📉 39% Fewer Elk

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Officials say the worst of the rain and flooding now appears to be behind us, but there are still a few important closures and warnings across the Bow Valley that we’re covering today.

- Fortune Whelan, Ben S., Madalyn Beach

P.S. Happy Birthday, Sid!

BANFF ELK POPULATION DOWN NEARLY 39%

What’s Happening? Bow Valley Insider obtained Parks Canada elk survey data through a Freedom of Information request that shows Banff National Park’s elk population has fallen nearly 39% since 2018, while a University of Alberta wildlife biologist says the Bow Valley herd still appears healthy due to unusually strong calf survival rates. 

The Numbers. Parks Canada’s fall 2025 survey counted approximately 166 elk between Castle Mountain and Banff’s eastern boundary, down from 271 elk recorded in 2018. While the population has declined over that period, the current estimate still remains above the park’s minimum population target of 150 animals.

Mark Boyce, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Alberta, said the overall decline does not stand out as unusual.

Boyce said the more significant finding was the unusually high number of calves surviving into the population.

Young Elk Are Thriving. The survey showed calf survival rates far above historical averages in the Bow Valley herd. Parks Canada’s data found the herd’s fall cow-calf ratio reached 57.7%, compared with a long-term average of 36.4%. 

“Those kinds of numbers are almost unheard of,” Boyce said. “Most populations throughout the Rocky Mountain West don't even approach that kind of recruitment rate.”

In other words: fewer elk overall, but a surprisingly high number of calves surviving.

Trains Continue Killing Elk. Parks Canada says elk numbers are influenced by several factors, including wolf and cougar predation, winter food availability, hunting outside park boundaries, and railway mortality. But trains remain one of the largest human-caused threats facing the herd.

Survey data show rail collisions account for roughly one-quarter of documented elk deaths, while Parks Canada records show trains killed at least 163 elk in Banff between 2005 and 2017.

“The fact that we have to have these transportation corridors right through a national park is why we have a problem,” Boyce said.

Unlike the Trans-Canada Highway, where wildlife fencing and crossing structures have dramatically reduced animal deaths, railway mortality has remained a persistent issue. Boyce said improving visibility along tracks may help engineers react sooner, though slowing trains would likely have the greatest impact on reducing collisions.

Read our full story

THAT BRACE FROM AMAZON? MAYBE NOT.

Banff Sport Medicine’s in-clinic bracing and recovery shop in Canmore is helping Bow Valley locals find the right support gear without the usual online guesswork. Located right next to the clinic at the Shops of Canmore, the space carries braces and supports for knees, ankles, wrists, shoulders, and backs, alongside compression garments, orthotics, mobility aids, and recovery tools.

The difference? Every visit starts with a conversation. Staff help fit products based on your activity level, injury history, and goals, with input available from physicians, physiotherapists, massage therapists, and strength coaches under the same roof.

The shop is designed for more than just athletes. Whether you’re hiking, skiing, working trades, staying active as you age, or managing ongoing joint pain, the focus is on injury prevention, recovery, and staying mobile long term.

213-300 Old Canmore Road, second floor (Shops of Canmore). No appointment needed.

🔗 Visit their website for more details

_{*Presented by Banff Sports Medicine.}

THE DIGEST

• 🚧 Rockslide Shuts Down Spray Lakes Road. A major rockslide forced the closure of a section of Highway 742 Monday evening between the Grassi Lakes parking lot and Goat Creek, cutting off one of the Bow Valley’s busiest mountain corridors. Officials say the area remains unstable following days of heavy rain and rapid snowmelt. One local runner we spoke with who was on the road shortly after the slide described conditions as “another level” of dangerous, saying he no longer felt safe running the route. As of Tuesday evening, there’s still no timeline for reopening. Image and video footage here.

• 🦠 Parks Canada Is Fighting a Deadly Bat Disease With Probiotics. White-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has killed millions of bats across North America, has now been confirmed inside Jasper National Park’s only known bat hibernation cave. The disease can wipe out up to 98% of a colony by repeatedly waking bats during winter until they burn through their fat reserves and starve. Parks Canada is now applying probiotic bacteria at bat roosts in hopes of slowing the fungus’ spread. Officials say the treatment has already shown promising survival results in parts of Alberta, B.C. and Washington state.

• 🏃 A Runner Wants To Break The Icefields Parkway Speed Record. A 28-year-old ultrarunner from Whistler is preparing to run the entire 230-kilometre Icefields Parkway from Lake Louise to Jasper in under 31 hours, which would break the current route record set by Canmore runner Samuel Dickie in 2020. Harry Marshall only started running five years ago after losing both his brother and mother, initially using the sport to raise money for mental health charities. He’ll need to run through the night at a pace of just over eight minutes per kilometre, with support crews helping him navigate exhaustion, pavement pounding, and active bear country. 

• 🕵🏼‍♂️ Family Searching For Missing Banff Man. Family and friends are asking the Bow Valley community for help locating 30-year-old Matthew Gordash-Reid (image here), who was last in contact with loved ones on May 26 around 8 p.m. Matthew was living and working in Banff at the time of his disappearance. Anyone in Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise or surrounding areas who may have seen him or has information about his whereabouts is being asked to contact Banff RCMP.

Want more customers?

Every feature we run goes through:

• Research
• Interviews
• Copywriting
• Editing
• Distribution
• Tracking

This isn’t “throw up a post and hope.”

It’s structured, strategic, and built to convert.

➡️ Work with a team that actually has a process

BOW VALLEY WATER LEVELS STABILIZING, BUT OFFICIALS STILL URGING CAUTION

What’s Happening? Water levels across the Bow Valley appear to be stabilizing after several days of heavy rain and rapid snowmelt, but emergency officials are still warning residents to stay cautious as groundwater levels remain unusually high and some flood-related closures continue.

Note: Our team spent June 1 documenting flooding conditions across the Bow Valley. Here’s a photo gallery from Canmore, Banff, and Lake Louise.

Groundwater Became The Bigger Issue. While much of the attention has focused on the Bow River and swollen creeks, Canmore officials say a significant amount of the water showing up across town is actually coming from underground.

“A lot of the water that we're seeing through town is actually from groundwater and the water table is quite high,” Canmore Director of Emergency Management Caitlin Miller told Bow Valley Insider.

Miller encouraged residents to monitor basements and make sure sump pumps are functioning properly while groundwater levels remain elevated. Residents and businesses have already reported groundwater-related flooding in some low-lying areas.

Campgrounds, Pathways And Trails Impacted. One of the storm’s most visible impacts occurred at Three Sisters Campground in Bow Valley Provincial Park, where Alberta Parks closed the site after the Bow River overflowed its banks. Two camping reservations were relocated and no evacuations were required, though officials are now assessing infrastructure for flood damage.

Meanwhile, Kootenay National Park has closed several low-lying areas and trails, including Marble Canyon and Vermilion Crossing, as crews work to prevent log jams and flooding near bridges.

Why Officials Think The Worst May Be Over. Miller said snowfall at higher elevations may have actually reduced the severity of flooding by temporarily storing moisture instead of sending it directly into rivers and creeks all at once.

“The snow that fell, that actually really helps and slows things down,” she said.

Miller said weather modelling suggested Monday morning brought the heaviest precipitation of the storm, and officials now believe the Bow Valley is moving past the worst of it.

Read our full story

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Meet The Director: Ride The Cyclone. Curious about auditioning for Pine Tree Players’ upcoming production of Ride The Cyclone? This informal info night gives prospective performers a chance to meet director Ally Schuurman, learn more about the cult-favourite Canadian musical, and ask questions before auditions begin. Tea, coffee, and cookies will also be available. 7:00 PM. Miners’ Union Hall, Canmore. Free.*

Thursday

• Customer Appreciation Breakfast. Valbella Gourmet Foods is celebrating 48 years in the Bow Valley with a customer appreciation breakfast featuring pancakes, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, coffee, and juice on the Valbella patio. Breakfast is by donation, with all proceeds supporting the Bow Valley Food Bank. 7:30 AM - 10:00 AM. Valbella Patio, Canmore. By Donation.*

• Hot Dog Eating Contest. Rose & Crown Banff is hosting a hot dog eating contest on its rooftop patio, where 25 competitors will attempt to eat as many hot dogs as possible in 10 minutes. Registration to compete is already full, but spectators are encouraged to come watch the chaos unfold. Also, the winner receives a giant 3D-printed hot dog trophy. 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Rose & Crown Rooftop, Banff. Free to Watch.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🌸 These Hanging Baskets Mean Business. Some hanging baskets politely sit on your balcony. Wendy’s hanging baskets attempt a full-scale floral takeover. The long-time Canmore local is known for the giant, overflowing baskets you’ve probably spotted outside hotels, restaurants, and storefronts around town. And yes, they’re now available to locals too at her new setup across from Elevation Place in the old car dealership parking lot (map). Just make sure your hook is strong enough. Of course, she has smaller baskets too. Open daily 9 AM-6 PM (5 PM Sundays), rain or shine.*

• ♨️ Father’s Day Plans In Banff? This Patio Is Worth Booking Early. Father’s Day is still a couple weeks away, but The Fat Ox just released its June 21 patio menu and, honestly, it sounds pretty solid. They’ll be serving slow-roasted BBQ ribs with peach BBQ or spicy mustard sauce, jalapeño honey cornbread, smoked peach cobbler, plus $5 local pints and bourbon cocktails. It’s $49 per person and dog-friendly. More details here.*
  

• 🍾 Exshaw Legion Is Throwing A 100th Anniversary Party. The Exshaw Legion is celebrating 100 years on June 6 with a full afternoon and evening lineup that includes a meat draw, pulled pork supper, and a live performance from Canadian folk-country musician Tim Hus. If the name sounds familiar, he spent two years touring with Stompin’ Tom Connors and recently played the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show. Dinner starts at 5 PM, the show kicks off at 6:30 PM, and tickets are $30.*

• 🤝 Business Networking Coffee In Banff. The Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Coffee Connector networking event on June 10 from 8 to 9 AM at Good Earth Coffeehouse in Banff. The free event is designed to bring together local business owners and professionals for a casual morning of networking and collaboration over coffee and pastries. Attendance is capped at just 14 people. Honestly, probably one of the less intimidating ways to network in the Bow Valley. RSVP here.*

• 🤎 Banff Is Giving Away Free Compost This Weekend. Banff residents can pick up free compost this Saturday from 9 to 11:30 AM in the parking lot beside the Banff Greenhouse Society at the Recreation Grounds. Residents are asked to bring their own container and can collect up to 19 litres..

• ⚠️ Warning Issued For Heart Creek Trail. Alberta Parks issued a new trail warning Tuesday for the Heart Creek Interpretive Trail near Lac des Arcs, saying sections may be difficult or impossible to pass because of high water levels following recent rainfall. The trail remains open, but it’s probably best to pick a different after-work hike.

• ⛷️ Silvertip’s 18th Hole Turned Into A Ski Run. Just when local golfers thought June had finally arrived, a video started making the rounds Monday showing Silvertip’s 18th hole completely covered in snow… with someone casually skiing down the fairway. It’s worth a watch. The clip was filmed June 1. 

CIVIC NEWS

• Banff Condo Project Approved With Extra Conditions. Banff’s Municipal Planning Commission approved a condo subdivision on Otter Street, but the owners must first legalize two long-existing basement suites built without permits. The project also comes with requirements to build a public sidewalk on Wolf Street and narrow one of the driveways to create more street parking, despite objections from the property owner.

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, June 3rd, 10:00 PM: DJ Bunny Hops. Location: High Rollers, Banff. No Cover.

• Wednesday, June 3rd, 9:00 PM: Noche Caliente. Location: Sizzlers, Canmore. $10 Cover.

• Wednesday, June 3rd, 9:00 PM: Open Mic/Jam Night. Location: Rose & Crown, Canmore. No Cover.

• Thursday, June 4th, 6:00 PM: Steph O’Dette. Location: The Bison, Banff. No Cover.

SPORTS

• AJHL Bringing Back The All-Star Game And Changing Playoffs. The AJHL announced several changes for the 2026-27 season following its annual general meeting, including the return of the league’s All-Star Game for the first time in years. The league is also rolling out a new playoff format that gives the top six teams a first-round bye, while seeds seven through 10 battle it out in play-in series. Canmore Eagles GM Reid Costley was also named to the league’s management committee as the AJHL continues reshaping its future amid ongoing changes in junior hockey.

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.