Wedding Industry Meet Up: Shooting in the Alberta Rockies

An overview of the business license issue and requirements for photographing

weddings the Mountains

About Brian Merry

Started shooting professionally in the Bow Valley in 1997.

I’ve been FT (11 years) and PT (6 years)

Presntly in 2012 I’m FT photographer and I have a PT job too for less than 2 days a week

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

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.

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.

Background

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

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

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

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

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 don’t need a license for up to three weddings a year

2 votes: - I’m undecided about the business license issue

0 votes: - I want weddings to use local businesses only and discourage visiting businesses

Navigating the Business license regulations in the Canadian Rockies is confusing.

I’ve summarized the regulations and bylaws here (as of Feburary 2012) to help you base you

make informed decisions based on good information

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

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 don’t need a business license. Park Rangers have also told me that photographers don’t need a license.

Check and make sure before your wedding.

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

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

MD of Bighorn (municipal)

Venues include: Rafter Six Ranch, Bow valley Provincial Park, Kananaskis Guest Ranch, Bar “C” Ranch and the YWCA summer camp

MD of Bighorn (municipal)

Visiting businesses aren’t 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 don’t need to buy a business license when they shoot in the MD of Bighorn

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

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.

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.

Town of Canmore

Non resident annual business License fees:

Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st $600

Canmore does prorate Business licensesIf purchased on:

• July 1st $300 • Oct 1st $150

Canmore (municipal)

Town of Canmore Business license clerk:

Fines for operating without a license: – 1st $250– 2nd $500– 3rd $1000

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.

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

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

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.

Town of Banff

If you decide to buy an annual license part way through a calendar year your fee is prorated quarterly

Eg: Jan. 1st: $459 + $140 = $599Apr. 1st: $345 + $140 = $485July 1st: $230 + $140 = $370Oct. 1st: $115 + $140 = $255

If you’re a non-resident add $140 more to this total.

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 you’ll be charged late fees after Jan. 31st

Fine for no license is $500

At least one photographer has been approached by a Park Warden during a paid

shoot and asked to produce his business license.

Banff National Park (federal)

A Banff National Park license cost:$196 per park (April 1st , to March 31st)

No prorated licenses. If you buy one in October it is good until March 31st and still costs $196

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.

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)

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 don’t

need a business license.

If they are conducting a workshop, tour or working on a commissioned shoot they require a business

license.

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.

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.

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 you’re shooting.

Fine for no license is up to $2000

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

Calgary?

Non-residents of Calgary

Case Study: A Banff photographer is hired to shoot a wedding in Calgary

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.

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

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