2014 Banff Marathon

  • 1267 competitors
  • 4700 participants
  • Utilized Bow Valley Power for “green energy” for the electrical load
  • Replaced small gas powered generators with Sky Fire’s mobile solar powered trailer
  • Partnered with Walker Environmental for GHG (Green House Gasses) offsets for some of the GHG load
  • Introduced a purchasing and procurement guide to influence the race committee purchasing decision process
  • Engaged the TZW (Towards Zero Waste) program of the Bow Valley Waste Management Commission
  • Began preparations for the legacy activities for the 2015 marathon

 

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

The 2014 Banff Marathon is a full and half marathon running race held in the town of Banff, Alberta. It was to proceed in the Banff National Park via Vermillion Lakes road and then the Bow Valley Parkway. The event was held June 21st and 22nd, 2014.

The 2014 marathon was called the “Second – First Annual” as the 2013 event was cancelled at the last minute due to the epic floods in 2013 that shut down all transportation corridors.

 

The event is owned by Lifesport Coaching Inc. of Victoria BC.

 

Parks Canada capped the total participants to 1500. There were 1267 participants in 2014.

O’Brien Consulting was asked to act as the Director of Sustainability for the race by the Race Director approximately 60 days prior to the event.

Upon a situation analysis, O’Brien Consulting determined that best approach for the Banff Marathon sustainability efforts was view this as a two-year project. In 2014 the efforts were to select the “low hanging fruit” and execute these, with larger “stretch goals” to be attempted in 2015.

 

2014 objectives

 

For the 2014 race we determined we could accomplish the following sustainability initiatives:

 

  1. Engaging Bow Valley Power for “green energy” for the electrical load
  2. Replacing small gas powered generators with Sky Fire’s mobile solar powered trailer
  3. Partnering with Walker Environmental for GHG (Green House Gasses) offsets for some of the GHG load
  4. Introducing a purchasing and procurement guide to influence the race committee purchasing decision process
  5. Engaging the TZW (Towards Zero Waste) program of the Bow Valley Waste Management Commission
  6. Beginning preparations for the legacy activities for the 2015 marathon
  7. Beginning of building a team for the 2015 event

 

2015 objectives

 

All of the above plus the following:

 

  1. Extend GHG offsets to the entire event including all participant travel loads
  2. Increase the total sponsorship contributions
  3. Contribute to a significant legacy in Banff through the race’s efforts
  4. Review of all purchasing decisions through the “lens” of the purchasing and procurement document
  5. Engage with both Parks Canada and the Town of Banff to consider event hosting guidelines based upon the Banff Marathons sustainability activities
  6. Partner with CRAZ (Calgary Regional Airshed Zone) and engage an idle free program for all vehicles

Overall the 2014 Banff Marathon was a complete success. The sustainability initiatives were accomplished.