banff residents fight for obstetrics

The upcoming closure of the maternity ward at Banff’s Mineral Springs Hospital has led some residents to protest the decision, but hospital officials insist mothers and babies will benefit from increased safety measures.

Last Thursday (Jan. 24), over 50 people attended a rally at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Banff for an information session and to protest closure of the maternity ward.

Labour and maternity services are set to move to Canmore General Hospital near the end of March.

Organized by volunteers uniting under the banner Hatch, Patch and Dispatch, a reference to the types of services they believe community hospitals should offer, the event was also a chance to deliver a clear message to Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Covenant Health. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

MP responds to Idle No More protest in Banff

Since forming at a general educational session in Saskatoon this past November, Idle No More protests by members and non-members of First Nations across the country have been both peaceful and, at times, disruptive.

The protest that occurred near Cascade Mall in Banff last weekend was peaceful, however, another in Calgary led to the closure of a bridge with police still to determine whether charges will be laid.

Wild Rose Member of Parliament Blake Richards responded to the recent local protest before meeting on Wednesday (Jan. 16) with three chiefs from the Stoney Nakoda First Nation to discuss economic development opportunities. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Mount Norquay lays out plan for summer operations

A plan to open one of the oldest ski resorts in the Canadian Rockies for the summer is now in the public consultation stage, with opponents voicing concerns about its effect on what they see as dwindling grizzly bear habitat in the Bow Valley.

Last Thursday (Nov. 29), Mount Norquay owners rolled out a long-range plan (LRP) for 2012 that includes giving up 42 per cent of its lands in exchange for opening the resort to summer activities such as via ferrata, which involves a steel cable, ladders and holds fixed to rock for users to climb. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Local Wildrose Party team committed to the cause

The Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta is on its way to becoming the longest running provincial government in Canadian history, however, roughly three and a half years from now Alberta may finally see a changing of the guard if the upstart Wildrose Party continues to attract voters.

Defeated by 699 votes in the Banff-Cochrane constituency while still gaining 37 per cent of the popular vote during the spring election, the local Wildrose team is now prepared to work with official opposition status and focus on attracting Albertans fed up with a lack of conservative politics. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Public schools in Bow Valley achieve ‘exceptional’ results

Canadian Rockies Public Schools (CRPS) might not be the biggest school division in the province, but it may be one of the brightest.

Earlier this month, Alberta Education released the latest batch of provincial achievement test (PATs) and diploma exam results, which show CRPS has improved in some areas and surpassed provincial goals in others.

Test results are managed in two categories, standard of excellence and acceptable standard. The first category, according to the Alberta Education website, refers to students who demonstrate a mastery of the core subject material while the latter includes students who demonstrate an understanding of the subject material. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

MPC grants conditional approval for public eyesore in Banff

It took the Town of Banff’s municipal planning commission over an hour of in camera discussion, but the group granted conditional approval of a project to redevelop a parcel of land that has largely been viewed as an eyesore in the middle of the downtown core.

The proposed redevelopment, which is located at 204 Wolf Street and is the site of Timbers Food Company Restaurant, is expected to cost over $3.5 million and will have space for one retail unit and two restaurants. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.