I didn't think I'd post about our weekend in Banff as it was work-related and I'd posted about the mountains before (see Camping, Golfing, and Letterboxing). However, we did a few things outside our usual 'box' so I felt it was worth a blog.In the spring, Glen decided to bid on hosting an international conference in 2018 and so contacted the Banff Centre. Jodi was very helpful in making suggestions and facilitating Glen's requirements. The Centre proposed we visit the site. Well, we'd been many times and so didn't need to check out rooms, etc. However, we were in town the weekend they were hosting a 'get-to-know-us' session so decided to go.
We had a blast. The people we met who worked at the centre were fantastic and it was so nice to meet Jodi. Such a sweet girl! We also met with the folks at Discover Banff Tours and from MountView BBQ.
Glen and I had already brainstormed what we felt would showcase Western Culture to the conference but we had no idea what the Banff Centre could arrange. Our weekend proved to be enlightening giving us some great ideas (and the people who could implement them).
When we checked into our room, we were given a selfie stick (a telescoping uni-pod used to take selfie phone photos). Glen thought it was a silly idea but soon became a convert (see photo). It was a lot of fun to use and broke the ice on many occasions. It's surprising the number of things a selfie stick can become.
The opening reception was in the Walter Phillips Gallery. We'd passed the gallery door many times but had never entered. We enjoyed fantastic hors d'oeuvres and an interesting exhibit called Séance Fiction. We also met two colleagues of Glen's who had run conferences at the centre before. After chatting with our hosts, we boarded buses which would take us to the Tunnel Mountain sight of the barbecue.
Two large, yurt-like, 'donut' tents enclose huge fires surrounded by picnic tables. Food is served buffet style with Alberta beef the featured dish. Beer is cooled in ice packed in aluminum water troughs. A duo played old and modern western/bluegrass tunes (they even did a Rolling Stones song) and taught us several line dances. We enjoyed true Western hospitality! The venue is run by Brewster Travel -- a company begun by two brothers in 1892 to bring tourists into the the Rocky Mountains.
After breakfast the next day, we learned more about ourselves and the workings of the professional development and leadership program at the Centre. Normally, I hate introducing myself to a group. What do I say that will mean anything to anyone? Banff Centre used photographs to help us say something about ourselves other than our job descriptions. It was an innovative technique. We then toured the facilities seeing the meeting rooms as well as the costume room which is normally off limits to the public. We learned that if you see the opera, Marriage of Figaro anywhere in North America, the costumes were created at the Banff Centre.
We then walked through grounds to the artist colony which is another area the public can't enter. I had passed its inviting path before so was glad to have my curiosity satisfied. We saw the 'boat' house where Yann Martel wrote Life of Pi. Each house in the colony was designed for a specific type of artist so if you are a composer, there is a special place with a piano where you can create your masterpieces.
Lunch was at the top of a triple black diamond ski hill. Just saying, I'm glad I didn't have to ski down. We took the chair lift up Mt. Norquay to Cliffhouse Bistro (built in the 1950s). Glen insisted on using his selfie stick while we rode the lift. He and I have had some nasty experiences on lifts before. I've lost skis (he stepped on them as we boarded) and he's lost a ski pole so I figured both his new stick and his phone would soon be gone. I don't like heights so it was a nervous 10 minute ride. The views from the top were spectacular! The lunch was a cheese/meat/cracker/bread platter with a self-serve salad bar. Bar service was slow but we were a big group. There are climbing routes starting from the restaurant so if you wish for something more adventuresome, check it out here.
Afternoon activities included horseback riding or visiting the Cave and Basin. We had seen the cave before and I hadn't been on a horse in 50 years so we opted to go to the stables. Due to a scheduling mix-up, the folks at Warner Stables told us we'd have to go out as two successive groups and might miss our evening banquet. About half decided to return to the hotel, Glen included. My horse was a gelding called Crow, named for a native tribe. As we walked the trail, I came to think of him as a teenager who tried to get away with anything he could. I was quite comfortable controlling him so we got along. The only issue came when the horse in front of us spooked. He was ridden by an experienced rider and somehow, she controlled him while I easily got Crow back in line. Not sure how I did that but perhaps the horse-riding gods smiled on me. We completed the Bow River tour in an hour exploring a part of Banff I'd never seen before. It was fun!
I got back in time to shower off the horsey smell then it was time to gather for the banquet. It was in an upper conference room and served a choice of hot and cold hors d'oeuvres. All delicious. The room had a camping decor that included a tent and fake campfire (where you could take selfies). The evening's entertainment was the famous Canadian band, Blue Rodeo who often stop in Banff when they tour. Formed in 1984, the band has 11 Juno awards and a star in the Canadian Walk of Fame. Their music is classified as country rock so they appeal to a wide audience. The conference room balcony overlooked the stage so we had a premier viewing area. After the show, we gravitated to the MacLab Bistro for drinks.
Breakfast was served in the professional centre lobby and billed as 'to go'. We ate ours in our room and discovered it could divide easily into breakfast and lunch. We headed home to get ready for our trip to Victoria.
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