The gaps between what the market builds and what community needs.

LIVE

Missing Middle + Missing Little housing

The Bow Valley has carried a deficit of small units, employee housing, affordable family homes, and seniors housing for decades.

Missing Middle describes housing between detached homes and mid-rise apartment buildings: duplexes, fourplexes, row homes, townhouses, stacked units, courtyard complexes, and live-work units.

Missing Little describes gentle ways to use existing land and space better: accessory dwellings, suites, garage conversions, garden suites, multi-unit conversions, and infill.

WORK

Affordable space for small business + makers

A highly creative community needs accessible places where creative and local economic activity can actually happen.

Current gaps include small and affordable leaseholds for micro-business, retail, commercial activity, food production, and light manufacturing—workshops, studios, maker space, shared kitchens, and a dedicated indoor, year-round market.

GATHER

Third places—especially for youth

Third places are the informal places beyond home, work, and school where people meet, converse, connect, and belong.

They build relationships, strengthen community ties, and create spaces where age, income, and background are less defining. The Bow Valley needs more accessible gathering spaces, including places designed with and for young people.

REBALANCE

Dedicated Indigenous space + resonance

Community land trusts can support responsible stewardship, cultural continuity, and Land Back efforts.

Canmoreland is interested in opportunities for Indigenous gathering, stewardship, culture, and commerce—developed through real relationships, respectful process, and concrete action.