Town of Banff

Heritage Family Swim

Hudsons Team celebrate their win Heritage Family Swim, Banff Upper Hot Springs

Banff Upper Hot Springs Sunday January 29, 10 - 11:30 a.m.

In 1917, two local business men, Norman Luxton and Bruce Collinson, were bored.  It was January and tourism had, as usual for that time of year, dropped off.  So they decided to promote Banff as a winter resort. 

There were lots of activities that the locals did for fun that visitors could enjoy also.  And so the Winter Carnival was born.  The Banff Upper Hot Springs  played an important part in the advertising of the event because Banff was the only place in Canada that a person could swim in the middle of winter.

There were lots of other places that had winter carnivals but none could boast the warm water or swimming competitions. Banff had the only swimming pool west of Winnipeg.

The Winter Festival Heritage Swim at the Upper Hot Pool is a modern Winter Festival favorite. This year's theme is Year of the Dragon. Teams of 4 in heritage swim suits will participate for an array of themed prizes. Everyone wins! Free admission for registered teams. Old fashioned bathing suits provided.

Entry deadline is January 27, 2012. Download the registration forms below and e-mail to paige.thomas@pc.gc.ca or fax to 403-760-1346. Or pick up a registration entry form and return it to the Upper Hot Springs admissions desk. Please register soon - space is limited.

Participants pick-up their heritage swim suits by 9:30 a.m. on January 29, at Banff Upper Hot Springs, located on Mountain Avenue at the end of Sulphur Mountain Road.

*Please note: The pool will be closed to the public until 11:30 a.m., when the event has concluded.

• Heritage Swim application form ( PDF - 256 kb)