💰 $50 Parking at Tunnel Mtn

Good morning, Bow Valley!

You might be seeing reports this morning about Highway 1 between Calgary and the Bow Valley shutting down last night. We now know a little more about what happened. Westbound Highway 1 closed around 7:30 PM near Mînî Thnî after a semi-truck was involved in a single-vehicle collision and struck part of a bridge. The after-hours RCMP media team told us around 10:30 PM that officers had just cleared the scene and the highway had reopened. RCMP said the driver appeared to have either no injuries or minor injuries. The closure forced some lengthy detours through Cochrane or Kananaskis, so if your trip to the mountains took longer than expected, that was why.

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

IT NOW COSTS UP TO $50 A DAY TO PARK AT TUNNEL MOUNTAIN TRAILHEAD

What's Happening? Parking at the Tunnel Mountain Summit trailhead is no longer free. Banff Centre introduced paid parking there on Aug. 12, with rates of $12 for one hour, $30 for three hours and $50 for the day. It's the first phase of a new paid parking system that expands across the Banff Centre campus next week.

Wait, Banff Centre Owns The Trailhead Lot? Yep. While most people associate the parking lot with the popular Tunnel Mountain hike, it sits on Banff Centre property and is the only trailhead lot affected by the new system.

Banff Centre director of communications Carly Maga told Bow Valley Insider the institution wanted consistent rules across its property rather than leaving one free lot that could become overloaded as drivers avoid paying elsewhere.

Those Rates Aren't Necessarily Permanent. Banff Centre says it's treating the rollout as a learning period and could adjust pricing based on how people use the campus.

"We are in an early phase of rolling out paid parking at Banff Centre, and will be implementing learnings as we go," Maga said. "This includes finding rates that suit the many different uses of the Banff Centre campus."

Not Everyone Pays. Staff, faculty and program participants are exempt, while visitors to several campus facilities can receive up to three hours of validated parking. That includes Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation users, diners at Banff Centre food and beverage locations and visitors to the Walter Phillips Gallery.

Where Does The Money Go? Banff Centre isn't estimating how much the program will generate, but says parking revenue will flow back into the non-profit institution's operations and programming.

"As a non-profit, this change is not about driving a surplus of revenue," Maga said. "Any revenue we earn goes directly back into the organization and our mission."

Part Of A Bigger Shift. Banff Centre says the move aligns with broader efforts to reduce vehicle traffic. Downtown Banff's peak-season parking rate increased to $12 per hour this year, while Parks Canada introduced $17.50 daily parking at Sulphur Mountain.

Banff Centre is also contributing $38,000 toward expanded Roam transit service from October through May, connecting its campus with downtown and other destinations. 

Read our full story (there’s a lot of nuance with this one)

NEW ROCKIES RANGERS PROGRAM LAUNCHES AT BANFF, JASPER AND GOLDEN ATTRACTIONS 

Families visiting Banff and the Canadian Rockies this summer will find a new activity waiting at some of the region's most popular attractions. Pursuit has launched Rockies Rangers, a free, self-guided program that lets children earn collectible badges while learning about wildlife, mountain landscapes and local history.

The program is available at seven attractions across Banff, Jasper and Golden, including the Banff Gondola, Lake Minnewanka Boat Cruise, Columbia Icefield Adventure, Open Top Touring, Golden Skybridge, Jasper SkyTram and Maligne Lake Cruise. Children under 16 receive an age-appropriate field guide with hands-on activities for each destination, and can collect a unique embroidered badge after completing the experience. The program is included with admission and does not require advance registration.

Rather than following a guide or a scheduled tour, children complete the activities at their own pace as they explore each attraction. The field guides focus on topics such as local wildlife, mountain ecosystems, and the stories behind each destination, giving families another option to keep younger visitors engaged during a day in the mountains.

Alberta residents are eligible for discounts to Pursuit’s attractions in Banff and Jasper through Pursuit's rewards program.

_{*Presented by Pursuit Collections.}

THE DIGEST

• 🥛 Folk Fest Ditched 31,751 Single-Use Items. If you ate or drank at this year’s Canmore Folk Music Festival, there’s a good chance you noticed the reusable dishes. After testing reusable cups last year, organizers expanded the program festival-wide, making reusable plates, cups, and utensils the default. The result: an estimated 31,751 single-use items avoided, or roughly 100 garbage bags worth. Better yet, there was no app or deposit. You simply returned everything to collection bins.  See what it took to pull this off. Organizers hope the model can now spread to more Bow Valley events.  

• 🏞️ Fairmont Is Heading to Japan’s Ski Country. You know the hotel brand behind the Chateau Lake Louise? Well, it’s bringing its mountain-resort experience to one of the world’s best-known ski destinations. Fairmont plans to open a 165-room luxury resort in Niseko, Japan, in early 2028, with shuttles connecting guests to nearby ski areas. Plans also include Japanese onsen baths, a spa and wellness club, and a kids club. If prices are anything like Lake Louise, we’ll probably just admire this one from afar. 

• 🍚 Canmore Has a New Flour Mill. A new local business is taking flour production back to basics. Spindle Mill grinds Alberta-grown Red Fife wheat between granite stones in Canmore, with a philosophy summed up by co-founder Jessie Boston: “We strive to deliver a one-word ingredient list: wheat.” The result is fresh, unbleached flour for everything from sourdough and pizza to pancakes and cookies. Spindle Mill currently offers whole wheat flour, sifted flour, and wheat berries, with online orders available for pickup. Read our full interview with the founders.

• 🐻 Camper Fined $600 After Bear Gets Food. Remember the story we covered last week about the camper charged after a bear got into his food at Rampart Creek Campground? There’s now an outcome. The 28-year-old Australian man pleaded guilty in Canmore court Wednesday and was fined $600. He had stored food in a bear-resistant bag near his tent, which a black bear chewed through, taking pepperoni and tuna. The Crown agreed to a lower fine partly because he reported the incident himself and expressed remorse. Rampart Creek remains under a bear warning. 

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AVALANCHE CANADA WARNS ALBERTA FUNDING DELAY COULD FORCE PROGRAM CUTS

What's Happening? Avalanche Canada says it could begin cutting programs as early as Sept. 1 if the Alberta government doesn't provide clarity on its funding. The organization, which produces daily avalanche forecasts and provides public education, has been waiting since its three-year provincial funding agreement expired in March.

How Much Money Are We Talking? Avalanche Canada previously received $250,000 annually from Alberta and is requesting $300,000 under a new agreement. Executive director Gilles Valade told Bow Valley Insider even that increase would represent a smaller share of its budget than Alberta provided in 2015.

By comparison, B.C. is midway through a 10-year, $10-million agreement. Valade said there is no contingency funding to replace the province’s contribution.

Youth Education Could Go First. The first cuts could affect outreach programs that bring avalanche education into Alberta schools and communities. Not because they're considered less important, Valade said, but because hiring normally begins now so educators can start visiting communities in September and October.

"It took 20 years to get where we are now in terms of people's awareness and education understanding of winter backcountry recreation," Valade said. "If we lose momentum it'd be a disaster."

This Isn't Avalanche Skills Training. The paid Avalanche Skills Training (AST) courses many backcountry users take would continue through independent providers. The programs at risk are outreach efforts aimed at people who may have little or no avalanche knowledge.

Certified mountain guide with Alpine Air Adventures, Jeff Bullock, a former Avalanche Canada outreach educator, told Bow Valley Insider that reaching those people early can provide the first push toward proper education.

More People Are Heading Into Avalanche Terrain. The uncertainty comes as backcountry use continues to grow and Alberta pursues expanded winter tourism through its All-Season Resorts Act. Bullock estimates participation in Avalanche Skills Training is growing roughly 10% annually.

Valade questioned the disconnect. "You put more people in the backcountry, it just means there's more people at risk of being caught, especially if they're not informed."

What's Next? Avalanche Canada says it needs funding certainty before September to avoid beginning cuts. Alberta Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen and his representatives did not respond to Bow Valley Insider's requests for comment.

Read our full story 

THINGS TO DO

Friday

• Dance to One of Canmore’s Favourite Bands. Canmore’s Northern Quarter takes over The Drake Friday and Saturday night with a dance-friendly mix of indie, pop, folk, and covers ranging from Blondie to Chappell Roan. Grab some friends and make a night of it. 10:00 PM. The Drake, Canmore. $5 cover.*

Saturday

• National Disc Golf Tour Comes to Canmore. The National Amateur Disc Golf Tour lands at the Canmore Nordic Centre Saturday for two competitive rounds, with players chasing qualification for the North American championships in Austin, Texas. Spectators can watch for free, although you’ll need a Kananaskis Conservation Pass to park. All day. Canmore Nordic Centre. Free to watch.

• Luau and Pulled-Pork Feast in Exshaw. The Exshaw Legion is going tropical Saturday with a meat draw, $20 pulled-pork dinner, rib and banana-dessert contests, prizes, hula hoops, and a limbo contest. Doors open at 2 PM, the meat draw starts at 3 PM, and dinner and the party begin at 6 PM. Exshaw Legion. $20 for dinner.* 

Sunday

• Free Yoga at the Banff Library. Start Sunday with a free yoga class at the Banff Public Library. It’s open to all experience levels, so just bring a mat and enjoy an easy hour of movement and breathing. 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM. Banff Library. Free. 

• Métis Plant Walk. Learn to identify local plants from a Métis perspective during a leisurely guided walk at Cave and Basin National Historic Site. The one-hour outing offers a different way to look at the plants growing around Banff. Sunday, Aug. 16. 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM. Cave and Basin, Banff. Free. 

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• ✅ Vote for Your Bow Valley Favourites. Voting is open for the 2026 Bow Valley Insider Awards, giving locals a chance to recognize the businesses they actually use, trust, and recommend. There are 85 categories covering everything from burgers and bakeries to mechanics, lawyers, hotels, and fitness studios, plus a write-in option if your favourite isn't listed. Voting runs until Sept. 15, with winners receiving a custom trophy, mentions across Bow Valley Insider, and a permanent spot in our community-backed winners directory. Cast your votes.

• 🍽️ Mexican Flavours Meet Canmore Craft Beer. Grizzly Paw’s annual Brewmaster’s Dinner returns August 19 with five Mexican-inspired BBQ courses, each paired with a different house beer. Chefs and brewers will talk you through what’s on your plate and in your glass, while everyone gathers around communal tables in the Beer Garden. Food, pairings, taxes, and gratuity are all included, and these dinners tend to sell out. So if five courses and five beers sounds like your kind of night, grab a seat.*

• 🛠️ Canmore’s Building Industry Is Talking Sustainability. Registration is open for the fourth annual Building for Sustainability Symposium, Nov. 25-27 at the Malcolm Hotel. Hosted by the Bow Valley Builders and Developers Association and Biosphere Institute, it brings together builders, planners, architects, municipal leaders, and others to explore more sustainable ways to build in the Bow Valley. Expect speakers, workshops, networking, and field tours focused on practical ideas for local projects. Secure your spot.*

• 🐻 Bear Warning and Trail Closure in Kananaskis. Alberta Parks has issued a warning after a black bear sow and cub were repeatedly spotted around the ponds, picnic areas, and parking lot. It remains open, but if you see the bears nearby, stay in your vehicle and don’t approach them. Visitors should keep dogs leashed, secure food, and carry bear spray. The warning is in effect until further notice. Meanwhile, the Upper Troll Falls Trail was closed on Aug. 12 until further notice due to significant damage from the late-June flooding. Here’s a map of the affected area.

• 🎬 Got a Play You Want to Put on Stage? Pine Tree Players has extended its deadline for director submissions to Aug. 31, giving locals a little more time to pitch a show for its 2027 season. First-time directors are welcome, although newcomers should have a mentorship or support plan in place. You can submit up to three plays, along with your creative vision and why you think the show would connect with Bow Valley audiences. If there’s a play you’ve been itching to bring to Canmore, this is your cue.*

CIVIC NEWS

• Canmore’s Pride Crosswalk Is Getting a Refresh. If you notice the rainbow crosswalk near Friendship Park disappear next week, it’s temporary. Starting the week of Aug. 17, crews will remove the existing surface on 6 Avenue, repave it, and then reinstall the Pride markings roughly 7-10 days later. Expect some traffic delays, detours, and limited pedestrian access while work is underway.

LIVE MUSIC

• Friday, August 14th, 2026, 5:00 PM: DJ Tenax.  Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

• Saturday, August 15th, 2026, 4:00 PM: DJ Najee.  Location: Tavern 1883, Canmore. No Cover.

SPORTS

• One of the World’s Best Climbers Takes on the Bow Valley. American climber Jonathan Siegrist came north looking for good summer climbing conditions, and apparently the Bow Valley delivered. He recently climbed Bow Valley Challenge at Stoneworks Cliff, graded 5.14d. For non-climbers, that's about as hard as climbing gets, a grade reserved for the elite of the elite. The ascent was Siegrist's 99th route graded 5.14d or harder, putting him just one away from a milestone very few climbers have ever reached. Watch the video of his climb here.

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Monday, 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.