MUNICIPAL ALL-CANDIDATES FORUMS on the environment

The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley will convene All-Candidates Forums on the Environment in Banff and Canmore prior to the upcoming municipal elections. These forums provide residents with the opportunity to hear directly from candidates on their plans for addressing local environmental challenges and opportunities. 

Executive Director Gareth Thomson will facilitate the forums, with questions developed in collaboration with Bow Valley environmental organizations.

Event Details:

Banff Forum
Date: Wednesday, 1 October, 7-9 p.m.
Location: Catherine Robb Whyte Building, Pioneer Room (upstairs from the Banff public library)

Canmore Forum
Date: Thursday, 2 October, 7-9 p.m.
Location: Canmore Seniors’ Association, Creekside Hall

The forums will also be broadcast live and recorded so that community members can follow along virtually in real time or watch afterward. We will share the broadcast links on this page once it becomes available.

Forum Format

  • Opening Statements: Each candidate will begin with a prepared two-minute statement addressing the environmental theme of the forum.

  • Quick Responses: All candidates will then participate in a round of rapid “yes or no” questions designed to highlight clear positions on key issues.

  • Main Questions: Candidates received a list of environmentally themed questions in advance. Each candidate will randomly draw one of these questions from the hat to respond to.

  • Audience Questions: Members of the audience will be invited to pose their own questions directly to the candidates.

  • Closing: The forum will conclude with a final, targeted question for the mayoral candidates.

Questions for Candidates