BOWDA Luncheon - November 2025

Joe Pavelka, PhD
Joe Pavelka is a Professor of Ecotourism at Mount Royal University in Calgary and a leading voice in sustainable tourism. For over 20 years, he has conducted research and consulting in the Bow Valley, with a focus on amenity and lifestyle migration as well as tourism overcrowding. Joe founded the Purposeful Travel Summit in Banff and has contributed to projects around the world exploring the intersection of tourism, community, and sustainability.

Canmore: Livability in Times of Rapid Change
What does it mean to live well in a community shaped by amenity migration and tourism? This session dives into the pressing challenges facing Canmore as it navigates rapid growth, shifting demographics, and competing priorities. Explore the social dynamics of multiple stakeholder voices and what they mean for the future of livability in the Bow Valley.