🏁 120km/h Trial Incoming

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Not sure if you caught the avalanche control work yesterday on Rundle, but it was a sight. Crews brought down enough snow to send one of the slides all the way to the valley bottom. We posted the video on Instagram, which got over 1M views. Thanks to James Dean for sending the footage in. More avalanche news below.

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

PROVINCE FAST TRACKS 120 KM/H TRIAL AFTER PRELIMINARY SURVEY RESULTS

What’s Happening? Alberta is wasting no time. Just four days after its highway speed survey closed, the province signalled it will test 120 km/h limits on select rural divided highways in 2026. But the big question for Bow Valley drivers is still unanswered: will Highway 1 between Calgary and Banff be part of it?

The Push for 120 km/h. Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen says 68% of nearly 59,400 survey respondents support increasing limits on divided highways. He told the Calgary Herald that Alberta’s major highways are “big beautiful roads” built for higher speeds and that rural commuters have been calling for change for years. The province has not released the full dataset yet, but the early numbers were enough to set trial planning in motion.

But the Bow Valley Sees It Differently. Local sentiment is almost the mirror opposite. A Bow Valley Insider poll from November drew 871 responses, with 83% of locals opposing any increase on Highway 1. Residents pointed to the things that make this corridor unique: wildlife habitat, winter driving, tight terrain, and heavy visitor traffic. As one respondent put it, “The speed is fine, the problem is driver attention.” Others flagged the potential severity of wildlife collisions at higher speeds. Dreeshen has suggested support may be strongest among people who drive flatter, straighter highways like the QEII. That is a very different picture than the mountain stretch around Canmore.

What the Trial Means Right Now. The province has not confirmed which corridors will be included in the trial. The survey listed Highway 1 from Banff to the Saskatchewan border as a candidate, but officials say only that a controlled mini trial is coming next year. Urban freeways, like Calgary’s Deerfoot Trail and ring roads, are off the table, and broader decisions will depend the full survey results, which are expected early in 2026.

STORM CYCLE SETS OFF WIDESPREAD AVALANCHES ACROSS BANFF AND KANANASKIS

What’s Happening? Avalanche danger remains extremely high across Banff National Park and Kananaskis after days of heavy snow, rain, and strong winds. Officials are urging people to avoid avalanche terrain entirely, with storm cycles now triggering slides on their own.

Why the Risk Is So High. Warm, wet storms have loaded a deep layer of new snow onto older weak crusts, creating an unstable stack that is failing easily. Avalanche Canada lists the danger as High in the alpine and treeline, and Considerable below treeline, indicating that natural avalanches are likely and human-triggered avalanches are very likely.

What Forecasters Are Seeing. During avalanche control work on Sunday, Parks Canada intentionally triggered about 10 size 2 avalanches in the backcountry terrain behind Sunshine Village. A size 2 avalanche is large enough to bury, injure, or kill a person. Parks Canada also brought down two size 2.5 avalanches in the Lake Louise backcountry during control work. Kananaskis teams are reporting similar conditions, with crews noting a natural and “loud” size 2 avalanche near Black Prince on Sunday.

Impact on Travel. Spray Lakes Road was closed yesterday (Tuesday) between Grassi Lakes and Goat Creek for avalanche control. From the ground, it appeared crews deployed five explosive charges on the east end of Mount Rundle to bring down unstable slopes. We captured the largest release on video. The Icefields Parkway is also closed from Athabasca Falls to Lake Louise until at least today (Wednesday) to allow crews to complete avalanche control. Up to 70 centimetres of new snow is expected for Jasper and northern Banff.

Conditions remain extremely touchy. Check Avalanche.ca before heading into the backcountry and Alberta 511 for road closures and updates.

THE DIGEST

• 🚧 Area Closure Near Sunshine’s Ski-Out for Hibernating Bear. A fresh area closure is now in place at Sunshine Village after a black bear denned just west of Eagle Mountain, right beside the ski-out past Goat’s Eye. The timing is notable: a nearly identical situation unfolded in late October, when Parks Canada relocated a denning bear from a nearby spot, prompting local backlash. We assume this is a different bear, but we’ve asked Parks Canada for confirmation and will report back.

• 💝 A Canmore Family’s Hospital Stay Turns Into an Unexpected Christmas Twist. A Bow Valley nurse spent nine weeks in a Calgary hospital facing a high-risk pregnancy, while her husband and daughter stayed steps away at Ronald McDonald House. But what should have been a stressful December took a turn no one saw coming. WestJet showed up, cameras rolling, with a surprise that completely changed their Christmas. Read our full story to see what arrived.

• 🔥 Lake Louise’s Winter Burn Has Begun. Parks Canada kicked off winter burning on December 13 as part of the Lake Louise Community Fire Guard, a long-term effort to reduce wildfire risk around the village. Crews will thin trees, haul timber, and burn piles through March, which means some of the popular Pipestone trails will be closed at times and smoke may linger in the mornings. 

• 🚗 Lake Louise Parking Set for Another Jump. In case you missed our report from Monday, parking at Lake Louise Lakeshore is rising to $42 in 2026, continuing a steep climb from $11.70 in 2021. Parks Canada says the increase stems from mandatory CPI-based adjustments under the Service Fees Act. Parking stays free through winter, but once shuttle season begins in May, the new rate kicks in. 

• ❄️ Inside Sunshine’s Snow Farming Strategy. The Weather Network just filmed a mini doc on Sunshine Village’s long-standing “snow farming” technique, which uses fences and high-alpine winds to capture every drifting flake. Sunshine only runs two snow guns on the lower ski-out; the rest is 100% natural snow. Crews pound in kilometres of fencing each August, let storms and wind build massive drifts, then groom that snow where it’s needed. It’s worth a quick watch.

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GOLDEN WEIGHS NEW SHORT-TERM RENTAL ACCOMMODATIONS, CITING “SPILLOVER FROM THE BOW VALLEY”

What’s Happening? Golden is heading into a major public hearing on December 16 over whether to allow short-term rentals at a new development called the Sevens. We are covering it because supporters link the proposal to Bow Valley spillover, arguing that Canmore’s and Banff’s increasing popularity is pushing visitors to Golden and costing the town tourism dollars without more visitor accommodation.

Why It Matters Here. As Canmore phases out new Tourist Homes and tightens rules on existing ones, regional demand for short-term stays is shifting. Golden’s debate is the opposite of ours. While Canmore limits short-term rental growth to protect housing, Golden is considering an expansion to capture spillover tourism.

The Case For. Supporters say the Sevens would add purpose-built visitor accommodation without removing existing rental housing. They also highlight a major incentive. The developer has offered to pay roughly $2 million for water and fire protection upgrades the town needs but has not budgeted. With visitor overflow already happening from the Bow Valley and Revelstoke, many see this as Golden catching up.

The Case Against. Opponents argue the move contradicts Golden’s long-term housing strategy and undermines existing rules. In residential areas, short-term rentals are only allowed when the owner lives on the property, and many locals have invested heavily to meet those requirements. Letting a large development operate short-term rentals without a resident on site feels unfair to those who followed the rules.

Meanwhile, in Canmore. As of 2025, new Tourist Homes are no longer permitted, conversions from residential to Tourist Home have been eliminated, and all Tourist Homes now pay a tax rate that is about three times higher than standard residential properties. Existing units can continue, but the pipeline for new short-term rental inventory has essentially closed.

What’s Next? Golden Town Council will not decide at the hearing. After collecting public input, they will review housing impacts, infrastructure needs, and community feedback before voting at a later meeting.

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Mountain Movie Night. Settle in for an evening of two alpine films on the big screen. Robson follows elite ski mountaineers Christina Lustenberger and Guillaume Pierrel as they chase a historic descent on Canada’s tallest peak, while The Mighty Quay celebrates 100 years of Mount Norquay, tracing the people, perseverance, and culture that shaped Banff’s first ski hill. 6:30 PM. Lux Theatre, Banff. $10.

Thursday

• Chess Night at the Canmore Library. Drop in for a casual evening of chess. All ages and skill levels are welcome; sets are provided, though you may bring your own. 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Friends Program Room. Free. 

• Banff Social Salsa Night. Heat up your Thursday with Banff Social Salsa Night. Your ticket includes a complimentary drink and a two-hour Salsa, Merengue, and Bachata lesson with Rockies Cuban Salsa’s top instructor. No partner needed, just bring your energy. Dancing goes late, with food and drink specials all night. 6:30 PM. Banff Social. $20.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🛎️ Holiday Dining at Rhythm & Howl with Local Discount. If you’re looking for a festive meal, Rhythm & Howl is one of our top picks, especially with the locals' discount they’re offering. From December 20 to 27, they’re serving a winter-inspired menu, with maple-roasted squash soup, turkey with classic sides, festive cocktails, and standout desserts, like a chocolate torte served with coconut whipped cream. Bow Valley residents and up to three guests save 15%. Reserve here.*

• ✨ Family Holiday Outing at Banff Springs. If you are hunting for that one holiday plan that works for kids, grandparents, and everyone in between, A Christmas Carol at the Banff Springs is it. The mix of ghosts, music, and puppets keeps the younger ones hooked, while the story still lands for adults. On stage for a bit longer. Find tickets here. Use code BOWVALLEYINSIDER for 15% off.*

• 👨‍🍳 Let Sandtraps Handle New Year’s Eve. Staying in this year? Their gourmet take-away menu gives you a three-course, chef-prepared dinner ready to reheat at home. Start with silky baked brie and cranberry-walnut chutney, then choose between beef tenderloin or black cod with prawns, plus sides like hasselback potatoes and asparagus. Salted caramel cheesecake seals the deal. Order details here.*

• 📍 The Yoga Lounge Is Moving. After 23+ years in its current home on Main Street, the Yoga Lounge will relocate to 1 Industrial Place in mid-February 2026. Owner Jeff Mah shares that rising rents prompted the shift, but excitement is winning out as the vision for this next chapter comes into focus.

• 🥪 12 Days of Sandwiches On Now at the Rose & Crown. 12 days of stacked, melty, saucy sandwich magic. Each day features a new favourite, from classic Cheese Steak to Veggie Burger, Croque Monsieur, and Hot Turkey Sandwich. Come hungry, come often, and celebrate the countdown to Christmas with a delicious daily sandwich.*

CIVIC NEWS

• Bridge Repairs, Playground Upgrades, and a New Rink Surface Coming in 2026. Canmore’s 2026 capital plan includes a trio of projects residents will actually notice: a full replacement of Carey Playground, a resurfaced Cougar Creek outdoor rink, and several bridge repairs moved up after structural inspections flagged issues. Work ranges from major rehab on the Spurline and Engine bridges to smaller fixes on pedestrian spans across Policeman’s Creek. The town says advancing the bridge work now helps avoid bigger, costlier problems later.

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, December 17th, 2025, 9:00 PM: Give 360 360° of House, Techno, Garage, DnB + Beyond. Location: Melissa’s MisSteak, Banff. $11.30.

• Wednesday, December 17th, 2025, 10:00 PM: Tommy's Unplugged. Location: Tommy’s Neighborhood Pub, Banff. No Cover.

SPORTS

• Local Athletes Head To Junior International Biathlon Cup. Bragg Creek’s William Brindle and Canmore’s Benjamin Brousseau have been named to Biathlon Canada’s Junior IBU Cup team, earning a chance to compete against the world’s top junior biathletes in Europe. It is a major step for two young athletes who cut their teeth on Bow Valley trails before being selected for the national squad.

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Friday, same time, same place! 

Heads Up: We sometimes feature paid promotion from local businesses and organizations we trust. When you see a little asterisk (*), that means it’s a sponsored post. We only work with partners we think our readers will actually care about.