Increased Visitation

Banff is one of the most beautiful and sought-after places in the world. This is our greatest strength, but it also presents our greatest challenge. For many in our community, the feeling is we have reached the upper limit of how much visitation our infrastructure, our resources, and our residents can support. I hear you, and I feel it too. The daily pressures on our roads, our public spaces, our grocery stores are a direct result of our success, and it’s something we cannot ignore.

While tourists are the lifeblood of our economy, we cannot let the pressures of a growing number of visitors compromise the quality of life for those who call Banff home. The truth is, tourists have a right to be here, and they drive our entire economy. The real challenge is managing success in a way that is sustainable for everyone.

While I have some ideas, like Car-Free tourist packages, using predictive analytics and AI to help manage people flow better, this is not an issue that can be solved by one person or one group alone. It requires a collaborative effort between the Town of Banff, Parks Canada, our local businesses, and most importantly, our residents. We need to bring everyone to the table in a collaborative system-based approach to find a sustainable solution. My plan is to work tirelessly to build those bridges and find solutions that balance economic prosperity with community well-being. 

This means guiding our collaborative efforts toward tangible results. My focus will be on prioritizing improvements to public transit, finding creative ways to manage the flow of vehicles and pedestrians, and ensuring our public spaces remain accessible and enjoyable for those who call Banff home.