Room to Roam for Forbes & Family
The Forbes’ home in Glacier Rock Lodge is a perfect fit for every member of the family.
You may know him best as the jovial, oftentimes irreverent host of the CJAY-92 morning show, but don’t be deceived by the radio persona: Gerry Forbes is a down-to-earth character who’s just as comfortable taking a hike with his dog Barkley or strolling along Canmore’s Main Street with wife Shelley as he is hamming it up during Happy Hour at the Iron Goat.
“We try to come to Canmore every weekend,” says Gerry. “It’s 45 minutes away from the city and a century away from anything else. When you’re up in Canmore, you completely forget the world you’ve left behind.
“We leave Calgary on Friday afternoon at 4:00 and we’re here by 5, ready for Happy Hour. The Iron Goat is great, and I’m a big fan of the Rose & Crown’s chicken wings. Murietta’s and Rustica Steakhouse in Silvertip are fantastic, too. Another great Canmore restaurant is La Belle Patate – best Montreal smoked meat west of Montreal!”
During their weekends in Canmore, the Forbeses like to explore the hiking trails, take in one of the town’s many festivals, or go shopping in Banff or downtown Canmore. “Shelley loves the shoe store Gingerella – it’s the kind of store you don’t really expect in Canmore. Me…I’m a regular at Cascade Sportswear. I’ve bought more than 35 hockey jerseys there. I’m sure that if you asked, they’d tell you Gerry Forbes is their best customer. The Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe right next door to Cascade is great, too.”
For Gerry, Canmore’s appeal is by no means limited to the unique shops and fantastic restaurants. “Canmore’s real magic comes from the people,” he says. “There’s an energy here – a friendliness and openness that leave you feeling deeply connected to the community. The residents of Canmore have a passion for their town, and it’s contagious.”
Gerry and Shelley’s affinity for the Bow Valley took root around a decade ago. “We used to go to the Rimrock every weekend, loved Banff and thought, ‘Why not buy a place here in the Bow Valley?’
“My first Canmore home was on ‘the Dark Side’ of town, where the sun always seems to be behind the mountains. I’d take Barkley for walks along the creek, and every time we passed Spring Creek I’d think, ‘This would be the perfect place to own a condo.’ The Spring Creek area gets so much more sunshine.”
Gerry and Shelley had been Canmore residents for six years before they purchased a home at Spring Creek. “I did some research on Frank Kernick and heard repeatedly that he’s the best builder in Canmore. While walking down Main Street one day, I popped into the Spring Creek Discovery Centre and bought the best unit available. The entire process took about 30 minutes.”
The Forbes’ home in Glacier Rock Lodge is a perfect fit for every member of the family. “It’s close to everything we love to do here,” says Gerry.
“Shelley loves to run, and the nearby mountain trails are her favourite. She goes jogging and I wash the car. That’s the routine. As for Barkley…well, if you could see a dog smile, she’d be the one. On Saturdays, we walk about 10 kilometres along the river. Canmore even has a store that sells teddy bears for dogs.
“Whenever we arrive back home in the evening, we like to spark up a fire, relax in the hot tub and gaze at the moon. Our Spring Creek home looks right out at the Three Sisters.
“Shelley and I have already picked our next Canmore home in Spring Creek’s Cambrian Mountain Lodge. We’re definitely Canmore people for life!”
