✈️ Banff’s Emergency Runway Used

Good morning, Bow Valley!

If you’re a Canmore local and have ever had a close call at the end of Main Street near 8th Ave, here’s some good news. A new stop sign has gone up at the intersection, turning it into a four-way stop. If you’ve ever watched traffic from the Wood’s patio, you probably realized pretty quickly how much this was needed.

- Fortune Whelan, Ben S., Brendan Nogue, Alexia Chambers

RARE LANDING AT BANFF AIRSTRIP DRAWS FEDERAL INVESTIGATION

What's Happening? A small aircraft made a rare landing at Banff's normally restricted airstrip on July 28, prompting reviews by federal authorities. Parks Canada has already concluded the pilot provided sufficient information to justify the landing, while the Transportation Safety Board of Canada is still assessing what happened.

Wait, Banff Has An Airstrip? Yep. Most locals probably know it as the large grassy area where elk often feed, but if you're unfamiliar, the airstrip sits alongside Highway 1 directly in front of Cascade Mountain, between Banff's east and west entrances. Aircraft generally aren't allowed to land or take off there except in emergencies or authorized diversions. 

"Parks Canada Law Enforcement has completed its review and determined that the pilot provided sufficient information to support the need to land," Parks Canada spokesperson Tomi Postma told Bow Valley Insider.

The Investigation Isn't Over. The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) said it knows an Aviat A-1C-200 landed there July 28 but is still collecting information and assessing the event. Transport Canada is responsible for investigating potential aircraft access violations.

Landings Here Are Pretty Rare. The TSB has recorded just eight occurrences at the Banff Airstrip since 1990, including incidents from when it was still operational. The most recent was an emergency landing in 2004.

The most serious occurred in 1996, when an aircraft taking off at night struck a tree and crashed into the former Army Cadet compound. Both occupants suffered severe burns.

So, Why Is There Still A Runway? The airstrip dates to 1933 but was legally closed in 1997 following concerns about habitat fragmentation in the Bow Valley. What followed was a years-long debate over whether removing it entirely could create an aviation safety risk.

In 2008, Ottawa halted plans to fully reclaim the site and restored the airstrip to federal regulations specifically for emergency and diversionary landings.

It's Still Maintained. The remaining non-emergency structures were removed in 2021, but Parks Canada continues mowing the runway and clearing snow so it remains usable when an aircraft genuinely needs somewhere to land.

Read our full story

HEALTHY LOOKING TEETH CAN STILL BE CHANGING

There's a common belief that if nothing hurts, everything is fine. In reality, many oral health conditions can develop gradually, often without pain or obvious symptoms in the early stages.

Gum disease is a good example. It can begin as mild inflammation and progress over time, and signs like bleeding gums, recession, or deeper pockets are part of that spectrum. Many patients notice these changes but don't always realize what they indicate.

The encouraging part is that these conditions are very manageable when they're identified early. With regular care and the right routine at home, progression can often be slowed or stabilized, and in many cases improved.

At Floss, appointments are structured to give patients a clear picture of where their oral health is at. The team walks through what they're seeing and what it means, then focuses on realistic options for maintaining or improving oral health over time. Oral health is also closely connected to overall health, which is why consistent assessment and maintenance matter.

The goal is clarity and a practical path forward, without judgment or overwhelm.

Floss has clinics in both Banff and Canmore. You can book your first comprehensive dental hygiene appointment here.

_{*Presented by Floss.}

THE DIGEST

• 🤍 Canmore Man Found Dead in Bow River. A 52-year-old Canmore man was found dead in the Bow River Sunday morning after a rafter spotted him in the water between Canmore and the Highway 1 overpass. Emergency crews were called around 9:40 AM and confirmed the man was deceased. We spoke with Cpl. Mathew Howell, public information officer with Alberta RCMP, last night, who said police still don't know the circumstances leading up to the man's death or the cause. An autopsy is expected this week. Police are asking anyone with information to contact Canmore RCMP at 403-678-5519. We'll follow up with RCMP later this week. 

• 🛠️ Spray Lakes Road Reopening Pushed to End of August. We finally know what it’s costing to repair the June rockslide on Highway 742: about $1.1 million. Crews are removing unstable rock above the road and installing rock bolts where needed. There’s also been a timeline change. When we last updated you on July 31, officials were targeting mid-August for reopening. The Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors told us the work is now expected to wrap up by the end of August, weather permitting. The road and Grassi Lakes area remain closed in the meantime.

• 🏌 Bryson DeChambeau Was Very Impressed by Bow Valley Golf. Two-time U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau spent part of July golfing around the Bow Valley, and he’s now sharing the trip with his millions of followers. He ranked Banff Springs the second-most beautiful course he’s ever played. Then, over at Canmore’s Silvertip, he shot a 63 to set a new course record. His two Bow Valley YouTube videos have already pulled in 4.7 million views. See which course took his #1 spot and watch both Bow Valley videos on our website.  

• 🐻 Bear Warning Issued Around Lake Louise. Parks Canada is warning visitors to be extra cautious around Lake Louise Village, the RV campground, and nearby Bow River trails, where both black and grizzly bears are regularly feeding on berries. The warning is in effect until further notice. Parks Canada recommends carrying bear spray, making noise, keeping dogs leashed, and staying at least 100 metres from bears. Cyclists and trail runners are being told to slow down and skip the earbuds, as moving quickly increases the risk of a surprise encounter.  

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A KANANASKIS MARMOT HITCHED A RIDE TO AIRDRIE. NOW SHE’S BACK HOME

What's Happening? An Airdrie family returned from Kananaskis with a surprise passenger tucked underneath their truck: a female hoary marmot. After apparently hitching a ride roughly 100 kilometres to the city and spending several days exploring the neighbourhood, she's now been safely returned to Kananaskis.

So, How Did A Marmot Get To Airdrie? Landscape photographer Chris Ratzlaff first learned something was up when his son announced there was a "brown fuzzy creature" in their garage.

Ratzlaff believes the marmot climbed into the truck's skid plate beneath the engine while his wife was hiking Ptarmigan Cirque on July 28, then stayed hidden for the drive home. Once in Airdrie, "it was rummaging around in the garage knocking things over," Ratzlaff told Bow Valley Insider.

Then She Disappeared. After being let out of the garage, the marmot spent several days roaming the neighbourhood, with neighbours reporting sightings along the way. Then, on Aug. 1, she unexpectedly returned to the same garage where her Airdrie adventure began.

Ratzlaff suspects she may have remembered it. His "only guess is that it recognized the garage as a safe place and its arrival point to Airdrie, and maybe where it could get a ride home."

This Apparently Happens. According to the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society, marmots hitching rides in vehicles is surprisingly common. The curious animals can be attracted to minerals found on vehicles and crawl into their undersides.

The organization recommends banging on your hood and fenders, then checking beneath the hood before leaving mountain areas to make sure you haven't picked up any fuzzy passengers.

Back To The Mountains. When the marmot returned, Ratzlaff contacted the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society, whose staff captured her using nets inside the garage. She was subsequently transported back to Kananaskis and released.

And the runaway marmot managed to become a minor celebrity along the way. The story even earned a mention from Axl Rose during a Guns N' Roses concert in Toronto.

Read our full story

THINGS TO DO

Monday

• Live Music at the Grizzly Paw Beer Garden. Music Mondays continue at the Grizzly Paw with free live music, lawn games and $2 off draft beer. It’s an easy excuse to grab a pint and spend Monday evening outside while summer is still hanging around. 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Grizzly Paw Beer Garden, Canmore. No cover.*

Tuesday

• Cheap Tuesday Movie Night In Banff. Christopher Nolan brings Homer's legendary epic to the big screen with The Odyssey, following Odysseus's perilous journey home after the Trojan War as he faces the Cyclops, Sirens, Calypso and other mythic dangers. The all-star cast includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, and Charlize Theron. 6:30 PM. Lux Cinema, Banff. $8.99.

• Drop-In Touch Rugby in Canmore. No tackling or experience required. Canmore Touch Rugby meets Tuesday evening for a casual, social version of rugby open to all skill and fitness levels. Show up for some exercise, fresh air and friendly competition. 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM. Canmore Recreation Centre. $5. 

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🚧 Elevation Place Pool Closes Today. A heads-up for swimmers: Elevation Place’s entire aquatics centre closes today, Aug. 17 for annual maintenance, repairs, and upgrades. The leisure pool, hot tub, steam room, and waterslide are expected to reopen Sept. 26, while the lap pool is targeting Oct. 17. Splash memberships will automatically be paused during the closure, and changerooms will also close on a rotating basis for maintenance. 

• 📚 Swap Your Old Books for New Reads. Canmore Brewing is hosting another Books & Brews book swap this Wednesday. Bring along books you’re finished with and trade them for something new-to-you. There’s no entry fee, and everyone who attends gets a voucher for a $6 pint. Basically, clear some space on the bookshelf, refill it immediately, and have a beer while you’re at it.*

• 🍧 A Banff Favourite Gets a Second Life. The Scoop is back, although it’s not the original owners reopening shop. New ownership has revived the name and some of the treats locals might remember from the ice cream shop Ken and Ron Waterhouse opened in 1978. That includes fresh lemonade and the famous chocolate-dipped, nut-covered Nutty Buddy.  The new Scoop is on Caribou Street and is a fun little taste of old Banff brought into 2026.

• 💦 Instagram vs. Reality at Mist Mountain Hot Springs. Someone sent us a video last night showing the view from Mist Mountain Trail, including a pretty sizeable lineup of hikers waiting for their turn in the hot springs. We’ve been this summer and had the pools entirely to ourselves, but we also left our cars at 4:30 AM on a weekday, so take that for what it’s worth. Watch the video before showing up midday on a weekend. Honestly, the pools are lukewarm anyway, so we’d skip the soak. The hike to the summit, though, is awesome if you’re fit enough. We’ll have a guide coming soon. 

• 🖼️ New Mural Goes Up in Downtown Canmore. Local artist, known as TowerSprays on Instagram, has added a new mural downtown, featuring a cougar alongside a winter mountain scene. The Canmore artist shared the finished piece on Instagram, and it’s hard to miss. Keep an eye out the next time you’re wandering downtown. 

• 🏹 Calgary Youth Learn Bow-Making in Kananaskis. A group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth just spent three days in Kananaskis learning how to make traditional bows and arrows with Indigenous elders Tom Snow and Alice Kaquitts. The workshop had participants head into the forest to select wood, build their own equipment and learn about everything from aerodynamics to Indigenous knowledge and connections to the land. 

CIVIC NEWS

• Canmore’s $1.46M Downtown Washroom Replacement Starts. Construction begins today to replace the public washrooms at 907 7 Ave., which have been there since 1989. Council approved a $1.46-million budget for the project earlier this summer after construction bids came in well above initial estimates. The new building will have about 10 universal stalls, including accessible and family-friendly options. The old facility will be demolished first, followed by utility upgrades and installation of the prefabricated building. Expect some construction noise and temporary road, pedestrian and transit detours downtown.

LIVE MUSIC

• Monday, August 17th, 10:00 PM: Karaoke Monday. Location: The Drake, Canmore. No Cover.

• Tuesday, August 18th, 10:00 PM: Dean Lonsdale. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

SPORTS

• Bow Valley Rallies Around Local Climber. Canmore climber and Lake Louise ski patroller Jaime Navarro Gutierrez lost function in his right arm after falling ice struck him while climbing in Kananaskis in January. He recently underwent a roughly €47,000 nerve surgery in Spain and faces a recovery that could take nearly two years. Friends launched a fundraiser to help with the costs, raising more than $28,000 toward its $35,000 goal as of Aug. 16.

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.