🔥Banff Fire Ban Lifted

Good morning, Bow Valley!

The first Canadian Pacific Railway train came through Canmore in 1884 and still passes the town daily. But, this could end soon if no agreement is reached with its unionized workers. More on this below!   

In today’s Bow Valley Insider:

• Jasper re-entry updates

• Outdoor movies playing in Banff and Canmore

• An unidentified spider found in Canmore

Let’s get to it!

— Fortune Whelan, Shireen Ahmed, Lauren H., & Ben S.

JASPER UPDATE

What’s happening: The status of the Jasper wildfires was changed from ‘out-of-control’ to ‘being held’ by Parks Canada. Jasper is now on its path to long-term recovery.

Jasper re-entry: The town of Jasper welcomed back residents on Friday, August 16th and things are going well: 

• Over 800 people visited the re-entry support center at Commemoration Park for mental health, insurance, and appliance collection.

• Highway 16 is now open 24/7; work continues reopening Highway 93.

• Bears have been spotted in Jasper looking for food; report other wildlife sightings to Parks Canada.

• 24-hour emergency response continues, with ongoing repairs and cleaning of priority municipal buildings.

No timeline for tourism: Incident commander Christine Nadon said that Jasper is still not ready to welcome visitors, and the re-entry is for residents, business owners, and the contractors/support services that are helping them. 

Miette Hot Springs, the warmest in the Canadian Rockies, has reopened to the public via Highway 16. Free for Jasper residents, it offers relaxation and supports the local economy's recovery.

The Bow Valley helps Jasper: Banff Canmore Foundation has raised over $350,000 for Jasper. The relief support hasn’t ended yet, with more events planned, such as Collab for a Cause, raffles, and immigration information sessions for evacuees this week.

LAST CALL: EXPLORE THE NEW CANMORE CONDOS!

What's happening: Don't forget the first condo building at Altitude at Three Sisters Mountain Village is launching this Thursday!

Exclusive Offer for Bow Valley Residents: For the next 30 days, sales are open exclusively to Bow Valley residents. This is a rare opportunity to be among the first to secure your place in one of Canmore’s most anticipated developments.

Attend The Launch Event: Come meet the team behind the project at Elevation Place (Room 212) to discuss your ownership options and get all the details on this exciting project. RSVP Here!

RSVP for one of the following dates:

• Thursday, August 22 | 4-7pm

• Saturday, August 24 | 4-7pm

• Sunday, August 25 | 12-5pm

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THE DIGEST

• 🔥The Banff National Park fire ban has been lifted. The Town of Banff confirmed the ban was lifted on August 19th and revised its fire safety guidelines. 

• 🕷The Bow Valley has had its share of strange visitors this summer, from African snakes to naked campers. Now we’ve got an unidentified spider in Canmore. Do you recognize what kind of spider this is?

• 📕Valentina Fox, a Nakoda elder, co-wrote a book with her late son, Trent Fox, to preserve the Îethka language and culture. The bilingual book, featuring stories, poetry, and lessons in Îethka, includes quizzes and audio components. Fox emphasizes the importance of documenting the language to prevent it from being lost for future generations.  You can order the book here.

• 🏞️Alberta Parks is offering three opportunities to operate campgrounds and day-use areas in Kananaskis: Bow Valley-Sibbald, Elbow-Highwood-Sheep, and Peter Lougheed-Spray. This is your chance to run a service-based business providing food, gifts, laundromats, or equipment rentals for visitors. For more information, email [email protected]. 

• 📷A Calgary photographer embarked on a challenge to climb seven mountains in seven days, capturing stunning images. The feat was a personal challenge and a way to connect with nature and inspire others to explore the beauty of the outdoors.

CANADA'S RAIL GIANTS SET TO STALL

Train stoppage alert: Canada’s largest rail companies, CN and CPKC, are on the verge of a shutdown as union talks falter, potentially halting operations nationwide on Thursday. Over 9,000 workers could walk off the job, causing billions in losses.

Agriculture hit hard: Alberta’s grain industry faces severe disruption during harvest season, with 80% of crops reliant on rail for export. Even a single day of stoppage could create a week-long backlog, driving up consumer costs.

Wider consequences: The shutdown threatens essential goods movement, including wheat, chemicals, and fertilizers, and could disrupt commuter trains in major cities. Industries are scrambling for alternatives, but options are limited.

Bow Valley Impact: If last-minute negotiations don’t prevent a strike, fewer trains will come through Canmore and Banff starting tomorrow.  On the bright side, we may also have fewer traffic jams at the Bow Valley Trail and Railway Ave intersection in Canmore. 

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Are you an aspiring writer looking to pen a novel or memoir? Join Julianne Harvey for a free writing workshop at Banff Library from 2pm. You can brainstorm ideas, journal, and get creative!

• Want to apply for an open work permit? The Immigration Division at Osuna & Smith Lawyers is giving a free immigration information session for Jasper Wildfire Evacuees, including step-by-step guidelines to apply. The session is free, online via MS Teams, 3pm-4pm. 

• Ever heard Ukrainian stand-up comedy? Experience UCRAZY with Alex Kotsyk by Not Tough, Just Ukrainian, a Comedy Show at The Yard, Canmore. The first show is in Ukrainian at 6pm and the second in English at 7:30pm. Tickets are $20.

• Learn how to identify and forage berries and edible plants in the Bow Valley! Walk in the Watershed hosts a free, guided walk and forage at the Elbow Watershed. Meeting at West Bragg Creek, 6:30pm-8:15pm. 

• Fancy a movie under the stars? Movie in the Plaza is screening Snow Dogs, which was filmed in the Bow Valley, at 8:30pm after live music at 7:30pm. The free event is taking place at Canmore Civic Center on 902 7th Ave. Don’t forget your chair or blanket! 

• Do you have the knowledge to win? Enter your team for Trivia Night at Tavern 1883, 8:30pm. 

• Sign up to volunteer for Trail Night! FlyLow/Trail Sports is hosting a trail maintenance night at Mid/West section of Highline to help with general maintenance 6pm-8:30pm. Meeting at Quarry Lake Parking Lot. 

Thursday

• Casting call! Pine Tree Players is excited to produce Seminar by Theresa Rebeck, directed by Lauren Hawkeye. They are holding auditions in Canmore Minors’ Union Hall from 6pm-9pm. Get your monologues ready!

• You need to be in it to win it! Banff Ave Brew Co. is holding a Jasper Relief Raffle to raise funds for our Jasper neighbors. Raffle tickets are $5; there’s live music and $9 steins from 7pm with the raffle drawn at 11pm. 

• Have a little sing-song! Karaoke Night at the Canmore Hotel from 7:30pm. 

• Gimme, Gimme, Gimme a night of ABBA music! Enjoy a 90 minute musical love letter to ABBA and everything 80s at ABBA-solutely Fabulous, 7:30pm at Carter-Ryan Gallery, Canmore. Tickets are $38.

• See Back to the Future in Banff Rec Grounds! Movie Under the Stars is showing Back to the Future from 7pm (but the movie starts at 9pm) at The Pavilion, Banff Recreation Grounds for free!

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🍛Filipino cuisine has arrived in town! Marupork Kitchen, a new food truck at 725 10 Street, Canmore, serves authentic Filipino comfort food daily from 12pm-8pm.

• 🐕Highway Dogs Reminder: If you find a dog near Morley/Stoney Nakoda, remember that the community has free-roaming dogs. Unless they’re in distress, let them continue their adventures.

• 🏕️Supper Jen Whalen, a long-time Banff resident.  She recently entered an outdoor contest with a $10K prize.  If she wins, she plans to donate the entire prize pool to the Jasper relief fund.  You can help by voting here.  

• 👕Canmore’s award-winning Clothing Swap-O-Rama is fast approaching, and they’ve extended the opening dates. You can Swap 'till you Drop from Thursday, September 12th to Saturday, September 14th. 

• 🗳Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards are open for nominations until September 15th. In addition, you can apply to their Peer Mastermind Program, as they are still accepting applications until September 11th.

• ⚕️Have you heard about Man Aligned? A men’s mental health brotherhood to create an immersive and safe space for men. Dive right in with their Deep Dive Retreat at Ghost Wilderness, Northern Alberta, between August 29th and September 1st. 

• 🤝Canmore’s Terry Fox Run on September 15th is still looking for volunteers to help run the annual event.  

• 🎉Happy hour at Anejo in Banff! Every day between 3pm-5pm and again from 9pm-close enjoy $7 Margaritas, $4 classic tacos and half price tequila! 

• 🙋🏻‍♂️Can you volunteer at Banff Community Food and Friends? While local ministry groups mostly run the Canmore experience, Banff’s weekly gathering runs on volunteers who need to cook, set up, prep, and clean. Sign up here!

• 📢The Canmore Library needs your help! They’re seeking local businesses who would like to offer a special deal or discount to customers who show their Canmore Library card while shopping at your place of business. Contact them via [email protected].  

CIVIC NEWS

• Banff Housing Corporation Board, whose portfolio manages over 180 properties, has its monthly meeting at 8:30am on Wednesday, August 21st at Banff Town Hall.

• MD of Bighorn Utilities Department advises Exshaw residents that they will be flushing water mains from August 19th to August 22nd, 7:30am to 4pm. Note: Flushing may cause some water discoloration and while it does not represent a health hazard, ensure water is clear before using.

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, August 21st, 7:30pm: Indigenous Classical Music Concert. Location: Jenny Belzberg Theatre, Banff Centre. $20 a ticket. 

• Wednesday, August 21st: Jam Night. Location: Tommy’s Neighbourhood Pub. No cover.

• Wednesday, August 21st, 10pm: Party beats with DJ Hops. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No cover.

• Thursday, August 22nd, 7:30pm: Jazz and Sonic Arts Concert. Location: Jenny Belzberg Theatre. $20 a ticket.

• Thursday, August 22nd, 7:30pm: Folk music from The Jellyman’s Daughter. Location: ArtsPlace. $30 a ticket. 

• Thursday, August 22nd, 9pm: Collab for a Cause. Location: Dancing Sasquatch, Banff. No cover but donations encouraged for Jasper Wildfire Relief. 

• Thursday, August 22nd, 10pm: Funk with Zebra. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No cover.

SPORTS

• Three Canmore local soccer players were in Edmonton last week for the Player-Development Program (PDP) Championship as part of the Calgary Rangers U17 team. The PDP is the highest-level national tournament for this age group and is a huge achievement for the players. Coming from a small town, there is a big commitment from players, families, and the community willing to help the growth of young women in sports, and this accomplishment is a testament to that dedication.

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Friday, same time, same place!