Town of Banff

Heritage Awards

Heritage Award Reception at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies

The Banff Heritage Corporation Heritage Awards are presented on annual basis to individuals and organizations who make outstanding contributions to heritage conservation in Banff.

2010 Celebration of Banff's Heritage

The 2010 Celebration of Banff’s Heritage event honoured six outstanding organizations and individuals whose efforts brought to life to the heritage values unique to Banff National Park. Whether the aim is to foster positive visitor experiences or enrich Banff’s unique sense of place, the awards night is an opportunity to pay tribute to individuals and organizations who have embraced heritage as part of their work and personal lives.

The Celebration was hosted by the Banff Heritage Corporation, Banff Heritage Tourism, and the Interpretive Guides Association.

2009 Award Recipients

2009 Heritage Award Recipients

Lifetime Achievement in Heritage Conservation

Local resident Ralphine Locke is being recognized for her outstanding contribution to the conservation and promotion of heritage in Banff. She continues to give her time and energy to a multitude of heritage initiatives, inluding heritage designations of key properties in Banff, the restoration of significant heritage sites, envisioning and supervising development of an exhibition at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, leading a creative writing contest for students at Banff Community High School, and research and writing for heritage profiles for the Town of Banff's Landmarks and Legends series.

• Video Vignette of Ralphine Locke

Adaptive Re-use of a Heritage Building

In 2008, the Sather Family worked with the Banff Centre to have the Walter Painter residence moved to the Leighton Artist Colony. Both the Sather Family and the Banff Centre are the recipients of this year's award for the Adaptive Re-use of a Heritage Building. When the Sather family made the decision to redevelop their Buffalo Street property, they approached the Banff Centre about the possibility of giving their house, known as the Painter Residence, to the Centre. The Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) for the Banff Centre envisions two additional studios at the Leighton Artists' Colony. The relocation of the Painter Residence to the Colony therefore presented a unique opportunity for the Centre to realize the vision of the ARP while adaptively re-using a heritage resource that would have otherwise been lost.

• Video Vignette of the Painter Residence

Banff Heritage Tourism is a partnership between Parks Canada, the Town of Banff and Banff Lake Louise Tourism. Its mission is that every visitor experiences, and is inspired by, the authentic heritage of Banff National Park. The Banff Heritage Corporation was created by the Town of Banff and works toward the protection, preservation, enhancement and promotion of Banff’s built heritage.

Past Award Recipients

• 2008
• 2006
• 2005
• 2004
• 2003