Can you imagine packing up your belongings and moving to a different country? For good? Leaving your family behind in the hope of creating a better life for them all at some point?
Throughout the history of Canada, of course, it’s a story that’s played out over generations, going back to pre-Confederation. The story of the Argana family (page 5), is one that tugs at the heartstrings.
It’s the story of leaving one’s home, then creating another in a foreign land. In the end, the story rather mirrors that of Prairie settlers who left Europe to claim a slice of land of their own.
Here at the Outlook, we’re happy to see that the municipal government stepped up again and helped out – first with Hernan Argana calling Banff home, then the rest of his family – because as has been mentioned frequently in this editorial space, Banff is more than just a tourist location.
Sometimes, it seems, perhaps too much focus is placed on things tourist-y. Yes, tourism drives the Banff economy, there’s no doubt about that, but many people in Banff are just that, Banffites. They live and work in Banff, send their kids to school in Banff and enjoy the mountain lifestyle the town offers.
They’ve chosen Banff as their home, regardless of what tourists think of it.
That’s why it’s so encouraging to see the Town of Banff helping out in making those like the Argana family feel right at home – with all manner of support.
Arriving in Banff from the Phillipines in winter would be shocking, to say the least, and something like quickly getting warm coats on new young arrivals goes a long way in welcoming them.
Really, support by the Town of Banff is so in keeping with what is best about Bow Valley communities – the support for and the welcoming and embracing of everyone.
Banff in particular does, and will always, rely heavily on an influx of foreign workers to support its tourism-based economy. But the more it feels like home, the more successful the town will be as a community.
It’s much the same with the way our communities step up when local charities need a helping hand. And with fall nearly here and winter approaching, all manner of charitable groups will require assistance this year – be it the food bank, thrift store back-to-school backpack program, Jacket Frost of the YWCA’s Walk A Mile In Her Shoes…
Ice, ice baby
Hard on the heels of Canadian medal efforts at the London Olympics, the idea of turning a golf course driving range into a long track speed skating oval (page 6) is an intriguing one.
As we all know, one of the main attractions of the Bow Valley is the availability of recreational and outdoor pursuits and facilities.
By creating an outdoor speed skating oval, who knows, the Bow Valley may produce Olympic medallists like Clara Hughes or Gaetan Boucher. Already, the Banff Canmore Speed Skating Club has youngsters who are very strong in short track speed skating.
Laying down a speed skating oval in the middle of town would offer yet another tempting venue to keep young people athletically involved in their community.
Possibly the greatest upside to an outdoor speed skating oval is that, unlike the millions of dollars Banff and Canmore recreation facilities cost, an outdoor venue would be relatively cheap, and its creation could be halted should speed skating numbers drop off.
