Banff

“We recognize the pandemic will present unprecedented challenges to families, workers and frontline responders for months to come. So BCCF encourages those who are able to continue to donate generously to help Bow Valley communities to respond."

With changes in Alberta legislation governing municipal elections, nomination papers can be filed as early as Jan. 1 for candidates wanting to run in the October 2021 municipal election.

With the downtown pedestrian zone going ahead next summer, administration at the Town of Banff believes visitor paid parking coupled with free intercept parking will help deal with congestion.

“In a year filled with so many sacrifices, it seems unfair to ask for more – but as social gatherings are a leading cause of transmission, this is our only option,” said Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, in her Thursday afternoon COVID-19 update.

The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity permanently laid off hundreds of staff this summer to weather the economic storm of the COVID-19 pandemic, but those tasked with leading the organization into the future are optimistic about its recovery.

“It is important that we remember spread of the virus can and will occur any time if we don’t continue to limit our close contacts with each other … 96 per cent of our total case count has occurred since the last week of October.”

In what is sure to be a controversial move, priority will be given to businesses like bars, restaurants and coffee shops over retailers to use outdoor public space, and if there are more tenants in one building than outdoor space available, there may be a lottery.

A winter pedestrian zone will see restaurants and bars allowed outdoor seating, and a skating rink built in the surface parking lot, to encourage more visitors to Bear Street this winter.

“Many restaurants and similar operations have told us because they cannot pay their own bills right now, that this will allow them to fully access the federal supports and provincial supports as we get through the difficult following weeks."

Mayor Karen Sorensen said that should the provincial government introduce new restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19 that “consistency across the province, rather than a patchwork approach would be greatly appreciated.”