Canmore Glamping Plan Sparks Growth Debate

In the mountain town of Canmore, Alberta, a proposed glamping campground on the site of a historic coal mine has ignited a heated debate over balancing tourism-driven growth with residents' demands to preserve quality of life and environmental safety.

The project, spearheaded by Trailhaus, envisions a 74-site campground on nearly 10 hectares of private land known as the Staircase Lands, located about an hour west of Calgary on the edge of Banff National Park. John Jay Third, a partner and project manager with Trailhaus, said the development draws inspiration from the area's mining heritage. "Below us is Canmore Mine Number 1, a coal seam and several other mines, so the intention was to kind of play on the historic nature of the property and the community itself," Third explained during a recent site visit. Initially called Miners Camp, the plan has been in development for two years on land that has remained idle for 60 years. Trailhaus officials emphasize that the project will adhere to all planning and environmental regulations.

The site sits atop Canmore Mine No. 1, opened in 1887 by the Canadian Anthracite Coal Company to extract high-quality coal for steam engines. The mine...