A provincial heritage grant will help restore and maintain some of Banff’s most historic landmarks.
The Alberta Historical Resources Foundation has awarded the Town of Banff $32,000 in grant funding for preservation work on the Bow River Bridge, the Old Banff Cemetery and the Banff Power Substation. These three landmarks were formally recognized and legally protected by council in 2016 as municipal heritage resources.
“Our community has a rich and vibrant history and these historic places and buildings are a part of that. We’re very thankful this grant from the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation will help us protect these important landmarks for future generations,” said Banff Mayor Karen Sorensen.
Of the grant funding, $12,000 will go towards restoring the Rundle rock masonry on the Bow River Bridge. Built in 1921, the historic bridge is a downtown landmark and its masonry is intricate and detailed, requiring expertise for proper restoration.
The balance of the funding will be shared between restoration projects at the Old Banff Cemetery and Banff Substation. The substation, located at 606 Buffalo Street, was built in 1905 to house a transformer that received electricity from the former Bankhead mines. The Old Banff Cemetery at 604 Buffalo Street was built in 1890, and is the resting place of Banff’s pioneers and community builders.
“As a community in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the importance of heritage can’t be overstated. We’re proud of our stewardship of these landmarks, and grateful to the Government of Alberta for contributing funding for their preservation,” Mayor Sorensen said.
Details on all of Banff’s designated heritage resources can be found at
banff.ca/heritage.