Canmore’s elected officials have been asked to pass a motion to show their support for efforts to reintroduce bison to Banff National Park.
Bill Luxton and Julia Lynx with the Eleanor Luxton Historical Foundation were in front of council last week requesting council pass a resolution urging Parks Canada to move ahead with wild bison restoration in the Bow and Red Deer valleys as soon as possible.
Luxton said the as the sponsors of the Bison Belong campaign, the foundation believes bison on the landscape restores the ecological integrity of the national park.
“We have had an interesting journey over the last two years when we stepped forward to promote the reintroduction of bison to Banff National Park,” he said. “(Parks Canada) has indicated it will be introducing bison to the park and we would really appreciate the support of this community.”
Lynx, a Canmore resident for the past 12 years, said through the campaign they have found that people are supportive.
“We are hopeful Parks Canada will move forward sooner rather than later,” she said.
Recently, the Bison Belong campaign and Parks Canada hosted a public forum in Banff on the subject, which involved officials from Jackson Hole, where bison in nearby Yellowstone National Park have been a success for tourism.
Mayor Ron Casey said when visiting that area before he found seeing bison an amazing site.
“From a Town perspective, I think there is a good hook here,” Casey said. “People have a huge association with them, but don’t have an opportunity to see them.”
