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The appeal for studying and undertaking research initiatives in Canmore is obvious, says Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley executive director Melanie Watt.
“It has easily accessible wilderness locations,” Watt says. “It is a place where you can drive in, live here and be studying wolves or bears or cougars without driving for hours or going to live in the bush for a month.”
The Biosphere Institute estimates the research industry contributed more than $2.24 million to the local economy in 2000, creating scores of jobs in the process. This was without a coordinated effort to encourage research programs in Canmore, Watt adds, and expects the figures have increased over the past two years. She says internationally significant human, wildlife and conservation issues are the primary stimuli for researchers coming to Canmore.
“We have world-class research being done here on (wildlife) overpasses and underpasses, different crossing structures,” Watt says. “We have world-class research being done here on grizzly bears and wolves. Researchers are publishing in very solid (international) research journals.”
In 2004, Watt says the Biosphere Institute is committed to attracting national and international research to the Canmore area by promoting the region, its research potential and its facilities directly to universities and other research facilities. Encouraging more post-secondary education opportunities in the Bow Valley is also a Biosphere Institute goal, especially in the environmental, geography and geology fields.
Watt says the Biosphere Institute, in partnership with the Canmore Economic Development Authority, conducted a survey of post-secondary institutions offering classes locally and is working closely with the Bow Valley College to expand research and education facilities at its Canmore campus situated in the community’s Provincial Building.
“What Bow Valley College is looking at doing is partnering with other organizations and institutions that can bring more educational opportunities to the Bow Valley,” says BVC Canmore campus coordinator Jayne Croy.
The Canmore Economic Development Authority is in the process of completing a local needs assessment, which looks like it will confirm the expected demand supporting more opportunity.
Apart from the Biosphere Institute the BVC, Alberta’s third largest college (its main campus is in Calgary), is negotiating with other institutions, including Lethbridge Community College, to open up the number of offerings being provided in Canmore.
“So we will be able to offer more post-secondary options for people coming out of high school and those that want to pursue things and stay in the Bow Valley,” Croy says.
Currently nine staff service the Canmore campus, which mainly offers business and industry training in office administration, computers and, to a less extent, hospitality.
Croy hopes to be offering pre-university and possibly first-year university courses as early as 2003.
Steering the education and research industry in Canmore, the Biosphere Institute also acts as an introduction point for researchers and upcoming programs requiring employment and resources.
“We try to network researchers with researchers,” Watt says. “We also keep them informed of all the conferences, workshops and seminars that are going on.”
It also assists in finding relevant funding avenues, job opportunities and other research material.”
“ Those things make it easier to keep research going and to reach people,” Watt says.