Issue No 1 February 2004 Welcome Letter from the Editor Coming Up In Our Next Edition Rockies Events Calendar The best Canadian Rockies events calendar highlights so many events in Canmore and Banff that you'll be begging for some down time! Canmore's Native History Ancient pictographs are just one reminder of this area's rich and fascinating Native history. Discover the 11,000-year-old story behind the Canmore area's First Nations people. Adventures on Snowshoes Walk on clouds of powdery snow for miles amidst pristine Rocky Mountain scenery - on a snowshoeing adventure. Snowshoeing is fun, safe and a great way to enjoy the outdoors for all ages. Subscribe Today!     If you haven't already signed up to receive your free subscription to SolaraLife, sign up now by submitting your email address in the space provided above.	HOME   /   DO IT Annual festivals celebrate the joys of winter in the Canadian Rockies Midwinter in the Canadian Rockies is time for celebration — the days are getting longer, winter beauty sparkles on icy rivers, lakes and mountaintops, and every wintertime activity imaginable is reason enough to get out and enjoy the Bow Valley's winter festivals. Canmore Winter Festival The Canmore Winter Festival is a great excuse to dress warmly, ready a Thermos of hot chocolate, and head outdoors to enjoy a long list of activities meant to entertain young and old alike. "I get tons of calls and lots of emails from out-of-town because people find this to be an incredible winter setting as it is," says Chris Burr, the Town of Canmore's special events coordinator. "So they arrive here, and not only does it look beautiful, but there's tons of interesting things going on." The schedule for Canmore Winter Festival literally has something for every taste — both indoors and out. Sled dog races, parties and entertainment at local pubs, a ice-carving competition, classical music performances, a chili cook-off, indoor golfing, comedy and variety entertainers and hockey games are all on the bill for this year's big winter event. Sled dog races and the hilarious "Kid 'n Mutt" races on the downtown skating pond are a highlight for both spectators and participants, Burr says. Short-course sled dog races are staged this year, with the hopes of seeing a larger, internationally sanctioned event return to Canmore the following year. Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours of Canmore will also have a full team of their dogs on hand to race, then later provide short rides to all who'd like one. The 'Kid 'n Mutt' races offer a "howling good time" for the youngsters who are pulled on slippery "magic carpet" sleds by their canine family pets down a course in front of cheering crowds. Not every dog is made out as a racer, and previous years have seen teams pulled by Fido off-course towards the hot dog barbecue area! The Mayor's Challenge pits the mayors of Canmore and Banff in a short-course sled dog race, followed by a challenge between the valley's media. The local skating pond, located just a few minutes' walk from downtown Canmore, is also the site for the annual ice sculpture carving event, with the tongue-in-cheek title of "Grab a Slab." Amateur carvers enter to claim one of 30 blocks of ice procured by local volunteers from the Spray Lakes, located a half-hour drive into Kananaskis Country. The ice carving competition takes place the same day as the sled dog races and "Kid 'n Mutt" races, making for a full day of fun outdoors. The fun-filled '"Kid 'n Mutt" races at Canmore's Winter Festival often see both youngsters and pooches going madly off in all directions "It's going to be a big carnival type of event, " Burr says. A long-standing tradition since Canmore Winter Festival started 12 years ago is the Trappers' Ball at the Sherwood House restaurant and pub, located in an historic log cabin at the end of Main Street. A highlight of the ball is a performance by local thespians of a famous poem by Robert Service, "The Shooting of Dan McGrew." Turn-of-the-century costumes, dramatic delivery and many laughs are assured at this highly popular event. As the organizer for the premiere winter event in Canmore, Burr thinks local people are proud to showcase all the area has to offer in winter fun and outdoor recreation. back to top This ornate ice sculpture is an example of the beautiful work on display at "Ice Magic" in Lake Louise during the Banff/Lake Louise Winter Festival. This piece took second prize in the international competition. In many Canadian communities, winter festivals are billed as the best way to shake off the winter blues, but Burr contends Canmore people "don't suffer from the winter blues because we get a lot of sunlight and we're outdoor people and we're not hibernating because we're outside anyway. "I guess it's showing the world that the weather doesn't get us down!" As the organizer for the premiere winter event in Canmore, Burr thinks local people are proud to showcase all the area has to offer in winter fun and outdoor recreation. Banff/Lake Louise Winter Festival The first Banff/Lake Louise Winter Festival took place 87 year ago, when women were known to participate alongside the men in hockey games and on the ski hill in long skirts! "There are still some elements to winter festival that went on in the early days," says Cathy Sinclair Smith, organizer for this year's festival. One of the oldest events is the Snow Queen pageant, which has been modernized with today's Snow Ambassador Contest, open to both sexes. Local businesses sponsor young candidates, who go on to take part in a winter wear fashion show, a heritage seminar and quiz, one-on-one interviews with judges, a public speaking presentation, and a ski/snowboard race challenge. The first and second place winners, selected Jan. 23, become the Snow Ambassador and Snow Host respectively, and preside over the remaining two weeks of the festival. A sparkling highlight of the Banff/Lake Louise Winter Festival is the 10th Annual Ice Magic International Ice Sculpture Competition, held in Lake Louise, 50 minutes' drive west of Canmore. Ice carvers from around the world come together to create their chilly masterpieces on the shores of Lake Louise in front of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, and in the village at the Lake Louise Inn. Individual carvers and teams of two carve a total of 17 blocks of ice weighing 300 lbs. each into imaginative creations, which are left on display throughout the winter. Little ones can try their hand at ice carving at the Little Chipper Station in Samson Mall, with other activities including sleigh rides, cross-country skiing and guided snowshoeing treks. As with Canmore's winter festival, the fun in Banff and Lake Louise is both indoors and out, with participation from both locals and visitors warmly encouraged. Two popular sporting events in the Banff/Lake Louise Winter Festival are the Lake Louise to Banff Loppet Cross Country Ski Relay Race, and the Annual Mountain Madness Relay. The latter event is spectator-friendly, involving five-person teams that include a downhill skier, a runner, a skater, a cross-country skier and a skate skier. The race begins on Ski Banff@Norquay and ends at Banff's Central Park on the Bow River. A truly zany event is called Human Curling, and takes place on the skating rink at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Team members riding on inflated tires are pushed hither and yon in this game of both hilarity and accuracy. Shari Bishop Bowes
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