Located just 80 kilometres from Calgary and at the footsteps of the Canadian Rockies, you might be surprised to learn Canmore grew its roots as a mining town. Lining Canmore’s 150 year-old Main Street are modern bicycle paths, walking paths, and the makings of a modern city, encouraging tourists to breathe in the fresh mountain air and to set up camp at the base of the mountains. It’s tremendously refreshing.

It’s this modernity which caught our attention during an extra-long weekend stay. Through some of the harshest Canadian winters and enduring through the largest dumpings of snow, one of Bow Valley’s hearts puts its modern foot forward. Roads and walking paths are clean and pothole-free. Elevation Place glistens with its floor-to-sky glass walls. The Three Sisters loom over the city. And the Nordic Center just up the hill has been recycled as a national team practice facility following its use in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games.

Perhaps it’s telling that a majority of the local service providers and employees speak in non-Canadian-English accents. The attractiveness of the region and energy in the town must be thoroughly enticing for foreigners looking to experience the best of Canada during a lengthy stay. Many Canadians know Easterners who retire in Canmore and environs, while Commonwealth travellers increasingly call the city home. It makes a lot of sense, really.

So while we experienced the tease and luring toward the region, we can also rest easy knowing the jump-off city is in good hands. Knowing this is in our Canadian backyard is pride-inducing. We have the great oceans at the East and West, the rocky backbone Canadian Shield in the middle, and the never-ending and abundant Canadian Prairies ushering travellers into the majestic Canadian Rockies.

We have it all. Right here. Ready for you to jump into.

Photos shot with the Fujifilm X-T2, XF 23mm f/2, XF 35mm f/2, and XF 16mm f/1.4 lenses.