My friend and I are probably going to move out west at the end of the summer (probably around September). We are trying to decide on a town and we don't want to go to the States. And advice would be appreciated. My friend is pretty keen on going to Canmore, but we could up anywhere. Things to consider are:

Alcohol laws:
What are the drinking ages in Alberat and B.C. (My friend is only 18)? Can you get beer at corner stores and grocery stores like in Quebec or do you have to go to a beer store or LCBO/SAQ type place?

Climate:
If we move in September, are we only going to get a few weeks of riding in the northern towns or are we going to get a good two-three months of riding in towns like Pentiction?

Mountains:
We want to be close to big mountains!

Skiing:
Is skiing good in the winter? We both do cross-country and tellemark skiing.

Riding:
The most important thing is good riding, both mountain and road. Most of our riding is cross-country.

Distance:
How far do you have to drive to ride or ski? Apparently in towns like Canmore, you can ride from your front door.

Rent:
We need it to be cheap!

If you guys have any other things that may be important that I didn't mention, let me know. Thank you.