Mike,
As everyone has said, Southern Alberta is not float plane country and landings are prohibited in National Parks.
My recommendations would be, in order of preference:
1. Do a mountain checkout with an instructor from one of the operators at Springbank (CYBW) - about 1 hour's drive east of Canmore. You'll pass Springbank driving from Calgary to Canmore when you arrive. It's not on floats but really cheap by UK standards and you'll get a great airborne tour of Banff Park and learn some interesting stuff.
2. Go to Golden for a Beaver float plane sightseeing trip or a C185 skiplane trip including glacier landings. Golden is about 2 hours west of Canmore and the mountains (Bugaboos and Purcells) are not in a National Park. Google purewest alpenglow, but I suspect they may not be in business. if that's the case, check with Golden Visitor Information Centre (1 800 622-4653) for other options.
3. Less interesting but more convenient - take a helicopter tourist flight from Canmore.
If you want to do some serious float flying, you need to go to Vancouver or Victoria.
I42
(ex-Calgary)
Last edited by India Four Two; 6th July 2008 at 19:49.