1. Wedding Industry Meet Up: Shooting in the Alberta Rockies An overview of the business license issue and requirements for photographing weddings the Mountains

2. About Brian Merry Started shooting professionally in the Bow Valley in 1997. Ive been FT (11 years) and PT (6 years) Presntly in 2012 Im FT photographer and I have a PT job too for less than 2 days a week

3. About Bmerry (memberships) The Better Business Bureau International Special Events Society (ISES), Calgary Chapter Licensed photographer in the Town of Banff and Banff National Park

4. Background A few Banff Businesses are reporting unlicensed wedding professionals This has been happening since at least 1997 A very small part of the Banff wedding industry does this.

5. Background Last year Businesses in Calgary start talking about rude warning emails and letters they received from the Town of Banff stating they are operating illegally in the town.

6. Background At least one photographer has been approached during a paid session.

7. Background Mid January I became aware this was a problem brothering Calgary wedding professionals Edward Ross et. al. started a petition that was presented to the Banff town council today, Monday Feb. 13, 2012

8. Background As I monitored the FB groups and talked with established pros I know in Calgary, I began to realize that there was a lot of false rumours being passed around as fact

9. Background This presentation summaries my findings after researching the topic. I hope the information I present here will help you base your good decisions on this accurate information

10. Bow Valley Wedding Industry 12 out of 65 members responded to this poll: 4 votes: - Visiting wedding business are welcome as long as they buy a Banff license 6 votes: - Visiting businesses dont need a license for up to three weddings a year 2 votes: - Im undecided about the business license issue 0 votes: - I want weddings to use local businesses only and discourage visiting businesses

11. Navigating the Business license regulations in the Canadian Rockies is confusing. Ive summarized the regulations and bylaws here (as of Feburary 2012) to help you base you make informed decisions based on good information

12. 8 Different Government Districts Three levels of governments issue business licenses in eight different jurisdictions in the Canadian Rockies near Calgary The 4 national parks(Banff, Yoho, Jasper and Waterton) The provincial parks (Kananaskis, Bow Valley?) 3 Towns and municipal districts (Banff, Canmore and the MD of Bighorn) Also consider the Stoney Nakoda Reservation

13. Kananaskis (provincial) Question: Do weddings, or those that conduct weddings, require a business license? Answer from the website: An agency or organization that provides wedding services in the KID to customers requires a business license. The CAO of Kananaskis contradicted this on the phone. He told me that visiting wedding photographers dont need a business license. Park Rangers have also told me that photographers dont need a license. Check and make sure before your wedding.

14. Kananaskis (provincial) Non-resident Business licenses (from the website): Non-resident businesses: (a) Small business $180 (b) Regular business $575 (c) Major business $1,470 Definitions: A small business grosses less than $10,000 of business in Kananaskis. A regular business grosses $10,000-$750,000 of business in Kananaskis

15. MD of Bighorn (municipal) This includes all areas: east of Canmore and west of the ghost lakes reservoir and the Stony-Nakoda Native Reserve and north to Waiparous, Bar-C Ranch

16. MD of Bighorn (municipal) Venues include: Rafter Six Ranch, Bow valley Provincial Park, Kananaskis Guest Ranch, Bar C Ranch and the YWCA summer camp

17. MD of Bighorn (municipal) Visiting businesses arent required to buy a business license if they are legally licensed in the municipality where their legally located. That is, Calgary, Canmore and Banff businesses dont need to buy a business license when they shoot in the MD of Bighorn

18. MD of Bighorn (municipal) MD council has talked informally to Canmore and with a consultant about a uniform license for the Bow Valley including Exshaw, Canmore and Banff This type of license exists in Parkland County which forms part of their tourism strategy - Ref: CAO Martin Buckley

19. Town of Canmore Who Needs a Business Licence? Any person or business advertising or conducting business in Canmore is required by Town Bylaw to hold a valid business registry licence.

20. Town of Canmore Business" is defined as: a commercial, merchandising, marketing or industrial activity or undertaking; a profession, trade, occupation, calling or employment; or an activity providing goods or services, Carry On Business" is defined as operate, perform, keep, hold, occupy, deal in or use, for gain, whether as principal or agent.

21. Town of Canmore Non resident annual business License fees: Jan. 1 st to Dec. 31 st $600 Canmore does prorate Business licenses If purchased on: July 1 st $300 Oct 1 st $150

22. Canmore (municipal) Town of Canmore Business license clerk: Fines for operating without a license: – 1 st $250 – 2 nd $500 – 3 rd $1000

23. Town of Banff Earlier today, Feb. 13, 2012 The petition started by Edward Ross was presented to the Banff town council by Edward Ross et. Al.

24. Town of Banff Residents: Town business license is $140 plus $459 Sector fee (Photographers and Planners). Total resident license fee is $599. Non-residents: Non-resident surcharge is $140 A non-resident license total is $739

25. Town of Banff There are Temporary licenses for 30 consecutive days in the Town of Banff. You are allowed to buy temporary licenses multiple times a year. Temporary business license cost: $140+non-resident fee $140 = $280

26. Town of Banff If a non-resident who has held a temporary license in a given calendar year decides to get an annual license they are credited the temporary license fees they already paid. An annual license would be cheaper than buying a third temporary license.

27. Town of Banff If you decide to buy an annual license part way through a calendar year your fee is prorated quarterly Eg: Jan. 1 st : $459 + $140 = $599 Apr. 1 st : $345 + $140 = $485 July 1 st : $230 + $140 = $370 Oct. 1 st : $115 + $140 = $255 If youre a non-resident add $140 more to this total.

28. Town of Banff If you choose not to renew your annual Banff business license: – At the end of the year you have to write to the town to say you will not be renewing your license or youll be charged late fees after Jan. 31 st Fine for no license is $500

29. At least one photographer has been approached by a Park Warden during a paid shoot and asked to produce his business license.

30. Banff National Park (federal) A Banff National Park license cost: $196 per park (April 1 st, to March 31 st ) No prorated licenses. If you buy one in October it is good until March 31 st and still costs $196

31. Banff National Park (federal) You have to have business insurance. Your insurance policy has to name the Queen as insured in addition to yourself. Contact the business licensing office at Parks Canada for the exact wording. The number is 403-762-1530.

32. Banff National Park (federal) Photographing in Other National Parks If you photograph in multiple parks such as at Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park, Waterton, or in Jasper you have to buy another license for each park After your first NP license the other licenses are faster to get ($196 each)

33. Banff National Park (federal) Do Landscape Photographers need a business license? Maybe, if they are doing freelance work that they may or may not sell to an unknown client later they dont need a business license. If they are conducting a workshop, tour or working on a commissioned shoot they require a business license.

34. Banff National Park (federal) National Parks Regulations and Banff National Park Film/Photography Guidelines: -Activities in the park must not exceed a crew size of 2 persons with minimal equipment (camera, lights and reflectors). - All crewmembers will exercise minimal impact on the environment and stay on designated trails only.

35. Banff National Park (federal) National Parks Regulations and Banff National Park Film/Photography Guidelines: -All vehicles must be parked in designated areas only. No off-road parking is permitted -Crewmembers do not have exclusive use of any areas within the park. Activities must not impede other visitors experience, disrupt wildlife or damage the environment.

36. Banff National Park (federal) The licensee shall produce this licence upon request of the Superintendent, any person authorized to act on his behalf, Park Warden or any police officer. This means you have to carry the license on you when youre shooting. Fine for no license is up to $2000

37. Do businesses based outside of Calgary need a licence to photograph a wedding in Calgary?

38. Non-residents of Calgary Case Study: A Banff photographer is hired to shoot a wedding in Calgary

39. Non-residents of Calgary Non-resident companies pay the same fees as resident firms, plus a surcharge to approximate the Calgary business tax levy they don't pay.

40. Non-residents of Calgary Before the Banff photographer can photograph a wedding in Calgary he needs to get: – a criminal record check, $40 – pay for the business license, $153 – and pay a non-resident fee, $604 The total fee for a non-resident Calgary business license is $797

41. Summary I have these documents available for download on my website: This PowerPoint presentation The Banff Town and National park business license flow chart. Guidelines for commercial photographers operating professionally in Banff National Park. www.bmerryphotography.com/media.html