Editor:
Re: Less events at the Nordic Centre would benefit wildlife
As a local citizen, Karsten Heuer should know that the pressure on the wildlife in the Canmore Corridor is due to the increase in population.
In 1986 -87 when the Canmore Nordic Centre was built as an Olympic centre for Nordic sport, Canmore had about 4,000 citizens. Presently, our narrow valley has more than 10,000 residents, plus 1,000s of visitors. Local tourists and commerce services are very busy to invite more and more people here.
The Canmore Nordic Centre, the best centre for Nordic sports in Canada, was created as a provincial park with more focus on public recreation.
In the summer time, when wildlife activity is the highest, there is no weekend in Canmore without some sort of formalized race or event at the Nordic Centre, from biking, running, and triathlons, to name a few.
In the last several years, the web of mountain biking trails at the Canmore Nordic Centre has grown. There are also weekends when camp at the venue is permitted.
Did you ever see, how busy is there? Did you ever speak out against it?
For these reasons, we are amazed than you, as the past Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Intitiative representative could have proclaimed that restriction on International Biathlon Union races, which occur once every few years during winter when wildlife activity is at its lowest, could help to protect wildlife.
Eva and Petr Zidek,
Canmore
