In 2006 the little mountain community of Canmore has a population of 16,000 people, with approximately 5,000 of that number only living here part time, and wishing it was full time. With a history of coal mining until 1979, Canmore came into its own after hosting the Nordic (Cross Country and Biathlon ) events of the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, at that time the little town had a population of approximately 3200 people. It was this signature event that truly exposed Canmore to the world for the first time, and in truth exposed the residents of Canmore to their true calling.