🪨 Another Rockfall, Narrow Miss

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Our top story today covers a large rockfall at one of Banff's most popular climbing areas, a spot members of our BVI team were climbing just last week. It's a reminder that the mountains are never static, even the routes we know best. 

- Fortune Whelan, Ben S., Madalyn Beach

LARGE ROCKFALL STRIKES POPULAR BANFF CLIMBING AREA, NARROWLY MISSES CLIMBERS

What’s Happening? A large rockfall struck one of Banff National Park's most popular beginner climbing areas Tuesday morning, sending boulders crashing through the base of the cliff. Parks Canada says everyone has been accounted for and no injuries were reported, despite multiple climbing parties being on the wall when the mountainside collapsed.

A Close Call. The rockfall occurred around 11 a.m. at Rundle Rock on the lower west end of Mount Rundle. For more than 50 years, the area has been one of the Bow Valley's best-known places to learn outdoor rock climbing, regularly used by guiding companies, beginners and families because of its relatively easy and accessible climbing routes.

Jordan Toth, who was hiking toward a nearby climbing route with her husband, said they were just outside the debris path when "a large section of the mountain cleaved off."

"We immediately thought the worst and started calling out to see if anyone was hurt," she told Bow Valley Insider.

Toth said she found a backpack and a child's shoes buried in the debris before learning their owners had been sitting higher on the mountain eating lunch and were unharmed. She also said a climbing party had already climbed past the section that later collapsed.

"It's hard to not think about how differently it could have ended," she said. "If it happened on the weekend... there definitely would have been fatalities."

What's Closed? Parks Canada says a large amount of rock came down, leaving a substantial debris field. The cause remains unknown, and the climbing area will stay closed while geotechnical experts determine whether more rockfall is possible.

The closure also extends beyond the climbing routes themselves, temporarily shutting the area from the Spray River Bridge through the Golf Course Road loop, including pedestrian access. The Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course also cancelled all remaining tee times Tuesday because of the closure.

Not The First This Year. The incident comes just over a month after another major rockslide struck the opposite end of Mount Rundle near Canmore, forcing the closure of part of the Spray Lakes Road. That section of Highway 742 remains closed because of ongoing slope instability.

Read our full story - see more pics and exact location

THE MOST “BOW VALLEY” PIECE OF TECH WE’VE SEEN

You don’t really notice how often you reach for your phone… until you’re halfway up Lady Mac, gloves on, trying to film something worth remembering.

That’s kind of the problem.

These new Meta smart glasses solve it in a pretty simple way. Tap the frame and you’re recording your ride, your ski run, your hike. No phone. No stopping. No fumbling. Just a clean POV of what you actually experienced.

They’re made for real use in the Bow Valley. Think light rain, sweat, and long days outside.

And it goes beyond that.

You can listen to music or take calls through built-in speakers. Send messages hands-free. Even ask a voice assistant questions mid-trail. 

You can also add your prescription lenses and pick from a variety of frames, so they’re actually something you’d wear every day. 

The surprising part is most people don’t even know they exist yet.

From now until August 1st, you can stop by Canmore Family Eyecare and give them a proper test ride before purchasing. 

Try them on, see how they feel, and if you decide to grab a pair, you’ll get 10% off, which ends up cheaper than buying them online. You just need to fill out this quick form to get the offer. 

_{*Presented by Canmore Family Eyecare.}

THE DIGEST

• 🍽️ New Steakhouse Opens In Canmore. Calgary's Concorde Entertainment Group, the team behind Bridgette Bar, has officially opened Hunter Steakhouse in Spring Creek. The new restaurant focuses on premium Alberta and international beef, live-fire cooking, and a classic steakhouse experience, while keeping 15-20% of tables available for walk-ins. We sat down with Concorde's Director of Brand to talk about the concept, why Canmore, and what diners can expect. We haven't had a chance to eat there ourselves yet, so this isn't a recommendation (at least not yet). If you've been, let us know what you thought. 

• 🚗 Expect Delays Heading Up Sulphur Mountain. If you're planning to visit the Banff Gondola, Upper Hot Springs, or hike around Sulphur Mountain this summer, leave a little extra time. Parks Canada has begun rebuilding Mountain Avenue, the only road serving the area, with construction expected through September. Traffic will be reduced to a single lane in sections, with delays of up to 10 minutes or more during busy periods. The project also includes a new uphill bike lane, upgraded sidewalks, and drainage improvements.

• 🌳 Province Clarifies Purpose Of Canmore Fireguard. After Alberta's forestry minister referred to "forestry operations" around Canmore earlier this year, some locals questioned whether the Bow Valley Community Fireguard was actually commercial logging. Alberta Forestry and Parks told Bow Valley Insider it isn't. Officials say the project is designed to strategically thin forests to slow future wildfires and give firefighters a safer place to defend the community, with any timber removed being secondary to that goal. The clarification comes as Canmore prepares to expand the fireguard another 15 kilometres along its southern boundary, pending provincial funding. 

• 🚗 Tesla Driver Appears Asleep On Trans-Canada. Not a scene you expect to witness on a drive through the mountains. A video filmed between Golden and Revelstoke appears to show a woman asleep behind the wheel of a Tesla travelling at highway speed, sparking fresh questions about driver-assistance technology and how it's being used. Revelstoke RCMP are investigating the incident. Regardless of any driver-assistance technology being used, drivers are still legally required to remain awake, alert, and in control of their vehicle. Watch the clip. 

Need to get the word out for an upcoming event or initiative?

Here’s what one of our current partners, Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, had to say:

➡️ Want results like this? Let’s see if it’s a fit

CANMORE DOUBLES DOWNTOWN WASHROOM BUDGET AFTER CONSTRUCTION BIDS SOAR

What’s Happening? Canmore council has approved more than doubling the budget for its downtown public washroom replacement project to $1.46 million after construction bids came in far higher than expected. Despite concerns over the price tag, councillors ultimately concluded delaying the project would likely cost even more.

Why The Cost Jumped. The original budget increased by $760,000 after two qualified construction bids came in well above estimates. Town staff said the project involves far more than installing a prefabricated building. It also includes underground utility work, a new concrete foundation, accessible ramps, electrical and mechanical systems, lighting, ventilation, and water, sewer and stormwater connections.

Facilities project manager Crystal Jones told council the higher cost reflected three main factors: the modular building itself was more expensive than expected, the site work proved more complex than anticipated, and rising construction costs continued to push prices higher.

What Will It Include? The aging washroom beside the former Visitor Information Centre will be replaced with a larger facility featuring 10 single-user stalls, including an accessible stall and a family washroom. The current building dates back to 1989, no longer meets modern accessibility standards and has reached the end of its useful life.

Construction is expected to begin in August and finish by late October or early November.

Council Was Divided. Mayor Sean Krausert acknowledged there was "without a doubt" sticker shock associated with the revised budget but said replacing the washrooms was long overdue.

Coun. Tanya Foubert agreed, saying mountain communities serving millions of visitors need to invest in public facilities.

Not everyone was convinced. Coun. Wade Graham voted against the project, saying, "I cannot in good conscience spend $140,000 per stall for a washroom."

Coun. Jennifer Marran also questioned removing the only downtown public washrooms during one of Canmore's busiest tourism months. Town staff said they will examine temporary options, such as portable toilets, during construction.

Read our full story

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Crafting Social Night. Whether you're knitting, mending, scrapbooking, sewing, or finally tackling that project that's been sitting in a bag for six months, the Canmore Library is hosting another free Crafting Social Night. Snacks, drinks, adult colouring, and tools from the Library of Things are all available, or just come hang out and try something new. 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM. Canmore Library. Free. 

• Midweek Mountain Bike Ride. Looking for people to ride with? Canmore Brewing's weekly mountain bike night heads out Wednesday with local rider Ryan leading an intermediate-to-advanced group ride on Bow Valley trails. Afterwards, it's back to the brewery for a well-earned pint and some post-ride storytelling. 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Canmore Brewing Company. Free to ride.*

Thursday

• Valbella's Food Truck Is Back. If you're wondering what to do for lunch on Thursday, Valbella's food truck is parked outside the deli once again serving up rotating summer specials and crowd favourites. Sometimes the hardest part is pretending you weren't planning on grabbing dessert too. 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM. Valbella, Canmore.*

THE FAMILY ACTIVITY THAT LEAVES YOU WITH MORE THAN MEMORIES

Most family outings end the same way: everyone has a great time, someone snaps a few photos on their phone, and six months later they're buried somewhere in your camera roll.

A family photography adventure is different.

Our friends at Rocky Mountain Photo Co turn a walk through some of the Rockies' most beautiful locations into an experience you'll relive for decades. Their sessions are relaxed, playful, and designed to capture genuine moments, not stiff poses or forced smiles. Choose from iconic locations like Bow Lake, Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, or right here in Banff and Canmore. Dogs are welcome too.

Looking for something unforgettable? They even offer helicopter photography adventures, where your family flies to a secluded mountaintop for a once-in-a-lifetime photo session.

Bow Valley locals receive 15% off all sessions booked between now and September 30. Simply use the code BVI15 when booking. Just fill out this quick form.

_{*Presented by The Collective.}

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🐻 Bear Warning Issued For Lake Minnewanka. Parks Canada is urging extra caution around Lake Minnewanka after multiple reports of black bears making contact with tents in recent weeks. A special bear warning is now in effect for the Lake Minnewanka Trail and several backcountry campgrounds. Campers are being reminded to keep all food and scented items securely stored, carry bear spray, and report any bear sightings to Parks Canada immediately.

• 🎭 Canmore’s Musical Of The Year Is Back. You might remember us talking about OH, ANNE! last fall. It ended up being Carter-Ryan Theatre's most-watched musical of the year, and now it's returning to Canmore for a limited two-week run. This fast-paced Canadian adaptation of Anne of Green Gables packs four actors, dozens of characters, original music, and plenty of East Coast energy into one wildly entertaining show. Tickets are moving quickly (and will sell out), so we wanted to mention it before the wider promotion begins. It runs August 21 to September 6. Get tickets here and use code BOWVALLEYINSIDER for 15% off.*

• 🚧 Yamnuska Closed Friday For Blasting. If you're planning to hike or climb Mount Yamnuska on Friday, you'll need to make other plans. Alberta Parks says all Yamnuska access trails will be closed until 5 p.m. on July 10 while Lafarge carries out blasting operations at its nearby quarry. The closure includes the East Ridge, West Col, Scramble Route, and Climbers' Access trails, along with the surrounding area.

• 💊 A Local Pharmacy Discount That’s Actually… Daily. Most pharmacies run discounts once a week. Maybe once a month. This one runs it every day. Banff Value Drug Mart offers locals 15% off consistently, not just on a rotating schedule. It’s a small shift, but it adds up quickly, especially for prescriptions and everyday essentials that can’t wait until the 1st Wednesday of every month. And more importantly, it reflects how they’re positioning themselves: built for locals first, not just passing traffic.*

• ✂️ Major Rogers Layoffs Spare Mountain FM. Rogers is cutting 230 jobs and closing six radio stations, including Calgary's 660 NewsRadio and Sportsnet 960. While Canmore's Mountain FM wasn't affected, the layoffs add to a broader trend of shrinking local newsrooms across Canada. Mountain FM has also become much smaller in recent years, with its local team shrinking from seven staff to just two. 

CIVIC NEWS

• Banff Canoe Club Gets Extra Year After Dock Damage. Banff has extended the Canoe Club's operating contract by one year after a failed retaining wall forced the business onto a smaller temporary dock. The operator says the setup has increased labour costs and cut launch capacity roughly in half, making it harder to run the popular Bow River canoe rentals while permanent repairs are still pending. 

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, July 8th, 10:00 PM: Confusionaires. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

• Thursday, July 9th, 10:00 PM: Throttle Up. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

SPORTS

• Ironman Coming To Cochrane. More than 1,300 athletes from roughly 25 countries will compete in Cochrane's first-ever Ironman 70.3 on July 26. The race begins at Ghost Lake before winding through local highways and Cochrane's pathway network. If you're heading east that Sunday, expect intermittent traffic delays near Highway 22 and Sunset Boulevard between about 10 a.m. and noon. 

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Friday, 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.