Editor:
For the past few years, the Banff Avenue pedestrian zone has changed my desire to spend time in our downtown area – along with the Bear Street redevelopment.
I’ve always loved living in Banff for opportunities to spend time in nature, but I used to purposefully avoid Banff Avenue prior to the pedestrian zone when people were pushed onto crowded sidewalks. I’d instead walk down Banff’s alleys to get to where I was going as that was preferable to me compared to walking on Banff Avenue.
I was also disappointed in the experience that we were providing to visitors, if residents didn’t enjoy visiting their own downtown area, why would we expect our guests to?
Fast forward a few years and I now include Banff Avenue on my commute and quite often include it on our family walks, coaxing the kids to get out of the house with the promise of an ice cream downtown. Meeting with friends for a patio beer after a bike ride on a warm evening, I see visitors enjoying Banff Avenue, relaxed on their holiday without having to be confined in small spaces taking their time to grab a photo and dine, shop or just enjoy the vibrancy of our downtown area.
I stop and talk to fellow residents and friends and feel no rush to move on until we’re done catching up. Banff Avenue has become a pleasant gathering and socializing space for many.
I keep reading that “Banff residents have spoken” and yes, 1,000+ engaged citizens are rightly having their voices heard. We will also be hearing from many others who feel differently and their voices deserve to be heard as well.
Jeff, O'Leary,
Banff
