Town of Banff

Reality Checker

On occasion we see people arrive in Banff and are completely dumbfounded! Banff is totally not what they expected!
 
This section is here to describe to you some of the realities of living and working in Banff! 

Crazy Busy?

Tourists flock to Banff to experience the majestic Canadian Rocky Mountains! In the summer Banff Avenue is bustling! It is a busy place right downtown, but you CAN escape the hustle and bustle by walking a short distance away from the town site.

Shopping?

The clothing shopping in Banff is awesome!  The young adult market is really geared towards the snowboardie, surfie kind of stuff like: Burton, Billabong, Roxy, Sessions etc.
There is also an abundance of mountain wear:  North Face, Marmot, Mountain Hard Wear etc. 

Snowboard and Skiing Gear?

There are a few stores in Banff to choose from when buying gear for the winter. Banff has a great variety for gear. If you are wondering if you should buy your gear before you come, I would say… buy it here! It is no more expensive than other shops and is actually quite competitive.
 
Expectations:

A few things that people may not expect are:

• The expense of accommodation
• Few landlords allow pets
• You will most likely be living with 1or 2 others
• A ski pass is very expensive
• You do not need a car
• It is hard to find a job at the end of September and October
• Your job starting date at the ski hill is dependent on when the snow falls