Mapping Canmore’s Cultural Development

The cultural traditions of the Stoney Nakoda, Blackfoot, and Tsuut’ina Nations, and the Métis Region 3 are integral to Canmore in terms of both its history and its future. Cultural memory – whether in the form of tactile creations or stories –is the influential strength of collective consciousness, lays a foundation for continuity, and can be the mechanism for future actions.

In the 1920s, settler culture began contributing to this history through the music of H. W. McNeill Brass Band, the paintings of Duncan Crockford, the cowboy songs of George Fisher, and hooked rugs made by the Finnish community. In the 1940s and 1950s, Canmore became an important plein-air site for students from the Banff School of Fine Arts, established in 1933.

The affordability of the mining community drew artists and artisans to Canmore in the 1960s and 1970s. With them came the establishment of cultural organizations and events – the Canadian Mountain Arts Foundation (’75); Canmore Folk Music Festival (’78); Harvie Heights Weavers and Spinners; Pine Tree Players (’78); Canmore Artists and Artisans Guild (’80); Winter Carnival; and Canada Day Celebrations – many are still active today.

In the 1990s and early 2000s the town’s Public Art Program was instituted, cultural policies and plans were developed, and community culture continued to emerge –the Canmore Highland Games (’91); Valley Winds Music Association (’94); Mountain Cabin Quilters Guild (’95); Bow Valley Chorus (’99); Conquest Theatre, Mayor’s Awards for Arts and Culture; and Artists of Elk Run, among many others.

From 2010 onward, the cultural sector continued to thrive and grow. Elevation Place and artsPlace opened – many survey respondents cited artsPlace as key to the growth of arts and culture in Canmore. Events included Shakespeare in the Park; Art in the Park; Heartburn; Rogue Theatre; improv; film screenings; music in coffee shops, churches, caves and other community spaces; and, in 2016, Canmore hosted its first National Indigenous People’s Day Celebrations.

From Indigenous cultural traditions, theatre to music, visual art to literary arts, public art to dance, culture is celebrated – the cultural community has attained an enviable level of success, making for a dynamic foundation to build on to create a new vision over the next 10 years.

Canmore’s Cultural History – A Mapping Event with the Community

Cultural Participation

The community survey asked the question: “Where do you create, participate in, or consume culture?” Over 500 respondents listed these as the top ten places:

• artsPlace

• festivals

• arts events

• home or studio

• Elevation Place

• private gatherings

• bars and taverns

• outside Canmore

• the market

• commercial galleries

A snapshot of town-led activities in 2019 demonstrates a high level of community engagement and participation in events.

The Cultural Economy

In a 2015 study conducted on behalf of Canmore Business and Tourism, creative, cultural, and multimedia initiatives were identified as having high potential for growth. The study showed that this sector represented revenues of $12,385,000 (as of 2014) and employed 100 workers in 90 businesses and indicated that there are major barriers to further growth in the cultural sector such as affordable housing, affordable commercial spaces, and lack of broadband.

In a more recent study for the Economic Development Strategic Plan, the industry summary for arts, entertainment, and recreation shows a total of 474 jobs in the region in 2018, which is 160 per cent above the national average and a 25.4 per cent change from 2014. The same study indicates that there are 64 registered arts and culture businesses in Canmore. Private sector and private development initiatives that support the growing cultural and creative industry sectors through affordable leases for creation hubs and spaces will be critical in the town’s economic diversification initiatives.