Banff's Mount Norquay announces plans to replace chairlift, lodge
Mount Norquay ski resort in Banff National Park has announced plans to replace its North American Chairlift, originally built in 1946, with a two-station gondola.
Officials say the gondola would run from the main lodge area to the Cliff House restaurant.
It's one of a number of proposed changes outlined in Norquay's vision for the next hundred years of operation, during which time the resort aims to modernize ski and sightseeing opportunities with energy-efficient lifts and the integration of new buildings and heritage buildings.
Along with the outdated chairlift, Norquay plans to remove the the North American lodge, expand and restore Cliff House, relocate and restore ski jumping judging towers, create a wheelchair accessible Via Ferrata route and an enhanced shuttle system that will better manage traffic on the Norquay access road through the Cascade Wildlife Corridor.
“For nearly 100 years, Norquay has served as Banff’s backyard, an iconic destination for skiers and sightseers, often providing visitors their first introduction to Banff National Park," said Mount Norquay general manager Andre Quenneville in a Tuesday news release.
"As we start to look towards our second century of operation, we are putting plans in place to improve the visitor experience and make ourselves more accessible as well as environmentally and economically sustainable."
A map showing a potential future lift system at Norquay, as seen on Norquay's website. (Norquay) Officials hope throughout the modernization they can decrease Norquay’s built footprint and reduce the potential for human-wildlife conflict.
In addition, there are plans to use Indigenous names for major Norquay components, in consultation with Indigenous communities.
"Without this project, Norquay is not economically sustainable because it does not generate enough funds to replace its existing lifts at the end of their life," said Quenneville.
For more information on the project you can visit Mount Norquay's website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.