If you’re an expecting family or a family with kids looking to relocate to Canmore, I couldn’t be more excited for you. This is an incredible place to raise a family, from the warm, welcoming community to the unbeatable landscape filled with outstanding activities for people of all ages and abilities. Canmore is home to countless lifelong locals who had the pleasure of growing up here and have found their way back to call it home again in adulthood. While I didn’t grow up in Canmore, I’ve had over a decade of lived experience here, as well as years working in the Canmore real estate market that have offered me the opportunity to help several happy families plant or grow their roots here.I can’t picture a better place to grow up, with the perfect mix of small-town closeness and the growing list of incredible extracurricular activities, services and supports for families, and an abundance of things to see, do, and experience. If you’re not as familiar with the area but you know this is where you’d like to purchase your family home, I’ve put together a list of some of Canmore’s best family-friendly neighbourhoods to help give you a little bit of direction along your house hunting journey. These three neighbourhoods are a great place to begin, but trust me when I say that as a family with kids, you really can’t go wrong here. It’s all about your unique priorities and lifestyles. So, let’s dive in.
Cougar Creek
Canmore’s Cougar Creek Neighborhood, also known as the “sunny side,” is a top option when looking for a family home within the Canmore real estate market. The area primarily consists of single-family homes, most of which have ample back and front yard space. You will still find some townhouse and apartment-style condo buildings. Many of the single-family homes in Cougar Creek either have basement suites or the opportunity to renovate a basement suite if your new home has room to spare. This is a very popular feature that allows young families financial assistance to offset monthly mortgage costs.
The Cougar Creek area has been very popular with families for decades. The neighbourhood is completely residential, so it is quiet with no short-term rentals; it is close to Elizabeth Rummel Elementary School and offers a ton of playgrounds and outdoor space for kids to play, including fields, the outdoor hockey rink, and more. There are also off-leash dog parks nearby and several walking, hiking, and biking trails just steps away from your door. It’s a lovely area that has a very local, family-centric vibe. You’ve got the Summit Cafe for breakfast and coffee, Fergie's Bakery and Convenience for quick shopping needs and delicious baked goods, Red Rock Pizza, and the Iron Goat Pub & Grill, home to one of Canmore’s best patios.
While the neighbourhood is a nice escape from Canmore’s downtown core, it’s easily accessible by car —just a few minutes, a less than half-hour walk, or a quick bike ride. The paved pedestrian underpass makes it easy to cross under the highway quickly and safely.
You can’t take a drive through Cougar Creek without spotting a handful of local kids playing outside, riding bikes or making snowmen, and it will make you and your family feel right at home in no time. As time passes and neighbourly values seem to shift, Cougar Creek is a community that’s withstood the test of time and maintained just what family living in the Bow Valley is and has always been.
Lion’s Park / Larch
If you’re looking for a more central location, the Lion’s Park and Larch areas of Canmore are fantastic choices, right in the heart of Canmore. There is an unmatched sense of community in these areas. While they’re just far enough from Main Street to ensure a bit more peace and quiet as well as ample parking and open space without the hustle and bustle of the downtown core, they are just minutes away from the action, and it only takes a beautiful stroll along the Bow River to reach the town’s centre. One of the many reasons that Larch and Lion’s Park are exceptional family neighbourhoods is their proximity to both Lawerence Grassi Middle School and Canmore Collegiate High School. Lion’s Park features tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a large soccer field, and a playground.
Also within walking distance is the Canmore Recreation Centre, where a number of extracurricular activities like hockey and gymnastics take place, as well as the Canmore Golf & Curling Club. You are a quick walk away from the shops and restaurants downtown and directly on the trail system that runs all along the Bow Valley and all the way up to the Canmore Nordic Center.
The Larch and Lion’s Park areas have a community feel, even more so since the Hawks Bend development was added to the area, offering a number of families an opportunity to buy in the Canmore real estate market by participating in the Canmore Community Housing program. This community backs onto an arena used for skating and hockey in the winter and basketball and pickleball in the summer.
Your kids will feel safe while also right in the middle of the action in these beautiful areas. Larch specifically features multiple cul de sacs that make for less traffic in front of the homes, generous backyards, and ideal spots for road hockey and other activities with neighbours.
South Canmore
Last but certainly not least, we’ve got South Canmore. This incredibly desirable neighbourhood is located in the “flats” of Canmore, meaning right in the town’s core, just blocks away from Main Street and steps from Lawerence Grassi Middle School and Centennial Park, Millennium Park, the Bow River and its surrounding parks, and easy access to restaurants, shops, Elevation Place, yoga studios, coffee shops, grocery stores, and more. Essentially, you’re right in the middle of the action in South Canmore, where there are endless activities around every corner.
South Canmore consists of some beautiful, older single-family homes as well as a number of newer four-plex and multi-residence properties. Due to the desirable location, investing in real estate in this area will certainly have a higher price point than some of your other options. But, if you prioritize accessibility, walkability, and proximity to the many amenities that Canmore has to offer, it just might be perfect for you. This area is also likely to have the most stock when you begin your house hunting, as so many new builds and renovations are taking place. If you like the idea of walking your dog along Spring Creek each morning or walking your kids to the middle school, you’ll love South Canmore. You will also fall in love with the community vibe and many familiar faces you’ll come to know in the neighbourhood.
I hope this has helped you understand and even narrow down your options as you consider entering the Canmore real estate market. I’m excited for you and your family’s future. I’m just a call away if you need support at any point in your journey.