My goodness! I've just had the wonderful opportunity to spend a week in the georgious city of Banff for both business and educational purposes. Amazed I was when I discovered that Banff, unlike Kamloops or many other cities in Canada may be one of the most diverse communities I have ever stepped foot into.

Someone on the street today told me that aproximatly 80% of the population of Banff is not native to the area. They've come from all regions of the globe for the one thing that unites them (well, I'm sure there's more), Skiing, and outdoor mountain sports. I've had the pleasure of speaking with many from all parts of the globe during my stay. And to see this coexistance happen harmoniously with nature has been awe inspiring.

My questions that I will ponder on the path home are: Is Banff a snowglobe? Can this experience be taken and cloned in other communities in Canada? What makes Banff condusive to this environment besides Skiing etc...?

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When they said you should take something home from the program, I thought they meant the hotel towels. ;)