💰 Alberta’s Big Resort Shake-Up

Good morning, Bow Valley!

If you needed a sign to look up this weekend, here it is. The Geminid meteor shower peaks overnight December 13-14, and the Bow Valley’s dark skies will give you a front-row seat. Head out after 10 PM, with the best viewing around 2 AM, when rates can hit 120 to 150 meteors an hour.

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

P.S. Some of the formatting is a bit off this morning. We’ve been dealing with a few tech hiccups on our end, and figured you’d rather get the news than wait while we wrestle with the backend.

PROVINCE DESIGNATES CASTLE, FORTRESS, AND NAKISKA AS ALBERTA’S FIRST ALL-SEASON RESORTS

What’s Happening? Alberta officially named Castle Mountain, Fortress Mountain, and Nakiska as the province’s first all-season resort areas this week. The designations activate Alberta’s All-Season Resorts Strategy, giving these resorts a clearer path to expand into summer operations, redevelop aging facilities, and pitch new tourism projects.

Aiming for $25 Billion. Tourism Minister Andrew Boitchenko said the move supports Alberta’s goal of hitting $25 billion in tourism spending by 2035. He argued that red tape has held back resort redevelopment for decades and that the new framework allows long-stagnant sites like Fortress to modernize while meeting environmental standards. Premier Danielle Smith called the move “a milestone,” saying it will create jobs and make it easier for families to “stay and play in the Rockies year-round.” 

Fortress 2.0 in Focus. Fortress Mountain is drawing the most local attention. Its long-discussed redevelopment plans include new lifts, expanded terrain, a hotel, spa, brewery, and four-season activities. The company says the mountain’s wilderness character must remain central to any rebuild. Project Director Danielle Vlemmiks told Bow Valley Insider that they are still in the early stages but “look forward to working with the community, Indigenous partners, and the government to reimagine the space sustainably.”

What Locals Think. Earlier this year, 452 Bow Valley Insider readers weighed in on whether Fortress should go year-round. About 58% supported the idea, saying a revived Fortress could restore local ski culture and ease pressure on other resorts. Concerns were just as strong, focused on grizzly habitat, traffic, and the risk of opening the door to wider Kananaskis development. 

What Happens Next? Despite the designations, no projects are approved. Each resort must still undergo Indigenous consultation, environmental review, and public engagement before submitting applications. The province says the strategy will help keep tourism dollars in Alberta, noting that Albertans spent about $ 1.2 billion more in BC last year than British Columbians spent here. 

THE CHIROPRACTOR FOR PEOPLE WHO FEAR CHIROPRACTIC

If the idea of neck cracking makes your shoulders rise to your ears, Precision Spinal might be the clinic you did not know you needed. Their approach is NUCCA, an upper cervical technique that uses precise measurements and a light touch on the top of the neck. 

It looks almost too gentle to work, yet their Bow Valley patients consistently report improvements in headaches, whiplash, hip pain, lower back issues, and that classic “I feel lopsided” posture that shows up after years at a desk.

Your first two visits include a full history, laser aligned X-rays, computerized muscle scans, and a detailed plan before any treatment happens. After that, each visit focuses on helping your body hold the correction so you can maintain results with fewer appointments over time.

Bow Valley Insider readers get a complimentary 30-minute in-person consultation with Dr. Chris Long to review your symptoms and concerns. Fill out this quick form, and they’ll be in touch.

_{*Presented by Precision Spinal.}

THE DIGEST

• ✅ Canada Strong Pass Kicks In Today, Again. 78% of you said we should be charging non-residents more to enter Banff. Despite that, the Canada Strong Pass is now live, giving everyone free admission and 25% off campground bookings until January 15. If you already have a Discovery Pass (AKA annual pass), you’ll automatically get an extension. A pass expiry calculator is available here.

• ⚖️ Parks Canada Weighs In After Viral Elk Selfie. Remember that viral video we shared Monday of a tourist walking up to a bull elk for a selfie? Parks Canada responded to our interview request, and it turns out that under certain circumstances, this behaviour isn’t just risky, it’s illegal. Officials say approaching wildlife to feed, entice, or disturb can violate federal regulations and carry fines up to $25,000. Read what else Parks Canada had to say.

• 👩🏻‍⚖️ Canmore’s Child Care Debate Isn’t Over Yet. As you know, we’ve been covering the child minding closure at Elevation Place. Mayor Sean Krausert has been clear the program was never meant to function as child care. That issue has now pushed council into a bigger conversation. On December 9, councillors agreed to launch a 2026 strategic review to examine Canmore’s child care shortages and the Town’s potential role. The Elevation Place program will still close at month’s end, but councillors say the public outcry revealed deeper gaps. Read the revived debate.

• ❄️ Avalanche Canada Launches New Fatal Incidents Database. Avalanche Canada just rolled out a remarkable new tool. Their Fatal Avalanche Incidents database puts every recorded deadly avalanche in Canada onto a searchable map. You can click into any region to see past incidents, read expert analyses on what happened, view photos, and learn the key takeaways. The dashboard also includes seasonal stats to help explain how fatal avalanches occur. Check new tool here. 

Traditional Media Called. It Wants Its Budget Back.

We get it. You’ve “always done” print.

But your customers are in their inbox, not your neighbor’s recycling.

We deliver clicks and sales, not column inches.

➡️ Stop funding nostalgia. Start driving results.

JOB POSTINGS CLIMB 12% AS LABOUR POOL SHRINKS IN BANFF AND CANMORE

What’s Happening? A new Labour Market Review shows the Bow Valley entered the 2025 summer season with more jobs than workers. Job postings rose 12% between May and October, but the available labour pool tightened as international hiring dropped and housing costs stayed high.

Demand Jumped, But Workers Didn’t. Employers submitted 1,760 job orders from 422 businesses, with demand spread across hospitality, food service, housekeeping, and trades. Career Coach Reinira Lankhuijzen told Bow Valley Insider that the largest year-over-year jump came from the “miscellaneous” category, which rose 155%, covering everything from lifeguards to instructors. Hotel guest services climbed 51%. Trades continued to make up more than 20% of all postings.

International Hiring Shrinks. Federal changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program reduced the number of approved workers entering Canada, a major shift for Banff and Canmore, where international staff often fill seasonal roles. Shorter approval periods and stricter compliance rules meant fewer arrivals. Employers broadened their focus to candidates already in Canada, including youth, older workers, and underrepresented groups. Some also used the Francophone Mobility Visa to fill bilingual positions.

Wages Slide as Housing Costs Stay High. Despite rising demand, average posted wages dipped from $22.61 per hour in 2024 to $22.15 in 2025. Employers leaned more on flexible schedules and training to retain staff. Housing remained a major obstacle, with three-bedroom rentals averaging more than $ 4,100 in both towns and one-bedroom units averaging more than $2,000. Limited availability and high prices continued to drive turnover.

Looking to 2026. Core pressures remain: scarce housing, fewer international workers, and a labour market still running hot as tourism keeps hotels, restaurants, and attractions full.

THINGS TO DO

Friday

• Calling All Burger Fans. The Fat Ox is hosting the first-ever Banff Burger Club with a limited run of smash-style, nostalgia-packed burgers by Chef Joe. From the classic Smash Burger to the Bison Burger and earthy Forest Burger, plus loaded sides and desserts. 11:00  AM–5:00  PM (or until sold out). Fat Ox, Banff.*

• Community Friday at Canmore Brewing. The taproom keeps it mellow and welcoming, with music that lifts the room without taking it over. This week features Banff’s Irene Poole, whose indie-folk songs drift between nature-soaked lyrics and tender melodies.  4:00 PM–7:00 PM. Canmore Brewing Company. No cover.*

• Film Night. If you’re in the mood for adventure, SkiUphill is hosting a screening of A Hundred Words for Wind. Filmmaker Matthew Tufts will be there to intro the film and chat after. It’s a wild tale of a fully human-powered winter circumnavigation of Iceland. 7:00 PM. Ski Uphill. $11.30.

• Friday Night Comedy. Calgary’s Bryan Moxon brings smart humor, physical comedy, and just the right amount of silliness. A finalist in the 2023 Chuckle Championship, Bryan tailors his act to every audience, promising a relatable and uproarious night. 7:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $21.25 - $25.*

Saturday

• Metropolitan Opera Live in HD. See Giordano’s gripping tragedy on the big screen at artsPlace. Tenor Piotr Beczała stars as the poet swept up in the chaos of the French Revolution, alongside Sonya Yoncheva and Igor Golovatenko. Daniele Rustioni conducts this powerful production, broadcast live. 10:55 AM. artsPlace, Canmore. $12.50 to $25.*

• Jazz Christmas Concert. The Valley Winds Jazz Band is bringing a festive holiday concert to the Canmore Legion. Guest vocalist Lee Ann De Coteau joins the band, with direction from acclaimed trombonist Carsten Rubeling. 2:00 PM. Canmore Legion. Admission is a non-perishable food item.*

Sunday

• New York Jazz Lands in Canmore. Catch New York drummer and bandleader Jacob Wutzke as he brings his crisp technique and joyful swing to Canmore. A rising voice in modern jazz, he tours internationally with his own original material. 7:30 PM. artsPlace, $15-$30.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 📲 Cornerstone Café Launches Online Ordering. Cornerstone Café at the Canmore Nordic Centre has launched a new online ordering system, including pre-ordering for its house-made Reheat and Eat meals. The dishes are prepared in-house, frozen at peak freshness, and available for scheduled pickup between 9 AM and 4 PM daily. Current options include Butter Chicken made with a tomato-and-cream base, a slow-braised Alberta Bison Stew prepared with vegetables and herbs, and more.*

• ✨ Banff’s Biggest Holiday Party. Forget the office potluck. The real party is the ABBA holiday tribute at the Banff Springs. Ninety minutes of sing-along hits, sequins, and dancing in your seat (or the aisle). Running right now. Tickets are getting extremely limited. Use code BOWVALLEYINSIDER for 15% off.*

• 🌿 One More Week of Spa Happy Hour. If you have been meaning to check out Everwild Spa, this is the week to give it a go. Their locals-only Spa Happy Hour runs this Sunday through next Thursday and is genuinely the best deal they offer. Bow Valley residents get two hours (7 to 9 PM) in the full thermal wellness circuit for $55, instead of the usual $155 to $185, plus 15% off food and drinks. A solid way to unwind before the holiday chaos kicks in. Book here. *

• 🛎️ Holiday Week Breakfast Buffet. Wander to The Prow to start your morning with a holiday spread featuring fresh pastries, eggs, crisp bacon, artisanal sausages, seasonal fruit, and more. From December 25 to January 1, enjoy a rotating chef-inspired feature each day, bringing a new festive flavour to your plate. A delicious way to savour the season. Book a table here before they run out.*

• 🎉 Cabernet & Claus Costume Party. The Rose & Crown Banff is throwing its first-ever Christmas Cabernet & Claus, with 50% off all wine bottles and free cover all night. Come in costume on December 24 for a shot at the top prize: a $200 UNLTD Boardshop gift card plus $100 to Rose & Crown. A festive little pre-Christmas night out if you’re feeling playful.*

• ☕ Analog Coffee Opening in Banff. One of Calgary’s favourite coffee shops is making its Banff debut. On December 13, Analog Coffee hosts their grand opening inside The Kenrick Hotel, donating 100% of drink proceeds to Rocky Mountain Adaptive, an organization that provides accessible sport programs for people with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities in the Bow Valley.

CIVIC NEWS

• Canmore Finalizes 2026 Budget. Canmore has approved its 2026 budget with a 6.7% property tax increase, slightly lower than earlier projections. For the average $1.076-million home, that’s about $142 more next year.

LIVE MUSIC

• Friday, December 12th, 2025, 10:00 PM: Garrett Barbuto and The Hot Pursuit.. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. $5. 

• Saturday, December 13th, 2025, 7:00 PM:Winter Warmer. Location: Core Values, Canmore. No Cover. 

SPORTS

• Para Biathlon World Cup Hits Canmore This Week. The world’s best parabiathletes are taking over the Canmore Nordic Centre from December 11–14 as they gear up for the 2026 Paralympics, and every event is free to watch. Expect fast sit-ski sprints, standing and visually impaired races, and the always-intense pursuit finals. It’s absolutely worth stopping by for a few hours this weekend. Full race times and schedules can be found here.*

• Canmore Skier Earns First Win After Season-Ending Injury. Canmore’s Caleb Brooks is officially back on the race course. The 20-year-old alpine skier returned last month after an 11-month recovery from a serious knee injury and won the slalom at the Aurora Cup in Whitehorse, his first victory since the setback. With confidence restored, he now moves into the NorAm circuit aiming for consistent top-10 finishes and a path toward the national team.

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.