✋ Albertans Agree on Resort Caps

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Quick BVI team update to start the day. Our editorial team, the folks behind everything you read on the site and in this digital publication, is growing. Please welcome Sneha and Madalyn, two talented journalists who are genuinely excited to be part of the crew. You’ll start seeing their bylines pop up in the coming days and weeks as they dig into local stories that matter here.

— Fortune Whelan, Ben S., Sneha Kainth, Madalyn Beach

ALBERTANS SAY YES TO ALL-SEASON RESORTS, LIKE NAKISKA AND FORTRESS, BUT WITH GUARDRAILS

What’s Happening? We’ve previously reported that Alberta is moving ahead with rules that allow all-season resorts on Crown land, a designation that lets existing areas apply for year-round activities and redevelopment, including Nakiska and Fortress as two approved sites. What we’re focusing on today is how Albertans actually feel about that direction. A provincial government survey asked residents whether they support all-season resort development, and under what conditions.

The Topline Numbers. The survey, with 803 respondents, found 73% support for limited all-season resort development. Support rises to 84% when projects are designed to minimize environmental impact and 83% when Crown land is leased rather than sold. That support was closely tied to firm limits on scale, including approving fewer than ten resorts province-wide and tightly capping land disturbance. 

Why People Are On Board. Tourism as an economic tool still resonates. 90% of respondents agreed that expanding tourism could help reduce Alberta’s reliance on oil and gas. Support was strongest among renters, younger adults, and lower-income households, many of whom feel priced out of British Columbia resort towns. 

Concerns From Banff-Kananaskis. Bow Valley Insider reached out to Banff-Kananaskis MLA Sarah Elmeligi for comment on the provincial survey results. She said Albertans appear open to development only if environmental rules are actually enforced. Her concern is less about individual projects and more about the cumulative impact of multiple developments, particularly whether the province has the capacity to properly monitor effects on wildlife and water.

How That Compares Locally. Province-wide support looks strong, but local sentiment in the Bow Valley is more divided. Last December, Bow Valley Insider ran a reader poll asking a single question: Do you support Fortress Mountain becoming a year-round resort? Out of 452 responses, 57.96% supported the idea. While not a scientific survey, the poll offered a clear snapshot of local thinking, showing cautious support paired with deep concern around wildlife, traffic, and long-term impacts.

The Big Picture. Albertans are not anti-development. They are pro-limits. Read the full survey results on our website.

THREE SHOWS THAT BREAK THE MOLD THIS WINTER

Genre-defying percussion, minimalist chamber music, and contemporary circus on stage at Banff Centre this January.

If you’re looking to shake up your winter evenings, Banff Centre presents three performances that reimagine what live music and movement can be. Each is distinct and unforgettable.

Third Coast Percussion: Time Pieces: The New Classical
Friday, Jan 16, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Margaret Greenham Theatre | $75

This GRAMMY-winning Chicago quartet has built a career redefining percussion through bold collaborations and infectious energy. Their 20th anniversary program features works by Steve Reich, Clarice Assad, Philip Glass, and Jlin. Expect rhythm, resonance, and pure invention. Details and tickets here.

Ensemble Paramirabo: It Was Inside You All Along
Friday, Jan 23, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Rolston Recital Hall | $30

Montreal’s acclaimed ensemble performs minimalist and contemporary works by Nicole Lizée, Missy Mazzoli, Dorothy Chang, and more. The program invites listeners into sound worlds of texture and space where pulse and stillness, analog and digital, intertwine. Details and tickets here

Play Dead by People Watching
Saturday, Jan 24, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Jenny Belzberg Theatre | From $25

In this contemporary circus from Montreal’s People Watching, the familiar transforms into something wonderful and strange. Acrobatics, movement, and theatre collide in surreal scenes where bodies twist, and rituals unravel. Haunting and exhilarating, it is unlike anything else you will see this season. Details and tickets here.

_{*Presented by Banff Centre.}

THE DIGEST

• 🏞️ Bear Spirit: Where Locals Go When Johnston Canyon Is Busy. We know you like frozen waterfalls, but could do without the conga line at Johnston Canyon. So we checked out Bear Spirit. It’s on the same road, but feels totally different. No boardwalks, no railings, no signs. It’s mainly used by ice climbers, which means you might have the trail to yourself. The walking is straightforward, but there’s one icy step that absolutely requires microspikes, and some people won’t love it. We broke down the hike and shared photos here. 

• 🚲 Banff Considers Artist-Designed Bike Racks. Banff is looking at bike racks that double as public art. This week, the Community Art Committee will review sculptural steel bike racks proposed for a busy block near Canada House Gallery. Think functional bike parking, but with a design you actually notice. No price tag yet. It’s a small change that blends cycling, streetscape upgrades, and public art. Check the designs and comment your thoughts.

• 🏘️ Poll Shows Split Support for Two Additional Homes in Canmore. Quick follow-up to Friday’s story on proposed changes that would allow Canmore homeowners to add up to two small secondary units on some downtown residential lots. We ran a reader poll, and of the 159 respondents, 57% said they support the idea. Support often came with conditions, especially limiting new units to long-term housing, not short-term rentals. Parking, affordability, and neighbourhood character were the most common concerns on both sides. 

• 🛡️ Kananaskis Hosts Free Winter Safety Day. If you spend any time outside in winter, this is worth penciling in. On Sunday, Jan. 18, a free Winter Safety Day runs from 11 AM to 3 PM at Canoe Meadows in Kananaskis. No registration, just show up. Expect live demos on avalanche safety, ice rescue, wildlife awareness, and backcountry basics, led by Friends of Kananaskis, Alberta Parks, and local rescue teams. There’s also free hot dogs, hot chocolate, and an avalanche rescue dog.

• ⚠️ Banff Reinstates Developer’s Licence After Gas Leak Evacuation. Remember the November gas leak in Banff that forced evacuations around Otter and Muskrat streets? The Town of Banff has now reinstated the developer’s business licence after a six-week suspension tied to that incident. The company can resume construction, but only under strict conditions, including a mandatory third-party safety monitor on site. 

Dear Fellow Local Business Owner,

From one local biz to another: you’ve got a lot of ways to market yourself. But before you spend another dollar, ask this: “How do I know if it’s actually working?” If they can’t answer that, maybe it’s not where your money belongs. Truthfully, we know Bow Valley Insider isn’t the right fit for everyone. And that’s okay. We’re honest about it. We care more about results than selling ad space. If it is a fit, we’ll show you exactly how we can help your business grow. If it’s not, we’ll tell you that too.

➡️ Reach out and let’s see if working together makes sense.

ICEFIELDS PARKWAY CLOSURE IN DECEMBER WAS LONGEST IN RECENT MEMORY, PARKS CANADA SAYS

What’s Happening? The Icefields Parkway was closed for ten days in December, a duration longer than closures in recent memory, Parks Canada told Bow Valley Insider.

What Parks Canada Said. Parks Canada said the Dec. 14 to 23 closure stood out due to the intensity and frequency of storms and unusually heavy early-season snowfall. While winter closures are common on the 233-kilometre route, officials said this one lasted longer because of how much snow fell in a short period. Up to 170 centimetres fell along the Icefields Parkway, which crosses 38 avalanche paths, requiring multiple plows and front-end loaders to clear safely.

Avalanche Control Played a Major Role. Along the Icefields Parkway, avalanche control missions on Dec. 16, 19, and 22 triggered slides that deposited debris on the road at eight paths, extending the closure. The largest event occurred at Mount Hector, just before the Bow Lake viewpoint, on Dec. 22, when helicopter-deployed explosives released debris four to six metres deep and about 50 metres wide on the road. Parks Canada said this path has reached the roadway only twice in 20 years.

Why It Caught Forecasters Off Guard. Parks Canada said the Mount Hector path funnels into a narrow creek bed near the bottom, concentrating debris and allowing it to travel farther than expected, even on low-angled terrain. Although forecasters did not anticipate debris reaching the road, the agency said the event underscores the unpredictable nature of avalanches.

What to Know Going Forward. As of 4:01 PM yesterday (Jan. 11), the Icefields Parkway was again closed between Saskatchewan Crossing and Athabasca Falls due to a forecasted storm and increasing avalanche hazard. Parks Canada emphasizes checking 511.alberta.ca for accurate winter closure information rather than third-party map apps.

THINGS TO DO

Monday

• Wood Burning Magnets Workshop. Try your hand at pyrography in this relaxed, beginner-friendly workshop. Guided by artist Bryony Toon, you’ll create two wooden magnets featuring a mountain-inspired design while learning wood-burning basics. No experience needed, and all materials are included. 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $44-$52.*

• Award-Winning Film Screens in Banff. Reel Time is back with Sentimental Value, a Cannes Grand Prix winner from director Joachim Trier. The film follows two sisters navigating family baggage when their estranged father, a faded filmmaker, casts a Hollywood star in his comeback project.  7:00 PM. Lux, Banff. $14.

Tuesday

• Mountaineering Women Book Talk. Celebrate women climbers and mountain history with Joanna Croston, Canadian writer, climber, and director of the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival. She’ll share stories from Mountaineering Women: Climbing Through History, spotlighting 20 pioneering women from around the world. 6:30 PM. Canmore Library. Free.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🛤️ Canmore Trails Panel Discussion. The Canmore Area Trails Master Plan is a new provincial blueprint that will shape where trails exist, how they’re built, and which areas are prioritized for wildlife protection around Canmore. This free panel is a chance to see proposed trail maps, hear from local planners and conservation voices, and learn how to give input before decisions are finalized by Alberta Parks. Join the Biosphere Institute on Jan 14 from 7- 9 PM at Creekside Hall in Canmore, or tune in live on Zoom. Details here.*

• 👩🏻‍💼 Peer Mentorship for Established Women in Business. The Summit Table is a peer mentorship program for established women business leaders in the Bow Valley. Aimed at those beyond the startup phase, it offers a confidential, structured space for honest discussion, shared insight, and accountability. Monthly three-hour sessions begin in March, following a late-February orientation. Applications close January 18. Bow Valley Chamber membership required.* 

• 🎤 Community Music Call-Out. Valley Winds Music Association is welcoming new members across four performing groups, with one free rehearsal to try it out. Options include Jazz Band and Concert Band at Canmore Community High School, plus Choir Chordillera and Men of the Mountains at St. Michael’s Anglican Church. No auditions for choirs, instruments required for bands. Spring sessions run from January to April.*

• 🕺Salsa Night in Banff. Join Social Salsa on Saturday, January 17, starting at 6:30 PM for a high-energy night of drinks, dancing, and fun. Your $20 ticket includes a complimentary drink, a 1-hour Salsa, Merengue & Bachata lesson (no partner needed), and access to all-night happy hour food & drink deals. Dancing kicks off at 7 PM. Perfect for beginners or seasoned movers. Get tickets here.*

• 💡 Stage Management Workshop. Curious about what really keeps a theatre production running smoothly? Join local stage manager Caaryn Sadoway for a full-day, hands-on workshop exploring the role of stage management from first rehearsal to final curtain call. You’ll learn practical tools, insider tips, and industry best practices. Pay-what-you-can; limited space is available, so early registration is encouraged.*

• 🕰️ Beaupre Hall & Ghost River: A Local History Talk. The MD of Bighorn shares the history of Beaupre Hall and the Ghost River area, from the Ghost Ranger Station to ranching life, tough winters, and memorable local characters. The presentation highlights the deep ties between the land, forestry, and community. Watch here.

CIVIC NEWS

• Stoney Nakoda to Build New Fire and EMS Facility in Mînî Thnî. Îyârhe Nakoda First Nation has secured $7 million in federal funding to build a new fire and EMS facility in Mînî Thnî, replacing aging, unsafe buildings. The jointly funded site near Highway 133X will house fire trucks, ambulances, training space, and staff quarters, strengthening emergency response along the Trans-Canada corridor and for nearby Bow Valley communities.

LIVE MUSIC

• Tuesday, January 13th, 2025, 7:30 PM: Ensemble Pampinea: Fortune Will You Spare Us. Location: artsPlace, Canmore. $45 / members $38.25 / youth $22.50.

• Tuesday, January 13th, 2025, 10:00 PM: Brent Lee. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

SPORTS

• Canmore Eagles Keep Rolling with Two Big Home Wins. The Canmore Eagles stayed hot, blanking the Olds Grizzlys 8–0 and beating the defending AJHL champion Calgary Canucks 6–3. The wins extend the Eagles’ streak and showed their depth, even while dealing with injuries and suspensions. Forward Cohen Daoust continued his strong run, and goalie Alex Scheiwiller posted another standout weekend in net. With the trade deadline approaching, the team could still look to add help on the blue line, but the current group is clearly clicking.

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.