Canmore Luxury Homes - Reports and Insight

As a service to my clients I will be putting together news and information about the Canmore are on a regular basis. When you are shopping for luxury homes, you want an agent on your side who knows the ins and outs of the local area.  I can provide you the level of service you are looking for, and try to prove that by keeping my clients up to date on local market conditions.

Luxury Homes Report - Wednesday July 28/2010 - Andre Gareau Ends Ten Year Stint on Canmore Council

Canmore councilman Andre Gareau is stepping down after ten year of service to the community. The sometimes psychologist/teacher/legal researcher plans to spend more time on local mountains snowboarding. It is, after all, why he moved to the area in the first place. Work for a few more years, snowboard, retire, more snowboarding, and so on.

When Gareau first arrived in Canmore he had intended on continuing to work in research, but instead ended up filling a number of odd jobs that included tour guide, picture framer and census taker. His favorite stint was as an information representative for Banff National Park. Gareau got into politics because he wanted to help preserve the natural beauty of the area.

Before being elected to council in 2000, Gareau was instrumental in getting bear proof garbage containers made mandatory, which cut down on the number of bears wandering into town and then having to be put down because they were too accustomed to humans. He was also on the committee that kept Wind Valley from being developed.

Once on council, Gareau continued to keep his eye on environmental issues, including that of keeping wildlife corridors intact. There has been considerable interest in development in the valley, especially since this once well kept secret has caught the public eye. Gareau’s successes include keeping Quarry Lake development free, as well as the Spray Valley.

Luxury Homes Report - Wednesday July 7/2010 - Two Day Barbeque Helps Canmore Family Dealing With Cancer

People in Canmore have good hearts. Paul Carrington and his family found this out first hand when a barbeque was held the weekend of June 30th to help his family cope with the chemotherapy sessions his 23 month old son Ryan is undergoing. Held on two afternoons, the impromptu sale netted $5,500 to help with medical and other related expenses the family is facing. The treatment requires multiple trips to the Calgary Children’s Hospital.

Organized by Heather Bester, the affair was held in front of Canmore Safeway. Employees of the store and others helped man the grill and donated as well. Even out of towners got caught up in the event with some British pounds showing up in the donation box. A local charity, Blessed are the Children, contributed $1000 to the cause.

Ironically, on July 5th, the day that Paul received the money, his car had broken down. He and his four year old son Matthew met organizers at the store. Amanda, his wife, stayed home with Ryan because the child’s immune system is weak and he can’t be amongst crowds. Paul and his family were more than a bit overwhelmed and extremely grateful.

Luxury Homes Report - Thursday June 24/2010 - Canmore’s ArtPeak Festival Draws Sunshine Aficionados and Classic Car Lovers

Sunny skies and warm temperatures greeted Bow Valley residents attending the Canmore ArtsPeak festival. Visitors were lured by a street fair, workshops and a Rolling Sculpture car show held Sunday at Centennial Park. People could learn the art of watercolour painting, watch street performers, sample tempting foods and have a drink or two.

Magician James Jordan from Calgary was a hit, as was a street performer named Flying Bob who performed a tight rope routine above Main Street. Local entertainers included Kristy Davidson and Company who entertained the crowd with song as they strolled along Main Street and Marra’s Way.

The car show was the big draw with over 160 pride-and-joys on display. They included a 1965 Shelby Cobra car built from a kit, a 1957 Ford Custom 300 and a Radical race car destined to race in Las Vegas sometime later this year. That four wheeled bit of fun is capable of 135 miles per hour on the straightaway and sometimes over 100 in the corners. The owner is a competing race car driver who feels safer in that than on the highway to Calgary.

Luxury Homes Report - Wendesday June 9/2010 - Canmore and Bighorn Municipal District Strive For Mutual Services Agreement

The town of Canmore and the Municipal District of Bighorn are looking into re-negotiating their mutual services agreements. Canmore’s city council has already passed the initiative to proceed with the talks and Bighorns’s representatives are expected to follow suit. Last year a similar agreement was attempted but that was rejected at the end of June by the town of Canmore.

The committee will include Martin Buckley from Bighorn and Don Kochan from Canmore, making up the two CAOs. Elected officials participating include Mayor Ron Casey and Shane Jonker, Counsellor both from Canmore and Paul Adams, Counsellor and Dene Cooper, Reeve, both from Bighorn. Meetings have already been held, but official approval was needed on both sides to begin the negotiations in earnest.

Services being discussed include fire departments, cemetery use, shared recreational facilities and any other aspect that might be beneficial to the two areas. Included in the discussion is a “first response” agreement between the two municipalities. Cost appears to be one of the stumbling blocks needing negotiations.

Luxury Homes Report - Wendesday June 2/2010 - “I Wish I Had A Waterfront Condo” - A Dream Mantra For Albertans

Almost everyone has a wish list. For Albertans, high on that list is the purchase of recreational property sometime within the next two years or so. Condos in a resort setting are the property of choice for 29 percent of those participating in an Angus Reid survey for Royal LePage Real Estate Services.

Other dreams high on that list were buying an RV or mobile home at 18 percent and a cottage and/or timeshare on a lake at 14 percent. Across the country, the cottage by the lake was the clear front runner, chosen by 34 percent of participants. Condos came in second at 24 percent.

Albertans were more mindful of the long term investment potential of condo ownership than those in other part of Canada and 49 percent of survey takers listed this as the reason to buy. The lifestyle that a resort condo afforded was also considered important by 49 percent of Albertans.

Features that attracted Albertans to certain condos and/or areas were the ability to use the property year round, coming in at 51 percent, nearby amenities, 48 percent, and easy access to a beach or body of water at 42 percent. 41 percent of Albertans also were fond of peace and quiet.

Sales for recreational properties in Alberta have already had a strong showing through the first few months of 2010. Prices are also starting to increase. Currently, a three bedroom, 1,000 square foot waterfront property on a 30.5 metre lot can go anywhere from $300,000 to $500,000.

Luxury Homes Report - Friday May 7/2010 - Permission Granted for Phase 2 of Canmore Multiplex

Canmore’s proposed multiplex project came closer to reality as well as its May 2012 date of completion at the council meeting during the week of April 26. The conceptual design, executed by Gibbs Gage Architects, Inc., received approval, and permission was given to proceed with the project’s second phase. This phase would include an architectural design with greater detail than the original rendering of the building. The estimated total cost of the multiplex is in the range of $38.9 million.

Although Canmore mayor Ron Casey indicated he was satisfied with the current design work, he said he said he was concerned about the impact of the venue on the town’s overall operating budget.

Also covered in the council meeting was the prospect of Canmore’s moving to a stand-alone, independent fire department as of April 2011. The town is also exploring the cost of a possible regional transit program. With these projects in mind, Casey moved to delay any decisions on going forward with the multiplex until there is a better idea of projected ongoing costs.

Don Kochan, the town’s CAO, said that Canmore has been involved with the provincial government to assess the effect of a change in emergency medical services (EMS) and fire services. The province assumed control over ambulance services throughout Alberta in 2008, but Canmore continues to be one of the 12 towns that continue to have integrated ambulance service. It is now a question as to whether EMS and fire services will continue to be integrated in Canmore. The town’s contract with regard to these services will expire on March 31 of next year.

Luxury Homes Report - Saturday May 1/2010 - Three-Pointer Wins the Peaks their Tournament

The Mature Peaks beat the SkyKings in a narrow 52-51 victory in the over-35 division of their Bow Valley Basketball Tournament. The tournament took place on Sunday, April 25, 2010 at Canmore Collegiate school.

The SkyKings began taking the lead in the second half after a close first half, scoring three, three-point shots one after the other. The baskets took them to a 44-36 point lead, but the Mature Peaks took advantage of mistakes the SkyKings made and began lessening the point gap.

In the final few seconds left of the game, the SkyKings were leading 51-49. Murray Cunningham of the Mature Peaks blocked an attempted basket, took the ball down the court and sunk a three-point basket that won his team the game and the championship.

Cunningham played basketball with the University of Alberta team and is from Lacombe.

The Mature Peaks ladies’ team didn’t fare as well, however. After two three-point shots at the end of the game, they lost their first round-robin game, then went on to lose their second game to Holly Swat. In their final game against the North Stars, they lost again for a fifth-place finish.

In the tournament’s Masters division, Canmore PVR wound up in seventh place after beating Bill’s Crew 69-65.

The Bow Valley Peaks Tournament continues this weekend with the under-35 women and men.

Luxury Homes Report - Friday April 23rd/2010 - AMPPE Looking For Ways To Encourage Visitor Exploration In Banff National Park

The Association for Mountain Park Protection and Enjoyment (AMPPE) is the organization that promotes sustainable tourism in Canada’s National Park System. Richard Leavens, the executive director, was in Canmore to give members of the Bow Valley Builders and Developers Association a better idea of what AMPPE is trying to accomplish.

Banff National Park, what many consider the crown jewel of the park system, is in such close proximity to Canmore and Calgary that how that park is, and could be used, is of special interest to the Bow Valley. In some respects the park is underused. Some visitors find the town of Banff and never venture off of the main street. They don’t know what they are missing.

AAPPE supports creating a ring trail, perhaps one that circuits the town or may be even one that connects the Basin and the Cave to the town. This could encourage people to hike or bike around the area and take in the natural beauty that they would miss if they spent their entire vacation wandering within town limits.

The organization has already participated in the planning of the Legacy Trail that will someday connect Lake Louise to Canmore. That project, a bike trail costing $6.75 million is only one of the ventures AAPPE supports.

Other ideas include changing the Banff East Gate entrance, which in reality is not very welcoming. It resembles a border crossing, but one that asks for money. The entrance to one of Canada’s most beautiful areas should be more inviting. Using some of the land north of the entry gate for a visitor’s information centre would be a good start. Another would be implementing an annual National Park Pass which would allow access to all the parks in the system. This would be a pleasant option to the pay-as-you-go system in place now and would encourage more frequent park visits.

Luxury Homes Report - Thursday April 15th/2010 - Spring Home Seekers Risk Seduction By Dream Home Fantasies

You would think that buying a home would be a logical, well thought out process in which we analysed all possibilities both financial and practical before we made our dream home choice. But, the key word here is “dream.” Our emotions come into play as we fantasize how the four bedroom, two bath with the big fenced yard that may not be big enough for a pony but for that swimming pool that’s always been on the back burner.

Never mind that the home is over an hour away from our jobs, that we will be spending time sipping coffee from a travel mug in the early hours while sitting in bumper to bumper traffic. It is that big back yard and all that living space that seduces us.

Sometimes it is OK to be seduced. The house is affordable, your job allows you to work at home at least part time or you have a flexible schedule. Your kids are old enough not to worry if mom or dad are a little late and can be trusted not to burn that dream home down in some freak accident.

But there are times when signing the dotted line for that dream home is not such a great idea, particularly if you are taking out a mortgage that stretches your budget to the limit. In this day and age it is easy to do, or at least as of this writing. Interest rates are low, down payment amounts are still pretty minimal and banks, though perhaps not as eager as a few months ago are qualifying buyers so they can go out on that spring home search.

The trick is to find a happy medium between the seduction and the practicality. Finding a home that you can afford can help you sleep better at night. If you are paying off a mortgage each month by the skin of your teeth, then in reality your home owns you, not the other way around. Spring home fever or no, take a dose of reality and wear your practicality hat when and if you go searching for that first or next, perhaps not so humble abode.

Luxury Homes Report - Wednesday April 7th/2010 - Albertans overlooking Canmore condo investments

It can be easy to forget about your own backyard when looking for a vacation spot, but Albertans could be missing out on a strong investment in a relaxing environment. And that comes without plane trips, taxes, destination research, excursion costs and the accompanying headache.

Bellstar’s Canmore properties are a short four hour drive from Edmonton and a quick one hour drive from Calgary, yet only 50 per cent of investors are Albertan. Other Canadians, mostly B.C. residents in the Lower Mainland, U.S. and overseas citizens make up the other 50 per cent.

Lonely Planet’s Blue List has featured the Alberta Rockies has a number one adventure destination, making it a popular spot for millions of international visitors. Those visitors can even help buyers pay their mortgage. Bellstar’s properties, including Blackstone Mountain Lodge, Fire Mountain Lodge, Canmore Crossing and Mystic Springs Chalet and Hot Pools, are not time-share investments but can be rented out through the company’s pool program.

All properties boast concierge service and mountain views, and are near to have onsite facilities including golf courses, restaurants, shops, art galleries, spas and hospitals. They even include fine finishing like granite countertops and slate floor, and small details like bedding and dishes, making your trip welcoming and hassle-free.

And with condo prices stabilizing and beginning to rise, now might be the time for Albertans to open their eyes to their backyard, and capitalize on the opportunity while it lasts.

Luxury Homes Report - Tuesday March 30th/2010 - Canadian Cross Country Ski Team Plagued by Caustic Emails After Brian McKeever Story Breaks

Communication is everything. The story of Brian McKeever, a cross country skier with less than 10 percent of normal vision that qualified to race in the regular 2010 Olympic Games, was not quite clear. Rather than advising readers that McKeever was an alternate slated to race if any of his four team mates could not, the story was twisted to say he would race. When that didn’t happen, the men who did race, and who did well in the event, got slammed for something that was not their doing.

The four racers Ivan Babikov, Alex Harvey, George Grey and Devon Kershaw all finished in the top 10 in seven of the events. Kershaw came within 0.6 seconds of a medal, finishing fourth. Prior to the 2010 Winter Games, Canada never had anyone finish higher than 14th in cross country skiing.

After the news broke that McKeever would not race, all four men as well as the coaching staff were subjected to caustic emails and comments from the public. All of this because of a news story that took the wrong slant. Dave Wood, the team manager was receiving 40 to 50 uncomplimentary emails a day.

Brian McKeever did end up racing in the 2010 Paralympics in Whistler, winning three gold medals in the process. He got his moment in the sun, times three. It is too bad that the facts in this incident were so convoluted that the four racers in the regular 2010 Games didn’t get the recognition they deserved.

Luxury Homes Report - Wednesday March 24th/2010 - Drying Streams and Creeks a Threat to Trout Population in Canmore

Ponds and creeks in Canmore are drying up and the fish, many of them still small fry, are in danger of dying. But after local folks discovered the problem, an effort began to save the tiny swimmers.

Brenda Nolan took her puppy Judd for a walk and found the troubled fish. She reported the problem to the local Fish and Wildlife office and the rescue mission was begun. Nolan and Dave Dickenson, a wildlife officer, went down to Policemen’s Creek and started moving the fish to a spot farther downstream where the water was still flowing. So far about 200 fish have been rescued.

Most of the rescued fish were in the four to five centimetre range and were mostly brown and brook trout. A few bull trout young were also rescued. Some of the fish were larger, up to 28 centimetres in length. There is a spawning ground behind the Mountain Shadows condos right where the Canmore Creek spills into the Bow River.

Brown trout season opens in Canmore on April 1st and it is legal to fish in all streams and creeks in the city from then until September. It is hoped that March and April bring more snow so the eventual runoff will rehydrate the city’s trout rich waterways.

Luxury Homes Report - Friday March 12th/2010 - Sleek Urban Hotels Meet Down to Earth Alberta

Metropolitan Hotels, an upscale urban hotel chain, is opening the Grande Rockies Resort in Canmore on May 1st.  The outside façade may not look that much different than those of its mountain neighbours, but inside, the word luxury is aptly applied. Chrystal chandeliers accent the high ceiling lobby and an oversized marble fireplace creates a commanding focal point.

The property offers one and two bedroom suites complete with fully equipped gourmet kitchens boasting granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and cozy breakfast nooks.  Living rooms offer gas fireplaces, 42 inch flat screen TVs and are furnished in warm wood tones.  Furnished balconies offer views of the surrounding mountains. Bedrooms offer down duvets and Italian linens adorning pillow top mattresses designed by Vera Wang.  The rain shower is particularly interesting, switching from steam to spray at the flick of a wrist.

Another company putting its urban stamp on downtown Calgary is the Quebec based Groupe Germain which just opened its Hotel Le Germain Calgary in the city’s downtown core. The lobby is a picture of modernity with charcoal granite floors, a check in desk made of onyx and a wall of windows along 9th Avenue.

The 143 hotels rooms all have ten foot ceilings and open air windows, not the norm in most modern hotel buildings. The smallest rooms measure 450 square feet and the top of the line apartment suites offer 1,100 square feet of living space. Built in wood finish cabinetry gives a very clean lined, uncluttered look. Furnishings, including the low rise beds, are contemporary in style.

The unusual bathrooms hint of an Asian influence.  The bathtubs are filled from fixtures mounted on the ceiling and the double vanities are of a whimsical free form design.  It’s not exactly the type of hotel cowboy country Calgary is used to seeing, but Hotel Germain Calgary appears to be a hit.

Luxury Homes Report - Thursday March 4th/2010 - Innovative New Wheelchair Mounted Camera Makes Olympic Debut

What can one person in a wheelchair do better than four people with a slew of equipment and not as much patience?  Make a film.  The steady glide of Steven Cayer’s wheelchair makes the perfect base for capturing film footage good enough to be used in commercial quality documentaries.

The CanAssit Polecam Power Chair, designed by a team at the University of Victoria, let Steven get footage of the Vancouver Winter Games from a whole new perspective.  The device, controlled by two joysticks, and equipped with a monitor to view what was being filmed is the first of its kind.  The boom was designed to be raised and lowered by a mechanism that worked by alternately blowing air into or sucking air out of a mouthpiece.

Normally four people would be required to get the same shots.  Two would be needed to push the camera dolly, one to operate the camera and the forth to adjust the focus. All of this after laying down track to assure a smooth surface to travel over.

The Polecam Chair was a year in the making and cost between $60,000 and $70,000 to build. The U-Vic’s CanAssist program got sponsorship support from both Polecam and Toshiba.

This high tech chair just might mean that Steven Cayer might have a whole new filmmaking career in his future, as might others like him.

Luxury Homes Report - Friday February 26th/2010 - Secondary Suites Proposal On The Agenda During Recent Town Council Meeting

Town council brought a debated political issue to the table at it's most recent meeting.  The debate over a homes ability to add a suite for rental purposes is one of the most contentious issues facing the local people in Canmore these days.  Undoubtedly some would like the ability to add rental accommodations to their homes for the revenue, but turning the lives and security of the rest of the residents of Canmore is a hot topic these days.

Most on council are content with leaving this up to public debate for now, with no fixed time line for a final decision.  The figures from other locales like Banff and Jasper who have laws allow these suites is that about 5% of residences will rent out a suite in their homes. But that doesn't sit well with many people in Canmore, some who would like a specific guideline to be implemented that only allows a maximum of 10% of homes in the town to build a secondary suite.

This is a hot topic these days on the streets of Canmore, it will be very interesting to see how it plays out in council.

Luxury Home Report - Friday February 19th/2010 - Historic Home in Banff To Be Torn Down By Parks Canada

The Claremount House in Banff has to come down. This Recognized Federal Heritage Building will be sacrificed because it needs repairs and Parks Canada, the home’s custodians since 1991, does not have the funding to do the reconstruction. Parks Canada maintains that it did look for other options other than the teardown, but that no viable plans were presented.  Banff can do nothing because the structure is outside the town boundaries.

Also known as the Wheeler House, the historic home was built in 1920 and sits on the north side of Sulphur Mountain just off of Mountain Avenue. It was once the summer residence of AO Wheeler, who started the Alpine Club of Canada.  He was also a noted surveyor of the area.

Mr. Wheeler’s great granddaughter, Jenny Compton, who lives in Canmore, is understandably upset.  She maintains that she has been after Parks Canada for the last 15 years to perform maintenance on the structure but nothing was done.  Now the house is a safety hazard.

Alan Latourelle, the CEO for Parks Canada did advise Ms. Compton that they would consider proposals to stabilize and move the home, but barring that it would have to come down.  They offered to sell the home to her for $1 with the condition that it would be moved, but Ms. Compton feels taking the home from its original surroundings would reduce its value as a part of Canada’s pioneer history.

The home’s location is apparently an issue for Parks Canada as well. It sits in the midst of a wildlife corridor and in their opinion interferes with large animal migrations. It’s funny how in 1920 those large animals were smart enough to walk around it.

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