Canmore is a favourite weekend destination for Albertans, with mountain resort amenities and a cozy, small-town feel. The peaks stretch up to the sky… and the Big Head peeks up from the ground.
If that last part leaves you a bit confused – we’re talking about artist Alan Henderson’s “Ceannmore” sculpture at the Alberta town’s entrance, which was the mystery “Where in the World” location in the summer edition of AMA Insider magazine.
The massive human head, which appears half-submerged in the ground, was inspired partly by the history of the town’s name. That name was chosen in 1884 in honour of Malcolm III of Scotland, who was nicknamed Canmore.
“While [digging into research on] the town of Canmore… it felt like a place of calm, and great mass,” says Henderson. “Canmore’s name came from some of the [Scottish] people involved in its history, so I thought about all of that, and ‘Ceann mòr [big head in Gaelic], seemed perfect.”
Henderson, who also has pieces displayed in the Calgary International Airport and Edmonton’s Rogers Place arena, says he believes Big Head is one of his most successful and well-received artworks.
“I am always getting photos of people dressing the Big Head up, or posing with [it],” says Henderson. “I never know how a work of art will be received—the audience really does add something to creative things, which is completely out of the artist’s control.”
Explore Canmore
If you’re viewing Henderson’s Big Head Sculpture, you can also take in some of the nature surrounding it by walking the 4 km boardwalk that starts right at the piece and runs adjacent to Canmore’s Policeman’s Creek. The community’s downtown area is also well worth exploring, featuring locally-owned shops, art galleries, breweries, and restaurants nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.
In winter, check out the Canmore Nordic Centre, one of the few operational Olympic Nordic Skiing venues in the world. It offers cross-country skiing trails, ice skating, tobogganing and even fat biking.
If you’re visiting the area in the summer, explore the Bow River on a scenic float tour through Canmore River Adventures. The family-friendly tours show off the stunning views, glacial waters, and animal sightings—and AMA members save 15% on all regular priced water tour bookings.