Cathy Ellis BANFF
A potential bid by Calgary to host the 2026 Olympics, which could see alpine events hosted at Lake Louise, is drawing mixed reaction from council candidates for Banff’s Oct. 16 municipal election.
Parks Canada outright turned down any Olympic events in Banff National Park in 1988 amid concerns about the pressure it would put on the park, but has been in talks with the Calgary Bid Exploration Committee on the potential for 2026.
Mayor Karen Sorensen said having an Olympic venue in Banff National Park was deemed inappropriate in 1988.
“I don’t know what would have changed between then and now for that opinion to be different,” she said. “Consideration to this request will be directed to Parks Canada, not the Town of Banff.”
Mayoral hopeful Hugh Pettigrew said he would welcome discussions should approvals be granted by Parks Canada, but said there are currently more pressing issues on council’s plate.
“During the 1988 Olympics, we did not have a lot of tourists come to town until after the event. It was a lot like what typically happens here during Stampede week, where tourists show up after the event.
“Now, of course, having said all the above, any news for Banff is positive advertising.”
Pettigrew also questioned whether the International Olympic Committee could leave Banff a legacy.
“Sponsor an affordable housing project or perhaps a parkade or an intercept parking lot,” he said.
The Calgary Bid Exploration Committee (CBEC) contacted Parks Canada earlier this year about the possibility of hosting alpine races at Lake Louise – and the federal agency did not shut down those talks.
Sean Beardow, CBEC’s communications manager, said the committee looked at several options for hosting alpine events, including Lake Louise.
“We’re evaluating Lake Louise as a potential venue. Obviously, it’s a current world cup venue, so obviously it makes a lot of sense to take a look at it,” he said earlier this year.
In August, Calgary council gave the nod for administrators to work with the City’s solicitor to move the bid from the exploration phase to the investigation phase. A report by the exploration committee pegged the cost of hosting the Olympics at $4.6 billion.
Allan Buckingham
While I wish Calgary luck in deciding this question, ultimately I don’t believe this will be an issue Banff as a municipality has much of a say in. Whether or not Lake Louise will be a site for alpine ski races is between them and Parks Canada. I do not believe having Olympic events inside the national park is a great idea, but it’s not my, or Banff town council’s, decision to make.
Grant Canning
Banff National Park hosting an Olympic event is an issue to be decided by the Calgary Olympic Bid Committee, Lake Louise Ski Area and Parks Canada, not the Town of Banff. From what I understand, the Town of Banff is not being considered to host any events and therefore the municipality does not have any direct role in the Olympic bid and nor should we. I don’t believe the Town of Banff should be hosting Olympic events. If Parks Canada and the Lake Louise Ski Area complete an environmental assessment and determine that there will be no net negative impact by hosting a temporary event at an existing commercial operation and subsequently Parks Canada approves the hosting of that event, then I would support it. However, my support would be conditional upon there being no impact on the local environment.
Ted Christensen
What catches my eye is the $2.4 billion required in public funds and a $2.2 billion shortfall projected, not including transportation costs a new field house, a new arena and security.
Part of the responsibility, I feel, in living here is to be a custodian of the town and the park as this is a special place; our UNESCO World Heritage Site.
I would certainly have to hear more arguments in favour of the 2026 Olympic bid even though my recollections of ‘88 are still very clear.
Dave Dickson
With Calgary being the host city and Lake Louise being the suggested site, I do have concerns that the town of Banff may not see all the benefits that go along with hosting the event. I would encourage investment/involvement that did not have us spending a lot of tax dollars. I would investigate if we could seek out partners with the tourism bureau and Travel Alberta for funding. I would also like to ensure that any spends from the Town of Banff had a long-term benefit.
Corrie DiManno
The Olympics are a wonderful event that can really bring a community together. Even in this past term we saw how everyone rallied together to run the 2014 Alberta Winter Games and how successful that was. However, for a large-scale event like the Olympics, it’s hard for me to express support without understanding the full logistics or finances of the Town of Banff getting involved. I think council would need to be made fully aware of all impacts and requirements of the Town before making a decision.
Barry Ferguson
I think it would be great for the Bow Valley, for Alberta and for Canada. Being here for the 1988 Olympics was an outstanding experience. The events were well run and the cost did not become a burden to taxpayers, so we have proven we can come together and create an event that enhances lives and communities. More importantly, the Games are a rare opportunity for our athletes and Albertans to show off our talent, our people and our home. Lake Louise would be a good place for some of the downhill skiing events as it’s a first class facility. There would be many considerations on environmental impact and wildlife that would have to be addressed before Parks Canada could even consider it, but I think the long-term positive experience for the Bow Valley as a community is worth the effort. I don’t see it as being impossible.
Lorraine Harder
I would support bringing the Olympics to Banff National Park. I think this would present a unique opportunity for us to showcase both, the town of Banff and Banff National Park, as a leader in environmental, economic and cultural sustainability. We would have the chance to educate the global community on protecting the environment and creating a sustainable, working environment. We would have the opportunity to show that preservation and protection need to be at the forefront for all future developments, in order for our next generations to have a sustainable world. All decision-making parties – the IOC, City of Calgary, Town of Banff, Parks Canada, BLLT – would have to agree on conditions to put the environmental integrity of the town and the park first.
Rob Lillington
Banff National Park is a protected, ecologically sensitive region, and is not an appropriate place to hold an event on the scale of the Olympic games. Apart from environmental impacts and security risks, history shows that post-Olympic communities are usually saddled with massive debt, unused single-purpose facilities and redundant infrastructure. The IOC itself has a spotty reputation for pay-to-play shenanigans, and applies pressure to ensure costs are socialized while profits are privatized. With the lucrative appeal of short-term rentals, many Whistler residents were displaced during the 2010 Games.
There are many areas in which the federal and provincial governments might invest to better benefit our community rather than funding another Olympics. With property tax rates and the appropriateness of expenditures on the minds of residents, Banff should avoid allocating public funds towards bids or other expensive exploratory processes in pursuit of these Games.
Doug Macnamara
In general, I am personally favourable to bringing the Olympics to Lake Louise and Banff area. I think we’ve shown this summer an ability to use busing and traffic management to handle increased flows of people into town and the park – working in partnership with Parks Canada and others.
That said, the community must be behind this fully. It’s not just about being supportive – we are going to need a community that is willing to put in many hours of volunteer effort and comply with security/environmental procedures. Thus we should be engaging the people and businesses in town in the dialogue – and in advance soon. We also need to understand the various direct and indirect costs to support it. More to know before deciding yes or no.
Chip Olver
We will see Olympic excitement in Banff if Calgary hosts the 2026 games wherever the alpine ski racing site is. The determination of whether or not a winter Olympics event should be held in Banff National Park is up to Parks Canada. I think it is premature to speculate on the outcome of a request to hold this event at Lake Louise and hard to even know what needs to be studied to make the decision.
Peter Poole
As a businessman who remembers the national outrage 40 years ago over the Village Lake Louise Olympics proposal, this question was settled long ago. Though it sounds glamorous at first, it’s a non-starter for two reasons. First, from a taxpayer’s perspective, everyone knows hosting Olympic events raises taxes, raises rental rates and squeezes housing. I’ve built housing; we don’t need more housing problems. Second, from a business perspective, we don’t want another national battle between people across Canada who want to protect our park and one or two local businesses.
Therefore, as someone who works to build bridges between businesses and environmentalists, let’s work together for what matters long term.
Wade Rettie
Personally, I would like to see the Olympics come to Lake Louise. To have some of the best athletes in the world competing up the road is exciting. Lake Louise would be the host site and as such this would be an issue for them to consider. There may be a call for some activities in Banff that would need to be considered should they be proposed. From the Town of Banff stance, I believe we would see an increase in tourism and exposure to the world. One thing to consider is how much money the Olympics can bring in for our province and community. An event like the Olympics needs volunteer housing and in many cases have left legacy venues for people to utilize for years afterward. A potential project could be to have the Olympic Organizing Committee partner with the town to create housing, which could be utilized as affordable housing after the events. Should Calgary be successful with its bid and the alpine events are in Lake Louise or Nakiska, Banff will be busy.
Brian Standish
My answer is partly based on my personal experience from both times the winter Olympics were hosted in Canada. In 1988, I was a volunteer at the Canmore Nordic Centre and I worked the Vancouver Olympics in 2010. Both experiences were incredibly rewarding and if the opportunity presented itself, I would jump at the chance of doing it again.
However, the real reason I would support the Games coming to Banff is because this would be a chance for Banff National Park to show the world you can host an Olympic games and be a leader in environmental stewardship. From the outset of this process our goal should be to make this the greenest games ever and to create sustainable legacies that would benefit the residents of the Bow Valley, Alberta, and all Canadians.
Christopher Wong
Olympic host cities tend to receive a short term gain in exchange for long term pain – the IOC bidding process seems to encourage wasteful spending, ultimately leaving host cities to pick up the tab. But hosting the Olympics could also be a useful political catalyst for Parks Canada to work together with council to address major issues such as housing, parking and transportation. Generally, I would be in support of bringing the Olympics to Banff, but only if Calgary and the provincial and federal governments were willing to shoulder the majority of the costs of doing so, along with long-term maintenance or decommissioning costs. It’s not fair nor sustainable to ask Banff’s residents to shoulder the costs and risks themselves.
Jon Whelan
I do not support holding the Olympics in Banff National Park. However, my opinion as a possible future councillor on this possibility is irrelevant. I realize that Parks Canada is the ultimate decision-maker regarding the Olympics. However, an event of this magnitude must involve residents of the town of Banff whose opinions must be solicited and, most importantly, heeded. After the collective opinions of residents have been assessed, Parks Canada must make a decision that supports the will of Banff residents.
Tony Bumbaco did not meet the Outlook’s deadline.
