Abstract

This thesis explores the notions of place and place making within a small town whose primary place identity is as a tourism destination. More specifically, this is an ethnographic study of the residents of the Town of Banff and of the issues they face that challenge their sense of placehood within this small national park town of roughly 8,000 people. The issues faced by the residents of Banff are brought to life in this thesis by giving voice to some of the area's residents, predominantly to those with whom I worked or interacted over a 6 month fieldwork experience. By describing some of the challenges to the lived experience of Banff's residents, such as living in a highly transient town that must adhere to strict park regulations, while being a locale crafted to suit the needs of the tourists, it is hoped that a further understanding of the complexity inherent in making a tourism place a place of residence is realized. Consequently, this thesis maintains that despite the park policies in place and the toured nature of the Town of Banff, all attributes which can render a locale more akin to a non-place (Augé 1995), Banff is able to maintain the characteristics of an anthropological place (Augé 1995) through its residents' ability to manage the issues inherent within their town