💸 A $1M Story in Banff

Good morning, Bow Valley!

So here’s a fun one. We stumbled on an Aussie named “Dodgy Darcy” who landed in Banff on October 30, grabbed a job at Sunshine, moved into staff accom, and immediately started vlogging the whole thing. His Friday-night-on-the-hill video is peak staff-life energy: boxed dinners, cheeky beers at Trapper’s, and the kind of joy that only happens above 2,000 meters at the Village. We’re calling it now… this account is going to blow up.

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

Quick correction: On Friday, we ran a story that accidentally mentioned the Cochrane RCMP. That was an autocorrect slip on our end. The story should have referred to the Canmore RCMP. Many of you knew what we meant, but many understandably didn’t, so we wanted to clear it up. This is our first correction of 2025, so not a bad track record, but we’re not perfect. Sorry for the confusion.

$1 MILLION DONATION TARGETS GAPS IN BANFF’S HEALTH SERVICES

What’s Happening? A major local donation has pushed Banff’s long-discussed Wellness Centre closer to reality, moving the project into its next design and planning phase.

A Big Boost for Local Care. Covenant Foundation announced a $1 million gift from the Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation on National Philanthropy Day. It is the largest contribution Covenant has ever received for Banff and supporters say it could finally close some of the region’s biggest gaps in primary care and mental health support.

A Central Hub for Scattered Services. The Wellness Centre will take over the second floor of the Banff Public Health Building at Banff Mineral Springs Hospital. At 4,100 square feet, it will bring family doctors, mental health services, addictions support, and social programs under one roof. Banff’s current care system is stretched thin, with limited clinic hours, ongoing physician shortages, and key specialists only available in Calgary.

What the Donation Unlocks. The funding accelerates architectural work already underway and clears the way for procurement and permitting in early 2026. Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2026 and wrap by December 2027. If completed as planned, the Centre will offer evening and weekend hours, same-day appointments, limited walk-ins, and space for visiting specialists.

How It Will Work. New patient navigator roles aim to reduce the friction many residents face when moving between providers. Multiple agencies, including Recovery Alberta, Assisted Living Alberta, Primary Care Alberta, and Covenant, will share responsibility for programs inside the space.

What’s Next? The full project is expected to cost about $2 million. The Pauw Foundation’s gift gets the Centre within reach, but Covenant says additional support will still be needed to open the doors.

Our full story covers what this means for healthcare in Banff. 

BANFF’S LATEST OUTAGE PROVES WHY SOLAR MATTERS

When most of Banff went dark on October 21, residents learned a hard truth: even the prettiest town in the Rockies runs on fragile wires. The culprit? “Animal interference,” according to FortisAlberta. Translation: one curious critter, one quiet Tuesday, and the whole valley’s coffee machines quit mid-brew.

But while others waited for updates, some homes never blinked. Solar panels kept pulling daylight. Batteries kept fridges cold and Wi-Fi humming. That’s the difference between renting your power and owning it.

With Infinity Solar, your Bow Valley home becomes its own energy hub with solar, battery, and optional EV charger systems designed for mountain conditions and backed by local expertise. And right now, Banff and Canmore residents can stack thousands in municipal and federal rebates to make it happen.

Don’t wait for the next blackout to prove the point. 

Curious how solar might work for your home? Grab a free estimate. 

If you decide to go ahead, Bow Valley Insider readers get an extra $500 off any install. But you have to mention “Bow Valley Insider” in the form before November 30.

_{*Presented by Infinty Solar.}

THE DIGEST

• 🚌 Banff’s $9 Parking Debate Is Virtually a Tie. In our Bow Valley Insider poll of 269 respondents, 50.19% oppose raising visitor parking to $9 an hour, leaving the community almost perfectly split. The proposal would fully fund Roam Transit and reduce next year’s tax increase, but comments show a divide between those who say tourists can pay more and those worried about affordability, local access, and neighbourhood spillover. Read the full community comments. 

• 👩🏻‍🍳 Canmore Chef Reflects on Her Top Chef Journey. Tracy Little, chef-owner of Sauvage, opened up about being eliminated in Episode 3 of Top Chef Canada, which aired October 27. She said the show pushed her technically and personally, reaffirming her love for slow, intentional cooking. From pine-flour desserts to seabuckthorn sauces, her wild-ingredient style didn’t always translate under TV pressure, but the experience sharpened her perspective. Read our full interview with Tracy now that she’s back in Canmore.

• ❄️ Local Ice Climbing Legend and Guide Warns of Early-Season Avalanche Trap. Will Gadd posted a blunt social media reminder this week: “The stoke is growing…but the snow conditions have changed a lot.” He says there’s “almost no snow down low,” yet 40 to 120 centimetres up high, with strong winds from valley to alpine. That combo is already creating real avalanche risk, even when town looks bare. He linked to the November 2023’s fatal Kananaskis slide, urging climbers and recreationalists to “be heads up and bring your avi gear.”

• 🥾 Late-Season Kananaskis Hikes You Can Still Do. In case you missed this when we shared it earlier, these are five excellent Kananaskis hikes you can still tackle in November. While no hike is ever zero-risk this time of year, these routes generally stay out of avalanche terrain and remain accessible before winter road closures. We’ve got options off Highway 66, Highway 40, and Spray Lakes Road. If you want a winter blast of hiking, these are solid, safer bets. 

• 💰 Alberta Municipalities Support Hotel and Airbnb Tax Option. At a Calgary conference, 74 percent of Alberta Municipalities voted to support a new accommodation tax framework that would let towns charge hotel and short-term rental guests. The province would still need to amend the Municipal Government Act before anything moves ahead. Canmore backed the resolution, noting visitor volumes require infrastructure far beyond its permanent population.

Step Into the Marketing Ring…

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➡️ Partner with Bow Valley Insider and join the winning team

CANMORE’S EMERGENCY WINTER SHELTER REOPENS AMID RISING DEMAND

What’s Happening? Canmore’s emergency winter shelter has reopened for the 2025–26 season after recording its busiest year yet, highlighting growing housing insecurity across the Bow Valley.

Rising Demand, Limited Space. The shelter at Scout Hall increased capacity from eight beds to nine, but demand continues to outpace supply. Last winter, 58 people used the shelter, including 18 first-time guests. Average nightly usage rose 70 percent, and the shelter hit or exceeded capacity on 71 nights. The season also ran longer, opening 40 days earlier and operating until April 1.

Who’s Using the Shelter. Guests represent a wide range of backgrounds. Survey responses show six guests were employed, with jobs ranging from seasonal to full-time. Most users were men between 36 and 55. One respondent reported being without secure housing since 2017. High local living costs remain a major factor, with Canmore’s 2023 living wage estimated at $38.80 per hour.

Broader Pressure Across the Valley. The Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley serves Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise, Exshaw, Kananaskis, and Mînî Thnî. The YWCA in Banff also saw heavy demand last year, serving 123 individuals. But its capacity is reduced this winter as its social enterprise hotel transitions into a SAIT partnership. Staff at both organizations stress that need significantly exceeds available resources.

Extreme Cold Plans. If an extreme cold alert is issued, the Town of Canmore can activate its winter emergency plan, opening public buildings for overflow.

THINGS TO DO

Monday

• Adult Drop-In Soccer. Kick off your week with some fun, fitness, and friendly competition. Join the Adult Drop-In Soccer games every Monday. It’s $5 cash, no commitment, and good vibes. Ages 16+. 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. LGMS, Canmore. $5.

• Toronto International Film Festival Standout. Watch DJ Ahmet, a film about a 15-year-old Yuruk boy from a remote Macedonian village who escapes into music amidst parental expectations, societal conservatism, and forbidden love. 7:00 PM. Lux Theatre, Banff. $14.

• Firesmarting Presentation and Panel. This Earth Talk features a presentation by wildlife expert John Paczkowski and a panel discussion with local conservation leaders. Learn how fireguards and fuel reduction projects can lower wildfire risk, support wildlife habitat, and reduce human–wildlife conflict in the Bow Valley. Register here. 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM. Canmore Library. Free.*

Tuesday

• Annual Wild Film Festival. artsPlace and Y2Y present an evening of films and conversations exploring climate change, its visible impacts, and the resilience of northern communities and ecosystems. Hear from filmmakers, scientists, and Indigenous leaders as they share stories of loss, stewardship, and hope. 7:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $15 / $7.50 youth.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• ☕ Cornerstone Cafe Reopens. Cornerstone Café keeps things simple: hearty, homemade meals made with fresh, local ingredients, priced so you can fuel up any day of the week. From breakfast sandwiches and soups to take-home Reheat & Eat meals, everything is designed to fit your life. Open daily 9-5 in the day lodge at the Canmore Nordic Centre.*

• ✨ Creative Battle Champion. Banff Artist Mindy Johnstone took home top honours from this year’s Creative Combat. Creative Combat at artsPlace is a high-energy live art showdown where local artists have just 20 minutes to create a piece from scratch before their works are auctioned off to support community arts programs.

• 🎬 Two Underrated Banff Film Fest Picks Worth Your Couch Time. A longtime BVI friend (with impeccable taste) swears two low-profile festival films are absolute gems: Off Course and Remaining Native. If you missed them during the chaos of festival week, good news: every Banff Film Fest film is available to stream online until November 23.

• 🎙️ Podcast Chat with a Local Play Director. The Canmorite Podcast is back with an interview with Pam Belanger, director of Pinetree Player’s latest performance, Bob’s Your Elf. If you didn’t know, this is the theatre's first Christmas play in years, launching this week. Listen here to find out why this play is an excellent way to welcome the season.

• 🏆 Local Canmore Chef Wins Bronze. Crazyweed Kitchen had a memorable night at the Canadian Culinary Regional Championships on November 5. Competing alongside eight Calgary-area chefs, Chef Eden Hrabec took home the bronze medal. The winning dish is set to hit the Crazyweed menu in December, though no word yet on what it is, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

• 🏍️ Looking Into Adventure Motorcycling? Start Here. Canmore author and speaker Jeremy Kroeker has released Ride Slow and Have Fun, a beginner-friendly guide to “adventure motorcycling,” which simply means long-distance motorcycle travel that can include pavement, dirt roads, camping and a healthy dose of unpredictability. Kroeker has ridden through nearly 40 countries and built a modest YouTube following. His new book breaks the sport into simple, practical tips for anyone getting started. 

CIVIC NEWS

• Caribou Street Reopens to Pedestrians. Caribou Street hit a key milestone this week as fresh paving reopened the full pedestrian corridor and restored alley access for vehicles. It’s a welcome boost for nearby businesses heading into holiday traffic. Construction continues next week on lighting and concrete work before pausing for winter. Major utility upgrades pick back up in spring.

LIVE MUSIC

• Monday, November 17th, 2025, 10:00 PM: Tunes with Tenax. Location: High Rollers, Banff.  No Cover.

• Monday, November 17th, 2025, 10:00 PM: Brent Lee. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff.  No Cover.

SPORTS

• Dash-Cam Shows How Wild the Kananaskis Rally Really Is. Powderface Trail closed last weekend for the Kananaskis Rally, a sanctioned motorsport event where pro and amateur drivers race timed stages on gravel backroads. We got our hands on some dash-cam footage from the course. The corners are tight, the speeds are high, and the gravel gets chaotic fast. Watch the footage here.

• Canmore Skier Faces Make-or-Break Olympic Push. Canmore’s Erik Read is eyeing his third Olympic Games, but the next six weeks of World Cup slalom races will decide his fate. After missing the top-30 by 0.60 seconds in his season opener, the 34-year-old says this feels like his “last hoorah.” Cut from the national team last year, he’s now racing with a private squad and relying on sponsors and donors. His coaches say the speed is still there. Now he needs results.

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Wednesday, 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.