🏠 Airbnb Just Exposed Canmore

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Oh boy, we hope you weren’t stuck on the Trans-Canada yesterday. A three-vehicle crash near the Benchlands Trail exit shut down the westbound lanes for hours, with RCMP detouring traffic onto the Three Sisters Parkway. Serious injuries were reported, though details remain limited. Some social media comments claimed there was a fatality, but that has not been confirmed by officials. Locals were quick to vent, with some pointing to long weekend gridlock and others raising concerns about how a wildfire evacuation would unfold in a scenario like this. All lanes were reopened by 6:22 PM last night.

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

WHAT WILL BANFF LOOK LIKE IN 2040?

What’s Happening? On Monday, Sept. 8, Banff Town Council will hold a final public meeting on the new Banff Community Plan. This roadmap will guide decisions on housing, tourism, and community wellbeing for the next 15 years. It replaces the 2009 plan, making it a rare and significant reset.

What Stays the Same From 2009. The broad strokes haven’t changed: tourism remains Banff’s economic backbone, protecting the park is non-negotiable, housing affordability is still a major concern, transit and active transportation remain priorities, and community wellbeing, from arts and recreation to healthcare and safety, is still front and centre.

What’s Changed in 2025.

• Climate urgency: 2009 aimed to reduce Banff’s footprint; the 2025 plan sets firm targets. 80% emissions cut and zero waste by 2050.

• Tourism tone: The old plan focused on “memorable visitor experiences.” The new one stresses “regenerative tourism” and actively managing visitor numbers.

• Growth reality: In 2009, Banff still had room for new commercial space under a 1.5% annual cap. In 2025, the town is at full build-out. No new hotels, restaurants, or shops, only redevelopment.

• Indigenous role: Heritage was referenced broadly in 2009. The 2025 plan dedicates a full priority to reconciliation and Indigenous-led initiatives.

• Housing goals: The 2009 plan tied Banff Housing Corporation targets (a non-profit that provides below-market housing) to specific unit types. The 2025 plan is broader: eliminate the shortfall by 2035 and reach a 3% vacancy rate.

• Visitation pressures: The 2009 plan anticipated a population under 10,000. The 2025 plan grapples with summer days topping 50,000 visitors.

The Pressure Point. With no new commercial growth allowed, Banff’s future depends on redeveloping existing space while tackling housing shortages and clogged transportation. The plan calls for collaboration with Canmore, Parks Canada, and others to address these pressures at a valley-wide scale.

Why It Matters. This is the last chance for residents and groups to weigh in before council amends and votes. Once passed, all bylaws must align with the plan. Want to have your say? Full details on the Sept. 8 hearing are here: Banff Community Plan Public Hearing.

ONLY IN BANFF: A PERFORMANCE THAT HITS DIFFERENT

September 12 | 7:30 PM | Jenny Belzberg Theatre | From $25

This isn’t your standard night at the theatre. Internationally acclaimed choreographer Aszure Barton is bringing a raw, work-in-progress showing of her new piece A a | a B : B E N D to Banff Centre, and you get to watch it take shape live.

Set to a recorded score by visionary composer and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, Barton’s choreography leans into tension, release, and the messy beauty of human connection. Expect movement that pulls apart tradition and puts it back together in ways that feel both intimate and explosive.

Stick around afterward for a talk-back with Barton, where you’ll get behind-the-scenes insight into how world-class dance is built from the ground up.

🎟️ Tickets & Info

_{*Presented by Banff Centre.}

THE DIGEST

• 🏠 Canmore Cracks Airbnb’s Top Spots. Airbnb’s new report shows Canadians are booking more trips within Canada. Domestic travel jumped over 10% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Smaller towns saw the biggest gains, with Canmore landing on the list of “top trending destinations.” For context, about 15% of Canmore’s housing is tied up in short-tern rentals. Existing Tourist Homes are still allowed, but new bylaws prevent any more from being built.

• 🍄 Have You Seen More Mushrooms This Year? Thanks to steady rain, the Bow Valley floor is popping with fungi, from coral-shaped varieties to giant puffballs. Locals call it a “special season” with mushrooms lasting weeks longer than usual. It is a natural display worth kneeling down for, but leave them be since foraging is banned in parks. Mushrooms are for photos, not pizza toppings. 

• 🛠️ Fenlands Redesign Moves Forward. Banff’s Fenlands Rec Centre is closer to a facelift, with proposals including a bouldering wall, larger fitness centre, updated team rooms, and more inclusive washrooms. A public open house this fall will give residents a final chance to weigh in. Shovels aren’t hitting the ground just yet, but the project is advancing toward cost estimates and funding talks. For the full briefing, watch the council meeting at 2:44:00.

• 🎬 Famous Movie Locations in Banff and Canmore. Banff and Canmore have doubled as everything from the American frontier in Open Range to post-apocalyptic Wyoming in The Last of Us. We pulled together a one-day itinerary that links these filming locations with Google Map pins and behind-the-scenes context. If you missed it, you can dive into the full article and plan your own movie-themed road trip.

• 🎗 More Support For Îyârhe Nakoda Students. Students in Mînî Thnî will see more mental health and learning support this school year thanks to a $4.6M provincial grant spread across 27 First Nations in Alberta. The funds will help Stoney Education Authority schools hire wellness staff, run programs, and tailor resources to local needs.

Marketing That Slaps (In a Good Way)

Like a fresh baguette to the face…our ads get noticed.

They’re local, loud, and lovingly crafted to convert.

We don’t do boring banners or beige print.

We write clever mini-stories that make 15,000+ locals engage.

➡️ Fill out the form and feel the slap.

NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT ON WOLF-DOGS LEAVES YAMNUSKA STRETCHED THIN

What’s Happening. The Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary near Cochrane, the only facility of its kind in Canada, says it cannot help with a case making headlines in Ontario, where officials are moving to seize 16 wolf-dog hybrids kept illegally on a private property near Sudbury. Under Ontario law, wolf-dogs can’t be kept in captivity, and if sanctuary space isn’t found, the animals could be euthanized.

The Owner’s Plea. Bryton Bongard, a butcher near Wahnapitae, has raised the animals from pups inside a $35,000 enclosure. He admits keeping them is against the law but insists they should not be killed. “Give me a fine,” he told reporters. “The fine can go toward a sanctuary and toward these animals.” His neighbours launched a petition, which has gathered more than 1,500 signatures.

Why Yamnuska Can’t Step In. The sanctuary has already taken in 10 wolf-dogs from Ontario this year and is now at full capacity with 71 residents. Executive Director Georgina De Caigny says most rescues remain for life, since wolf-dogs are typically unadoptable and require costly enclosures, specialized veterinary care, and daily enrichment. “We get calls every week from people needing help,” she explained. “Without new enclosures, we simply can’t take more.”

The Bigger Issue. From 2020 to 2025, Yamnuska has rescued 58 wolf-dogs, doubling its population. Many are surrendered by owners who later realize wolf-dogs cannot be trained like domestic pets. Falling into a legal grey zone, they are too wild to rehome and too domesticated to release.

Why It Matters. The Ontario case is shining a national spotlight on an issue Yamnuska deals with constantly: owners in over their heads, sanctuaries at capacity, and animals caught in the middle.

THINGS TO DO

Monday

• Climbing Gym Reduced Holidays Hours. The Elevation Place climbing gym is open today but closed early. With routes for all levels, bouldering and optional belay assist, there is something for everyone. 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Elevation Place, Canmore. Drop In Fees Apply.

• Banff Resident Swim. A recreational swim for all ages. Amenities include 1-2 lanes for lap swimming with the remainder of the pool for leisure, a basketball net, and whirlpool. 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Sally Borden Recreation, Banff. Drop-In Fees Apply.

Tuesday

• Drop-In Badminton. Play singles or doubles. Come solo or with a friend. Racquets and birdies provided. 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Fenlands, Banff. Drop-in fees apply.

• Birth & Babies Class. Expectant parents nearing the end of their pregnancy can join this 3-week program which covers labour and breastfeeding.  6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Origin Spring Creek (808 Spring Creek Drive, Canmore). Free. 

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🎤 Join a Band or Choir This Fall. The Valley Winds Music Association has been bringing voices and instruments together for 31 years. With two choirs and two bands, there’s a spot for everyone. Bands require reading music and your own instrument, choirs don’t. No auditions, no preregistration, first practice free. Just show up: CHORDillera Sept 2, Concert Band Sept 11, Men of the Mountains Sept 17, Jazz Band Oct 1. Details and location info.*

• 🍹 Rooftop Bites and Cocktails. The Stirling’s 2nd Annual Chef’s Garden Party returns Sept 6 with live music, a bartender showdown, and mountain views from the terrace. It’s summer-casual, 18+, and down to just 10 spots as of this morning. If you’re tempted, grab your ticket before they’re gone. We promise it’ll be the highlight of your week.*

• 🙋 Festival Volunteers Needed. artsPlace is hosting its 10th anniversary party next month and needs to fill volunteer spots for guest services, workshop support, event setup, and more. If you want to support local arts and culture, this is how to do it.  Please consider volunteering. Check roles, times, and dates.*

• 🥾 MEC Sidewalk Sale. We’re all about supporting Bow Valley shops, but sometimes the right gear deal is worth the drive. Today’s your last chance to hit MEC Calgary’s legendary sidewalk sale and stock up for fall adventures without paying full price. Looks like there’s some sweet 60% off deals that are hard to beat. 

• 🤾‍♀️ Inclusive Event for Children with Diverse Needs. The Bow Valley Connections Centre presents the Razzle Dazzle Carnival on Sept 13. There will be games, music, jugglers, face painting, prizes, and surprises. RSVP by Sept 6 so every child gets a prize. Don’t miss the fun.

• 🗳️ Canmore Election Info. The next municipal election is Oct 20, and nominations are already coming in. Wondering if you’re eligible to vote, where to cast your ballot, or curious about who’s running? The Town has everything laid out, from voter registration to candidate details. Plus info if you’re thinking of running yourself.

• 🍕 Red Rock Pizza Update. If you’ve been craving Red Rock in Canmore, you’ll have to hold off. They’ve closed temporarily due to a family emergency. No timeline yet, but we’ll keep you posted once they share an update.

CIVIC NEWS

• Caribou Street Construction. Starting Sept 2, Banff is tearing up Caribou Street (Lynx to Banff Ave) to replace nearly 100-year-old water and sewer lines. Expect full road closures, sidewalk detours, and occasional business shutdowns when utilities are tied in. From Sept 8, the alley/Caribou intersection will close, rerouting delivery trucks. The Bear Street lot will be for commercial use only, while the Town Hall lot will lose stalls to equipment storage. Work runs to December, then resumes in spring 2026, with a July finish targeted before peak season. The rebuild will also realign the Lynx intersection, add pedestrian-friendly paving stones east of Bear Street, and create a new parkette.

LIVE MUSIC

• Monday, September 1, 2025, 6:00 PM: Sunset Festival: Steph O'Dette. Location: Banff Gondola. 

• Tuesday, September 2, 2025, 10:00 PM: Banff Punk NIght Vol VIII. Location: Pump and Tap, Banff. $10.

SPORTS

• Banff Bears bulldoze Hornets. The Banff men’s rugby squad crushed Calgary 74-0 in the first round of the CRU playoffs at Sundance Park. Coach Andrew Mitchell called the shutout “pretty impressive,” as the Bears now prep for a Sept 6 quarterfinal at home against Lethbridge. Kick-off’s at 2:30 PM.

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.