Editor:
Standing tall at the corner of Wolf and Muskrat streets in Banff, the rich scarlet red house with a broad porch, featuring white turned railings and decorative gables, is named the Kidney House. This beautiful home has held stories of a baker, a philosopher and a Banff guide. But now, an outside developer has bought this remarkable piece of our town and plans to bulldoze it. We need your help.
We, the Bowstrings Heritage Foundation, have already contacted the Edmonton lawyer for the owners. We've asked to negotiate for the building's protection.
In my 25 years of fighting to protect Banff's heritage, I've learned that we can protect these important buildings if we work together: Parks Canada, the municipality, businesses, trades and residents. How can you help? Feel welcome to contact us. Also, writing the Park superintendent and mayor helps. And using your rights to appeal permits before the development appeal board.
Like many in this town, I believe that our leaseholds in the park are more than just private property. Some portion of our town belongs to all Canadians. Our heritage in Banff represents the great story of national parks in Canada. As we walk by a building like this on a daily basis, it begins to belong to all of us, and in turn, we feel a deeper sense of belonging to our community. Restoring buildings, in a sense, re-stories our community. These stories contribute to our town's authenticity, unmatched by tourism competitors like Whistler. We believe that heritage buildings add to the quality, character and attraction of our community and our National Park.
Peter J. Poole,
President of the Bowstrings Heritage Foundation,
Banff
