Does Banff have it all?

Named in 1884 by George Stephen, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, recalling his birthplace of Banff, Scotland. Thankfully he wasn’t born in the Scottish towns ‘The Cock of Arran’, ‘Boysack’ or ‘Hill o’Many Stanes’ hey Alberta?

Located in the Rockies and along the Trans-Canada Highway, the town is well known for it’s beautiful mountainous surroundings and rejuvenating Hot Springs. One of the most well know are the Upper Hot Springs on Sulphur Mountain overlooking the valley to Mount Rundle.

Established as a park in 1885 making it the third oldest in the world, the National Park was recognised as a Unesco World Heritage site in 1984. Obviously in this vast picturesque terrain there is some fun to be had, Mount Norquay has some sloped for the ski-ers and snowboarders, mountain bikers are in paradise, hikers and walkers too.

Rolling back the clock

The library and archives of Canada recently released an archive of photos taken in Banff dating back to the 1950’s, here are some of the best.

Skier Shirley Cain in 1951

Painting the remarkable scenery, 1957

Bear does not look amused. 1951.

Posing in front of sign. 1951

Women ski-ing Lake Moraine Road in 1951.

Banff goes intergalactic

Crater on Mars named after the town of Banff in Alberta

It seems that scientists have a special spot for this part of the world after revealing that the International Astronomical Union’s Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (the abbreviation is no better) officially adopted the name Banff for this crater on Mars.

Going there soon? Arrive in intergalactic style with a Banff Canada T-shirt.