InnFocus Fall 2023

Discover the
Hidden Gem
of the Kootenays:
Cranbrook,
BC
by Diane Selkirk
Encircled by forests and mountains,
Cranbrook has long served as a gateway
to the beautiful Kootenay Rockies, an area
renowned for its breathtaking landscapes
and recreation opportunities. Located
820 km east of Vancouver, and 850 km
west of Calgary, the city of over 20,000 is
also the largest in the region, and functions
as the area’s administrative center. But being
the supply town for the Kootenays has both
positives and negatives, says Kristy Jahn-Smith,
the executive director of Cranbrook Tourism.
“Residents of the surrounding resort towns come
for appointments or meetings, but usually don’t plan
to stay,” she says.
Enticing regional and international guests to see
Cranbrook as more than just a highway pit stop or
service centre has become a passion for Jahn-Smith.
The downtown has been undergoing a multi-phase
revitalization—something that benefits locals and visitors
alike. “Our hope is that people will consider adding a night
or two and start exploring,” she says. With a rich history,
panoramic vistas, and a thriving cultural scene, Jahn-Smith
says Cranbrook shines brightest once people get off the
highway.
Crystal Scott, the General Manager at the Prestige
Rocky Mountain Resort agrees. The full-service hotel has a
swimming pool, spa, and restaurants and is easily walkable to the
downtown core with its museums, galleries, and sports facilities.
Scott says visitors are often charmed by how friendly the town
Courtesy of Elizabeth Lake Lodge
16 InnFocus