A Canmore retailer that has showcased hundreds of Alberta-based vendors for nearly a decade is closing its physical storefront next month, citing a shortage of workers in the Bow Valley.
Alberta’s Own Marketplace co-owner Laura Bodell announced the closure in a Facebook post on Oct. 5, saying the shop will shut its doors on Nov. 15 after nine years in business. The store opened in 2017 in a basement space with 35 vendors and grew into a storefront carrying products from more than 400 Alberta entrepreneurs.
Bodell said the closure stems from losing her entire full-time team, with staff leaving Canmore due to immigration policy changes, the town’s high cost of living, or health issues, compounded by what she described as a dire shortage of available workers in the Bow Valley. She said she would be without a crew by the end of November.
Closing Sale to Support Vendors
The business will hold a closing sale beginning Oct. 15, which Bodell said is intended to help its vendors generate enough revenue to get through the winter months. She noted that for many vendors, sales through Alberta’s Own have represented more than half of their annual revenue, making the transition period important for their finances.
Store Plans Return Online in 2027
While the physical shop is closing, Bodell said the business plans to relaunch fully online in 2027, with the goal of continuing to support the vendors who have relied on the marketplace for sales. Alberta’s Own Marketplace is not the only Canmore business to close this year; a bakery in the town shut down earlier in 2025.
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