Tourism Canmore Kananaskis

Canmore Fast Facts

Year Established 1883

Elevation 1309 m 4296 ft

Our Annual Weather
(in a year)
Precipitation 468 mm 18.4 in
Snowfall 244 cm 96.1 in
Frost Free Days 160 days

1983 Population 2,763
1998 Population 11,324
2008 Population 17,572

What's in a Name?

Canmore - So named in honor of King Malcolm of Scotland, from a Gaelic word of different spelling, the name translates to “Big Head” referring to one’s tall or large stature. Ceannmor.

The Three Sisters - Said to have been named originally “The Three Nuns” in 1883. The most credible story is that George Stewart the first superintendent of “Rocky Mountains National Park” (later to be known as Banff National Park) named the peaks thus for his three daughters. The peaks are from left to right “Frances, Olive and Grace”. However many locals will say the names really are “Faith, Hope and Charity”. You may also hear them referred to as The Big, Middle and Little Sister.

Ha Ling - 1886, named in honor of a railway worker who after climbing the peak in an allotted time, did it a second time leaving a flag as
proof on his second ascent that he had in fact accomplished the feat, thus removing lingering doubts as to his claim on the first ascent.