🚙 128,000 Vehicles in Banff

Good morning, Bow Valley!

This is a pretty niche way to start today’s edition, but Love Is Blind is officially coming to Canada, and casting is now open. For the uninitiated, it’s the Netflix reality show where singles date without ever seeing each other, then potentially get engaged before meeting face-to-face. Naturally, we’d love to see a single Bow Valley local make the cut, so we’re linking the application here. We’re not saying this is Ben’s favourite TV show, but he did make us put this in today’s edition. We’ll let you be the judge.

- Fortune Whelan, Ben S., Brendan Nogue, Alexia Chambers

BANFF RECORDED 128,000 VEHICLES OVER THE AUGUST LONG WEEKEND 

What's Happening? Banff recorded more than 128,000 vehicles over the August long weekend, up 2% from last year, with Sunday alone bringing roughly 36,700 vehicles through the town's two main entrances. But there's an interesting story beneath those numbers: while more vehicles arrived in Banff, fewer travelled into some of its most congestion-prone areas.

More Cars Arrived, Fewer Crossed The River. The 36,700 vehicles recorded Sunday were more than 12,000 above the roughly 24,000-per-day threshold when the town says congestion typically begins.

Yet traffic across the Bow River Bridge fell 7% from last year's long weekend and 19% from 2019. Mountain Avenue, the main route to the Banff Gondola and Upper Hot Springs, saw an even bigger decline, down 13% from last year and 35% from 2019.

"While vehicles coming into town are on the increase, we still see very significant drops in total vehicles driving to the south side and out of town to the Gondola," Town of Banff communications director Jason Darrah told Bow Valley Insider.

So, Where Did Everyone Go? Transit appears to be absorbing some of that traffic. Nearly 40,000 passengers rode Banff's local Roam routes over the long weekend, up 11% from last year. In July, Routes 1 and 2 carried more than 313,000 passengers, up 20% year over year and 46% from 2024.

The town credits several measures, including free resident transit, shuttles, an express bus lane, increased e-bike use and the additional pedestrian bridge. A new $17.50 daily parking fee at the Banff Gondola and Upper Hot Springs lots is also designed to discourage driving.

Police Were Busy, Too. Banff RCMP and the Alberta RCMP Traffic Section issued 27 tickets over the long weekend. Speeding accounted for 14 violations, more than half of all tickets issued, while one impaired driver was processed through immediate roadside sanctions.

RCMP couldn't provide comparable 2025 numbers, so it's unclear whether enforcement increased or decreased year over year. 

The Bigger Summer Picture. Nearly 900,000 vehicles entered Banff in July, up 4% from last year. Darrah said warmer, drier weather likely contributed, alongside the Canada Strong Pass. With passenger rail still years away, the town says it wants to fast-track another option: daily summer mass transit from Calgary.

Read our full story

IF RUSTICA ISN'T ON YOUR DINNER LIST YET, IT PROBABLY SHOULD BE.

There are a lot of great places to eat in the Bow Valley, so earning a spot on someone's dinner shortlist isn't easy. After our team spent an evening at Rustica, perched above Canmore at Silvertip Resort, we think it deserves one. While it's long been known for its panoramic mountain views, we came away convinced the food is now reason enough to make the reservation. 

Under Executive Chef Kevin Bourdages, formerly of the Post Hotel and Fairmont properties, Rustica has quietly evolved into one of the Bow Valley’s standout dining experiences. The menu celebrates seasonal Alberta ingredients, local producers and modern Canadian cuisine, with cooking that's focused on bringing out the ingredients rather than masking them. 

We'd expected the Radish & Crab Ravioli and Black Cod to be highlights, and they were. What surprised us most were the dishes that don't usually steal the spotlight. The market vegetables, wild mushrooms and Chällerhocker mashed potatoes were among the most memorable bites of the evening, showing the same level of care as the signature plates.

Beautiful mountain views are easy to find in Canmore. Restaurants where the food lives up to the setting are much harder to come by. Rustica has become one of them, and whether you're stopping in for a casual evening out or celebrating something special, it's a restaurant we think deserves a place on your list. 

📝 Read our full review and see pictures
🍽️ Check out the menu
 📅 Book a reservation

_{*Presented by Silvertip Resort.}

THE DIGEST

• 🔥 That Kootenay Wildfire Has Nearly Doubled in Size. Remember the wildfire off Highway 93 South in Kootenay National Park we mentioned Monday? It has grown from about six hectares to 11.5 hectares. Parks Canada says the lightning-caused fire near Ottertail Pass is still burning primarily at low intensity and poses no threat to public safety or infrastructure. Two wildfire crews and two helicopters are working the fire, and drivers may notice increased helicopter activity around Kootenay Crossing. Cooler, wetter weather could help crews over the coming days.

• 🐟 Threatened Trout Are Spawning Again in Banff. After more than a decade of restoration work, Parks Canada has recorded reintroduced westslope cutthroat trout spawning naturally in Hidden Lake for the first time. The remote alpine lake behind Lake Louise Ski Resort once supported the threatened native species before non-native fish displaced them. Parks Canada spent years removing brook trout before reintroducing cutthroat trout beginning in 2021. The natural spawning is a major milestone, showing the fish can now reproduce on their own in the restored habitat. Here’s what it took to bring native trout back. 

• 🐻 Bear Warning on Popular Canmore Trail. Alberta Parks has issued a warning after two mountain bikers surprised a black bear sow with cubs on Horseshoe Loop, triggering a bluff charge. Bear spray was deployed, and the bear retreated without making contact. For those unfamiliar, Horseshoe Loop is a popular after-work hike or bike that starts off Cougar Creek and traverses the lower front side of Grotto Mountain. The trail remains open, but travelers should make noise, keep dogs leashed, and carry bear spray somewhere immediately accessible. 

• ⛈️ That Thunder Last Night Was No Joke. If you thought Tuesday night's thunder sounded particularly intense, you weren't imagining it. Environment Canada had Canmore, Exshaw, and Ghost Lake under a severe thunderstorm watch, warning that storms could produce strong wind gusts, large hail, and heavy rain. If you experienced any damage, let us know. It came while the Bow Valley still deals with wildfire smoke and air quality warnings, although Environment Canada expects the smoke to begin clearing today. 

What Happens After Someone Sees Your Ad?

Do they:

A) Click
B) Buy
C) Forget you existed 3 seconds later

Most businesses don’t know.

We do.

We track leads and actual customers.

Because “awareness” doesn’t pay the bills.

➡️ Let’s make your marketing measurable

BANFF TAKES FIRST STEP TOWARD MAJOR CHILDCARE EXPANSION 

What's Happening? After more than a year of discussion over Banff's childcare shortage, council is putting money behind a potential solution. Councillors unanimously approved $56,000 to advance designs for a permanent expansion of the Banff Child Care Centre, while also exploring whether the town could operate additional childcare spaces at Banff Elementary School.

More Than 100 Local Families Are Waiting. The Day Care Society of Banff operates three locations with space for 142 children, but its waitlist includes more than 210 children from 108 Banff families. A permanent expansion could help close that gap, though the roughly $3.8-million project would still take years to complete. 

"We keep hearing from the community that this is at an all-time crisis desperation level," Mayor Corrie DiManno said.

There's Another Problem: Affordability. The society recently opened Elements Child Care, but a provincial funding change means families there aren't eligible for Alberta's affordability grant. Full-time care costs $1,350 per month, compared with $326.25 at the society's established centres.

Of 30 waitlisted families offered spaces at Elements, only nine accepted, primarily because of cost. "Creating physical childcare spaces is only one part of the solution," Town of Banff community development coordinator Jessica LaBonte told council. "They also need to be financially accessible."

Parents Say They've Waited Long Enough. Kathryn Hanke told council her family has been on the waitlist for 21 months, since her son was born. She and her partner have worked alternating shifts to manage childcare while continuing to work in Banff.

"Behind every waitlist number is a family," she told council, urging it to start funding a permanent solution.

Housing And Childcare Are Connected. Councillor David Fullerton argued Banff can't address its housing shortage without simultaneously planning for childcare as hundreds of new housing units are developed.

"I think we need to stop talking about our housing crisis and our childcare crisis as separate silos," he said. "They're tied together."

What’s next? The $56,000 will advance the expansion design to the development-permit stage. Council also directed staff to consider the project in the 2027 budget and explore operating 16 to 20 childcare spaces at Banff Elementary School. 

Read our full story

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Cook With a Mystery Food Box. The Biosphere Institute is turning this week’s Bow Valley Food Alliance Good Food Box into a hands-on cooking night. Instead of following strict recipes, you’ll work together to turn surprise seasonal produce into dinner, then head home with leftovers and ideas for using what’s already in your fridge. 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Co+Kitchen, Canmore. Sliding scale.*

• Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight. The Perseid meteor shower peaks under exceptionally dark new-moon skies, creating some of the best viewing conditions in years. The smoke looks like it’ll clear out too, so find somewhere away from town lights, give your eyes time to adjust, and look up. 

Thursday

• $9 Hot Dog and Beer at Valbella. This might be one of the better food-and-drink deals around right now. Valbella is serving a European-style hot dog, with sauce inside a hollowed-out bun and the sausage tucked in, plus your choice of available beer for $9. Hard to argue with that. 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Valbella, Canmore. $9.*

• New Queer Art Exhibition Opens. Queer(y)ing Ecologies opens Thursday, featuring work by local 2SLGBTQIA+ community members exploring land, belonging, resilience, and environmental care. Everyone is welcome at the free opening reception to see the work, meet community members, and enjoy refreshments. The exhibition continues through Sept. 7. 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. Free.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🎁 Help Bring Some Christmas Spirit to the Bow Valley. If you haven’t heard of the Bow Valley Christmas Spirit Campaign, it’s a local non-profit that helps families in need during the holidays, primarily through gift cards for food and toys so recipients can choose what works for them. The volunteer-run organization has been around since 1997, and it’s holding a virtual AGM on Sept. 10. You can learn more about what they do, hear plans for this Christmas, and find out how to get involved. Meeting link will be posted here.*

• 🥩 Pulled Pork Party in Exshaw. The Exshaw Legion is leaning into summer Saturday with a Luau & Pork Feast. The afternoon starts with a meat draw at 3 PM before the main event at 6 PM, featuring pulled pork with sides for $20. There are also rib and banana dessert contests, plus hula hoop and limbo competitions and prizes. Doors open at 2 PM, and everyone is welcome.*

• 🩷 Put This Pink Party on Your Radar. It’s still a few weeks away, but The Fat Ox is giving you plenty of time to find something pink. On Saturday, Sept. 5, its Banff patio is hosting Studio Rosé, an afternoon built around Studio Rosé by Miraval, pink cocktails, disco vibes, mountain views, and an Inked & Linked permanent jewellery pop-up. Pink is the dress code, Happy Hour runs until 4 PM, and dinner service starts right as it ends. The party runs from 3-8 PM. Get details.*

• 🎵 Make Some Music This Fall. Valley Winds Music Association is welcoming new members for its fall season, with rehearsals starting in September for four community groups: mixed choir Choir CHORDillera, men’s choir Men of the Mountains, Concert Band, and Jazz Band. You don’t need to read music to join either choir, and there are no auditions for Concert Band, although musicians should play around a Grade 3–5 level. Jazz Band spots depend on instrument needs and director approval. Here’s how to join.*

• 🌡️ Dealing With Sunburn or Heat Rash? It usually starts small. A bit of redness, some irritation, maybe a rash after a hot day outside. Then it lingers longer than it should. Sunburns and heat rash are common this time of year, but not all of them are equal. Some need more than aloe. Pharmacists can assess what’s going on and, if needed, prescribe treatments like medicated creams or stronger anti-inflammatories to calm things down properly. At Banff Value Drug Mart, Varun is often the fastest first stop. No appointment, no waiting, just a quick assessment and a plan that actually works.*

CIVIC NEWS

• Don’t Be Alarmed by Discoloured Water. Heads Up for Harvie Heights and Exshaw: the MD of Bighorn is flushing water mains in Harvie Heights through Aug. 13, with Exshaw scheduled for Aug. 17-20. You may notice some water discolouration, but the MD says it isn't a health hazard. If it happens, run your cold-water taps for 4-5 minutes until the water clears, and avoid hot water or laundry until then. 

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, August 12th, 10:00 PM: Jesse Peters. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

• Thursday, August 13th, 10:00 PM: Red Mile High. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

SPORTS

• Bow Valley Paddler Is Heading to the World Championships. Eighteen-year-old Jordy Munro won his second junior national freestyle title on his home river in Kananaskis, earning a spot at the 2027 World Freestyle Championships in Spain. Munro didn't just win his age group. At team trials, he posted the highest score of any athlete in the field, including the U23 and senior men. He'll now represent Canada in the newly created U23 category, after finishing ninth at worlds last year. Read our full interview with him.

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.