Town of Banff

Living in a National Park

You'll see wildlife in and around the townsite - but for your safety and theirs, keep your distance. The wildlife here is truly wild.

Living in Banff is living in harmony with the national park setting and its main inhabitants.

Banff National Park 

You must meet the Need To Reside requirement to live in Banff. This can be arranged through your employer.

Make the most of your time here. Drop by the Parks Canada Banff Information Centre at 224 Banff Avenue, to learn more about the points of interest, weather, where to stay, finding your way in and around the park, and ideas on safety and avoiding hazards.

Wildlife Encounters

Do you know how to act when you see a grizzly? An elk? Or any other wild animals that call Banff home.Keep at least 30 metres from any wildlife you see. Learn what to do when you encounter wildlife. Watch for and obey wildlife postings and check bear alerts before you head out.

We recycle

We care about our National Park, the environment, the wildlife, and the heritage. That means we reduce our consumption, recycle our materials and dispose of garbage in a responsible manner. And that means, we don't dump. We respect the wildlife. Everything around our home, car, townsite and campsite is animal proof so that we don't attract wildlife and endanger them.

We watch our speed

When we're driving through Town or in the national park, we obey all posted speed limits. Speed kills, and not just human drivers and passengers. Wildlife can appear on any road at any time. They don't look both ways before crossing and they have the right-of-way. Seeing the majestic elk or glimpsing a wolf along the Bow Valley Parkway is a life experience. We slow down and savour it.