Parks Canada approves Banff Marathon for June 23rd
Posted Mar 23, 2013 7:43 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Parks Canada has given approval, on a one year trial basis, to a marathon in the Banff area on June 23rd.
But the approval of the 42 kilometre event comes with conditions. They include a contingency and response plan to deal with wildlife, and management plans for crowd and traffic control.
Approval of the race has the Bow Valley Naturalists concerned. President Mike McIvor says the race will take place at a time of year when there are many newborns among wildlife species and mothers are still very protective.
The marathon will start south of Lake Louise before going through a prime area for wildlife, the Bow Valley Parkway. The Calgary Herald notes last summer a cycling” event had to be re-routed when five grizzlies were seen feeding along the Bow Valley Parkway.
The number of runners in the event, which will finish up in downtown Banff, has been capped at 1,500 by Parks Canada.
