Sold. I'll be there in October. Really.
There or Alberta. If Alberta, I'd actually drive; I could make it in 3 days (I'm good at pulling long days driving, however, I'd settle for 4 if the going got tough; Google says it's about 38 hours to Banff and 43 to Jasper). I'd take a bike and snowshoes/microspikes for some mild hiking, as it'd be middle or late October. Would be nice to have my own stuff. However, Vancouver's too far to drive with only 2 weeks off, so I'd fly, and rent a car, and a bike.
Seems like maybe the Vancouver area, though, would be a better bet for mountain biking/hiking in late October. Curious as to your thoughts on that. I s'pose I could also take a rental car to Alberta for a few nights, too.
I think Sloth's time to head west hath finally arrived. The Nanaimo bars are the last straw.
Because you live in the Overlook Hotel from the Shining already, I'd suggest BC over Alberta. Banff and Jasper are magnificent, but much more similar to your home turf than the coast is. You really should see the ocean and the mountains here.
The city...
Just outside the city...
The only drawback (and this wouldn't affect you) is that this costs $2.5 million dollars to buy...