🚍Banff Gets A New Transit System?

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Did we accidentally launch a transit newsletter? There’s a whole lot of “bus news” today, affecting everyone from Lake Louise to Canmore to Calgary. Oh—and if you haven’t voted yet, don’t miss your chance to weigh in on Bow Valley’s 2024 Best Restaurants list. Voting ends Friday, and this is the last reminder!

In today’s Bow Valley Insider:

• Cool Christmas events happening this month

• The climbing books that won Banff’s Book Festival

• Canmore ultra runner placed 1st in Mexico’s most grueling 100km race

Let’s get to it!

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

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ALL ABOARD BIGHORN? RURAL TRANSIT ON THE HORIZON

What’s Happening: The MD of Bighorn and Kananaskis Improvement District just rolled out potential public transit options. The aim? To connect rural communities with Canmore and beyond, providing transit for work, shopping, and recreation.

Cost of Connection: An annual price tag of $213K to $315K is estimated to run these services, with choices spanning on-demand rides, seasonal routes, and potential Roam transit partnerships. The hope is to provide options for those without cars—or who’d rather skip the drive.

Path Forward: Bighorn’s council will review in November, deciding whether Exshaw, Dead Man’s Flats, and Harvie Heights might soon have transit links to Canmore. The study even eyed a long-term idea of transit extending to Banff and Calgary, showing a commitment to accessible and sustainable travel.

TWO COOL CHRISTMAS EVENTS AT THE COAST HOTEL

1. Canmore Snow Globe Paint Night

Join The Playful Painters on November 30th for a Canmore Snow Globe Paint Night! 🎨

Click here to book! 🔗

This is a fun and creative evening where you can unleash your inner artist and create your very own winter wonderland in a snow globe. 

No painting experience is necessary - talented instructors will guide you every step of the way.

2. Christmas Theme Ornament and Wreath-Making Gathering

Join art Instructor Natilla Castillo on November 17th for a fantastic evening creating a beautiful Christmas-themed ornament and wreath for your home! 🏡

Register here to secure your space before they sell out. ❄️

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THE DIGEST

• 🛣️FlixBus just made your mountain getaway smoother with a new Calgary-to-Lake Louise route. Running five days a week (and daily during the holidays), it offers budget-friendly, car-free trips to the Rockies. With Parks Canada shuttles filling up fast, it’s a timely expansion for sustainable travel seekers.

• 🚍More bus news?  Why not. Roam bus ridership in Banff dropped 3% this summer, partly due to a shortage of buses after supplier Proterra, a company known for electric transit buses, filed for bankruptcy. With new buses and Proterra’s issues resolved, Banff hopes to boost service frequency and increase ridership next year.

• 🛠️Alberta is recruiting contractors to restore land where fireguards—dirt strips cleared to halt wildfires—were created during the 2023 fire season. These fireguards prevent flames from spreading but leave the soil vulnerable to erosion and invasive species. Restoration work, set for winter, aims to stabilize the land and promote regrowth.

• 📑Banff’s Book Fest crowned Alpine Rising by Bernadette McDonald and The Art of Climbing by Simon Carter as top climbing reads. McDonald spotlights Sherpas’ heroism, while Carter’s photography inspires exploration. Curious about the rest? Click to discover more award-winning mountain reads from this year’s festival.

• 🏆SustainDriven claimed the Sustainability in Action award at the Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce Excellence Awards for making the Banff Marathon Canada’s “greenest” race. Stellar Experiences took New Business of the Year, moving leadership retreats into the Bow Valley’s scenic outdoors. Click to see more winners!

GROUNDWATER WATCH

What’s Happening: Bighorn’s council will soon decide whether to automate groundwater monitoring in Exshaw and Dead Man’s Flats or stick with manual checks. This tech upgrade will return for debate during the upcoming budget talks, where pros, cons, and costs are up for review.

Budget Breakdown: Right now, manual monitoring costs about $5K a year, covering staff time and travel for weekly checks. An automated system, though, would have a steeper first-year cost at $18K, with ongoing costs around $12K annually. Automation would allow for hourly data collection, offering deeper insights into groundwater levels.

Why It Matters: Exshaw has faced past flooding, and real-time data from automated monitoring could help the community keep a closer eye on groundwater trends. If approved, the system could share this data publicly and expand monitoring coverage to more wells for a clearer picture of groundwater dynamics.

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Metis Week Open Archives. Visit the Whyte to explore Indigenous-focused projects and collections. 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Whyte Museum, Banff. Free to Indigenous Visitors. 

• African Drumming. Join in on the fun and play djembe drums! Explore some rhythms from Africa, play some instruments from around the globe, and make some amazing music together. 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM. Canmore Scout Hall, Canmore. $25 per person. 

• Make & Mingle. Bring your own craft projects to work on… coloring, crochet, linocuts, embroidery, doodle, etc. It’s up to you!  7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. CanMore Together, Canmore. Free.

• Movie Night. The library supplies the popcorn, so bring a pillow and your friends! Make yourself at home and watch Quartet. 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Canmore Library, Canmore. Free.

• Backcountry 101. Dive into the essentials of backcountry travel with expert guidance from Yamnuska Mountain Adventures. 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM.  SkiUphill - RunUphill Canmore. Free.

Thursday

• Grand Funding Meeting. Meet with a group of non-profit members, in person or virtually.10:15 AM - 12:15 PM. Canmore Library or Online. Email Elle West for more details: [email protected]. 

• Book Sale Sneak-Peek. Come browse through thousands of hard cover and soft cover books for all ages at incredible prices. 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Canmore Library, Canmore. $5 for non-members / Free for Friends of the Library.

• The Future of Bison: Dinner and Conversation.  An Indigenous-led panel discusses the reintroduction of the bison to Banff. 5:15 PM - 7:15 PM. Pioneer Room, Catharine Robb Whyte Building. Tickets are for registration only. Donations accepted. 

• Art Reception. Drop into the opening reception of Imagine at Three Sisters Gallery.  This exhibition explores nature through the lens of the microcosm. 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Three Sisters Gallery. Free.

• Ladies-Only Golf Night. A fun, relaxed evening dedicated to women who want to play, practice, or just enjoy a night out with friends. 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM. CanGOLF, Canmore. $33 per person per 2-hour Timeslot.  

• Fitness Classes. Each class includes accredited instruction and coaching. Expect a blend of body weight, free weight and cable. 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Ages 16+. Exshaw Community Centre, Exshaw. $10. 

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🧺Banff Christmas Market. With over 150 artisanal vendors, 13 days of magic, live music, an outdoor fire lounge, Santa’s House & Workshop, Christmas treats & warm drinks! November 14 - December 8. 

• 🧗‍♀️ Competition. The Canmore Climbing Gym’s community scramble competition is set for Nov 15-16. Spectators are welcome, but space is limited. Get tickets!

• 🎭Pay What You Can Night! The Pinetree Players’ show Seminar is hosting a pay what you can night tonight! Tickets are over 70% sold. Get yours.  

• ⚽︎Indoor Soccer Camp. Canmore Soccer Camps have 4 places remaining on the Winter Indoor Soccer Program for competitive soccer players ages 10-13. The program starts on Monday, January 6, in Exshaw and runs from 6:00 - 7:15 pm. 

• 🙏Gear Drive. The Jasper Section of the Alpine Club of Canada is hosting a Gear Drive in support of those who lost their equipment in the summer wildfire. Donations of gently used or new gear are appreciated. Email [email protected] to donate.

• 📣Online Auction. Creative Combat 10.0 is this Saturday! The Silent Auction is still on! Bid on everything from private concerts to ski vacations, books, art, and more.

• 🛼Hit the Ice! The Fenlands ice is available most mornings on weekdays for additional public skating and sticks & pucks for a single session fee. Please confirm skating times before arrival by calling 403.762.1235. Morning ice is not part of the Pauw Pass offering.

• 🍸Half Hour. Every Day at Anejo 3 - 5 PM & 9 PM - Close. $7 Margaritas, $4 classic tacos & 1/2 price tequila! Open and serving food until 1 AM, Friday - Sunday and until 11 PM Mon-Thurs. 

CIVIC NEWS

• The MD of Bighorn invites residents to an Open House on November 14, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Beaupre Hall, Cochrane, AB, to discuss the Jamieson Road plan. Please RSVP to Wayne Shanks by November 13, 2024. For more details, visit the project webpage. 

• The Town of Banff is seeking feedback from residents and recreation participants to help improve their programs. Complete the survey by November 30 for a chance to win a $100 local grocery gift card. You can find the survey here.

• Banff council is considering shifting meetings from Mondays to Tuesdays, aiming to give the public and council more prep time while easing weekend workloads for town staff. The change, which could align with Jasper and Canmore councils, awaits feedback on scheduling impacts and media coverage considerations before a final decision.

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, November 13, 9:00 PM: Melissas Missteak Presents: APOLLO SUNS. Location: Melissa’s MisSteak, Banff. $14.02.

• Thursday, November 14, 7:00 PM: Apollo Suns with Delirium Street Party Brass and Maclayne. Location: Canmore Legion, Canmore. $20.50.

• Thursday, November 14, 7:30 PM: Hawksley Workman. Location: Jenny Belzberg Theatre, Banff. $45. 

SPORTS

• Eight Canadian biathletes have secured spots on the IBU World Cup team after fierce trials at Canmore’s Frozen Thunder course. Standouts include veterans Emma Lunder and Adam Runnalls, who bring experience and leadership to a team poised for high performance. The season kicks off Nov. 30 in Finland.

• Canmore’s own Arden Young clinched victory in the women’s 100K race at Puerto Vallarta by UTMB, finishing in 11:53:51 amidst Mexico’s rugged heat and mountainous terrain. Young led a strong Canadian showing, with multiple podiums across events. For full race results and more Canadian triumphs, click here.

That’s all, folks!

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