While visitors won't be turned away, officials with the Town of Banff are encouraging people to stay home this long weekend.

Banff Mayor Karen Sorensen says this is not the time for travel. “The Town of Banff relies on visitation for our economy, and we feel people from the Calgary region are part of our community – this is their backyard getaway. But we want people to stay home, for their safety and for everyone in the region.”

That message will be spread to those who do choose to venture west this weekend. Information checkstops will be staffed by RCMP, Banff Community Peace Officers, and firefighters at the Mount Norquay Road entrance to Banff as well as at Banff Avenue Road at Compound Road.

While the Town of Banff has certainly seen a decrease in visitation as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to progress, it was decided to hold the educational checkstops as a precaution in case people do decide to drive out to the National Park this long weekend.

Vehicles will be stopped and the officers working the checkstops will ask if the occupants are residents of Bow Valley. The officers will position themselves two metres away from driver windows and advise non-locals on the current public health recommendations and strongly encourage them to go home.

“The Town of Banff is not closed. But these checkstops will inform people who are still unaware of the clear direction from all orders of government to stay close to home, in order to limit the risk of coming in contact with COVID-19,” says Silvio Adamo, Banff’s Director of Emergency Management. “Travel significantly increases the possibility of contracting COVID-19 and spreading the virus to others, and it is completely avoidable for most people.”

Mayor Sorensen further points out that very few stores in Banff are open and those that are operating are providing essential services for residents. "And anyone thinking about venturing onto trails or a spring hike should think twice about taking a risk of injury or accident that could divert medical professionals away from battling the virus.”

According to the latest stats from the Government of Alberta, as of April 9 the Banff region has three active cases of COVID-19. The nearby Municipal District of Bighorn has six active cases and eight recovered.