The round table of the Banff National Park planning forum – set up more than 15 years ago to make Parks Canada more publicly accountable – will now only convene every other year.
This year’s planning forum is a two-hour event only, scheduled for Thursday evening (Dec. 12), and includes a review of the year and a question and-answer period with park superintendents.
Parks Canada officials say they discussed the effectiveness of the two-day planning forum with participants last year and, based partly on their input, the round table will meet every two years.
“We’re finding some of the priorities and topics that went through the forum process would take more than a year to show tangible results,” said Dave McDonough, superintendent of Banff National Park.
“It also takes a considerable effort to develop a two-day forum, though it’s very important we maintain an opportunity for people to hear and discuss and ask questions about what happened throughout the year.”
The round table came out of the Banff-Bow Valley Study. The panel is made up of stakeholders from various sectors, including tourism, conservation, the Town of Banff, First Nations and ski areas, among many more.
The 16th annual planning forum will begin with a presentation of the projects and achievements that demonstrate progress on achieving Banff’s management plan vision and key strategies.
It will also conclude with a question and answer session with superintendent McDonough and Melanie Kwong, superintendent for Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay.
The two-hour session starts at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12 at Harkin Hall at the Parks Canada administration building in Banff.
