‘We just want to take it slow’: Banff braces for return of visitors
The Banff community is preparing to open its gates to the public as access to national parks resumes next month, but officials say visitors should expect a different experience than normal due to ongoing coronavirus-related restrictions.
Banff Mayor Karen Sorensen said the town would use the next few weeks to implement various safety measures and mitigations to help residents and guests maintain a proper distance in public areas.
“It’s going to be a different summer in Banff National Park and in the Town of Banff,” Sorensen said.
“We’re anxious to have Alberta back to the Town of Banff, we just have to add, ‘when it’s safe to do so.’ We’re just not ready yet.”
Ottawa announced Thursday limited visitor access to certain national parks and historic sites will be restored starting June 1. Some trails, day-use areas and green spaces will reopen beginning next month, while all camping facilities remain closed until at least June 21.
No details were offered on which national parks will be included in the relaunch.
That information will be released in the coming weeks, along with specifics surrounding parking areas, trailheads and facilities that will be usable for the general public, according to Ed Jager, director of visitor experience for Parks Canada.
“When they do come, it’s not going to be the same experience they’re used to,” Jager said.
“We’re not going to be returning to full operations immediately. It’s going to be gradual.”
The plan involves about 38 parks and 171 historic sites.
National parks throughout the country have been off-limits since mid-march, with visitor services and vehicle access suspended, due to the global COVID -19 pandemic.
“We just want to take it slow,” said Sorensen.
She said the town is exploring new designs for its sidewalks and roadways to ensure adequate space is available when people are lined up outside a store or restaurant. One plan being considered is closing its main downtown stretch along Banff Avenue to vehicles.
“This is about the community’s safety, but it’s about visitor safety as well,” she said.
Having time to prepare for the return of visitors is key for businesses in the area, said Leslie Bruce, president and CEO of Banff Lake Louise Tourism. She said most operations need a few weeks to ensure staff members are trained to adhere to physical distancing protocols and that sufficient personal protective equipment is in place.
But she called it an exciting time, following an “incredibly difficult” two-month period that saw unemployment in Banff hit 85 per cent as the tourism industry temporarily crumbled.
“We went from vibrancy to ... ghost town,” Bruce said. “People are really, really excited to get back to work and to welcome people back, but it definitely is coming with a sense that we have to do it right.”
Daryn Mccutcheon, owner of local tour company Banff Adventures, agreed it is important to “ramp up slowly.”
Mccutcheon said he anticipates plenty of Albertans flocking to the area once Banff gets the go-ahead.
“I think there’s a lot of pentup energy. People are going to be looking to get out and get some fresh air,” Mccutcheon said. “We just want to make sure that we take our time to do it right and that we don’t race back and cause problems. We’re going to ask people to be patient, but I think that we can offer an opportunity to get people out on the water and have some fun.”
In nearby Canmore, there’s a sense of “guarded” optimism among the town’s residents and business community, according to Mayor John Borrowman.
With warmer weather and restored access to nearby provincial parks, along with Stage 1 of Alberta’s relaunch underway, Borrowman said the town’s messaging has shifted from the “please don’t come” cry of recent months.
“It’s a very cautious welcome,” he said. “We’re not flinging open the doors and saying ‘business as usual.’ It’s going to be very, very challenging for communities like Canmore to manage increased numbers of people.”
The mountain town is also considering a ban on vehicles on its main downtown corridor, which could turn 8th Street into a pedestrian-only zone for the foreseeable future, Borrowman said.
Signage along roads entering the town also makes note of limited services, such as lack of public access to washrooms.
“There’s a great deal of anxiety about increasing numbers of people,” Borrowman said. “It’s really critical that everybody continues to follow the directions.”