Canmore: For almost a century, Canmore was one of the most important coal mining centres in southern Alberta: a town that grew to 3,000 spartan, salt-of-the-earth miners and their families. When Canmore Mines Ltd. ceased coal production on July 13, 1979, the town was the last coal mining centre in the Bow Valley to permanently shut its doors, following closures decades earlier in nearby Georgetown, Anthracite and Bankhead. Chosen as the site of the Nordic Ski Events (Canmore Nordic Center) for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, Canmore was soon attracting international attention as a major tourist destination. During the past 12 years there has been significant residential and commercial growth in the town resulting in a current population of over 10,000 and a supporting infrastructure that will delight even the most seasoned traveller.