💸 BC Targets Alberta Hikers

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Heads up: If you hear explosions echoing off Rundle this morning, it’s another avalanche control cycle. Spray Lakes Road (Hwy 742) will be closed today from 9 AM to 1 PM between Grassi Lakes and Goat Creek while crews drop charges on EEOR. Dog owners, maybe skip that morning romp.

— Fortune Whelan, Ben S., Sneha Kainth, Madalyn Beach

PLANNING A TRIP TO ASSINIBOINE? BC NOW CHARGES ALBERTANS $20 EXTRA

What’s Happening? Starting May 15, British Columbia will charge out-of-province campers a $20 surcharge and raise peak-season camping fees at many of its busiest parks, including several that Bow Valley locals frequently visit.

Here’s What’s Changing. Frontcountry campsites in 59 popular provincial parks will increase by an average of $13.29 per night during peak summer, with new nightly rates ranging from $30.81 to $42.91 depending on the season.

Backcountry camping will see steeper jumps. At parks including Garibaldi Provincial Park, Golden Ears Provincial Park, Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, and Assiniboine, fees will rise by an average of $13.62 per night, with updated rates ranging from $17 to $25 depending on the park.

One notable exception: the Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Park is not included in the updated backcountry fee increases.

On top of those changes, a $20 non-resident surcharge will apply in addition to the regular camping or rental fee. It covers frontcountry and backcountry reservations, cabin rentals, and mooring buoys and docks. Residency will be determined by the home address provided at booking.

Why The Increase? B.C.’s parks now see more than 27 million visits annually, up about 30% over the past six years. The province says record visitation, aging infrastructure, and climate-related damage have added strain.

Since 2017, B.C. has invested roughly $200 million in campground expansions, accessibility upgrades, and trail improvements, plus another $27 million for severe weather repairs.

Will Alberta follow? We reached out to the Government of Alberta to ask whether it would consider similar surcharges for B.C. visitors at its 470 provincial park sites. Alberta says it regularly reviews fees to ensure they remain fair and comparable, but has not indicated any plans to introduce a non-resident charge.

Read our full story for the complete changes to BC’s camping fees.

DEAR LOCALS: YOUR HEADACHES MIGHT START IN YOUR NECK

If you deal with headaches that arrive out of nowhere, migraines that ruin your weekend plans, or that foggy, neck tight feeling after a long day at a screen, the answer might be higher up the spine than you think. 

Precision Spinal in Canmore focuses on NUCCA, an upper cervical technique that works on the ‘atlas,’ the small bone at the very top of your neck. If that bone shifts even slightly, it can affect posture, muscles, and the nerves that influence headaches.

The adjustment is incredibly gentle. Just a precise correction based on laser-aligned X-rays and computerized scans. The goal is to take pressure off the nerves that feed the head and face, and to help your body hold that alignment over time.

Many of their patients describe the same pattern: fewer headaches, clearer thinking, and less neck tension once the atlas is corrected.

Bow Valley Insider readers get a complimentary 30-minute in-person consultation with Dr. Chris Long to review their symptoms and concerns.

Fill out this quick form, and they’ll be in touch.

_{*Presented by Precision Spinal.}

THE DIGEST

• 👨‍🎨 An Artist Turned Abraham Lake Into His Canvas. David Popa just used Abraham Lake as his medium, and yes, that’s literal. Popa creates large-scale works using natural elements like chalk, charcoal, and water. This time, he painted directly onto the lake’s frozen surface, using wind-polished ice and methane bubbles trapped below as part of the backdrop. The result is a haunting portrait etched into the ice itself. The piece, called “New Beginning,” was completed in just two days and will eventually disappear with the season. Honestly, words don’t cut it. See for yourself.

• 🏆 Canmore Crashes Calgary’s Best Restaurants List. Avenue Calgary has released its 2026 Best Restaurants list, and in a rare twist, two Canmore spots made the cut. The annual ranking is typically Calgary-only, judged by a panel of seasoned food writers, editors and culinary insiders. But this year, the judges made an exception, adding änkôr and Sauvage to the lineup. The guiding rule was simple: restaurants they’d personally recommend for the best overall experience. Turns out, you don’t have to leave the mountains for top-tier dining. Of course, locals already knew that.

• 🐆 Cougars Being Tracked Near Canmore to Reduce Conflict. The MD of Bighorn, which includes communities from Exshaw to west of Cochrane, is midway through a two-year Cougar Coexistence Project, using trail cameras to track both cougar and human movement patterns. The effort aims to deliver data-driven recommendations tailored specifically to the region by August. Organizers point to Canmore’s long stretch without major incidents as proof coexistence measures can work. Once monitoring wraps, footage will be compiled into a final report to guide how the MD manages trails, signage, and public awareness.

• ⛷ Calgary’s Skijor Event Draws Thousands, Avoids Banff-Style Traffic Crunch. A month after Banff’s skijoring weekend pushed sidewalks and parking to the brink, Calgary hosted its own version without the same fallout. SkijorDue 2026 drew roughly 6,000 people at last Saturday’s event, with attendees braving wind chills near -22C. The key difference appears to be structure. Banff’s event was free and part of a broader town festival, leading to compressed arrival times and temporary traffic controls. Calgary’s was fully ticketed and independently managed.

• ⚖️ Austrian Climber Convicted After Partner Dies on Mountain. This isn’t a Bow Valley story, but it lands close to home. An Austrian climber was found guilty of manslaughter after leaving his girlfriend behind on Grossglockner, where she later died of hypothermia. The court ruled that as the more experienced climber, he bore responsibility when conditions deteriorated, even if decisions were described as joint. For mountain towns like ours, it raises uncomfortable questions. In high-risk sports, what does partnership mean when skill levels differ? Summit goals can fade. Responsibility cannot.

A Small Town Love Story

You: A great local business.

Us: A publication with 16,500+ locals who love supporting local.

We keep bumping into each other… but you’ve never said hi.

Let’s stop pretending this isn’t a thing.

➡️ Fill out this quick form and let’s finally connect

AS VISITATION SURGES, LAKE LOUISE PROPOSES HIGHER HOUSING DENSITY UNDER NEW 10-YEAR PLAN

What’s Happening? Parks Canada has unveiled a proposed 10-year plan that sets the rules for how the Lake Louise community can grow, including higher housing density, firm limits on commercial expansion, and no outward boundary changes inside Banff National Park.

More Beds, Not More Sprawl. Because the community boundary is fixed under the Canada National Parks Act, outward expansion isn’t an option. Instead, Parks Canada proposes allowing more staff housing on existing residential lands, with some neighbourhoods permitting up to 220 bed units per hectare.

But there’s a catch: housing remains tied to “need-to-reside” rules. Short-term rentals, vacation homes, and retirement housing stay prohibited. Leaseholders may face annual reporting and random checks, and any newly released lot must be built within two years or returned to Parks Canada.

Commercial Growth Remains Capped. Lake Louise is capped at 96,848 square metres of commercial floor area. About 86,324 square metres are already built, leaving just over 10,500 square metres available. No new commercial parcels would be created, and unused approvals could expire within five years. Drive-throughs remain off the table.

Environmental Guardrails Stay Firm. The boundary will not expand. Wildlife-friendly fencing, no fruit trees, limits on outdoor lighting to reduce disruption to wildlife corridors, and stricter building standards remain central. New wildfire resilience requirements and non-combustible materials would apply to redevelopment. 

Why Now? Visitation to Banff National Park has increased 31% over the past decade, reaching more than 4.2 million visits in the 2023-24 operating year. Roughly 75% of those visitors spend time in Lake Louise. At peak capacity, the village can house about 2,450 residents and accommodate approximately 2,700 overnight guests per night.

Read our full story for the details, then weigh in before March 16, when public feedback closes and the plan moves to Parliament.

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Midweek Ping-Pong. Drop in for free Table Tennis and turn your evening into a rally of laughs, friendly competition, and quick reflexes. All equipment is provided, and all skill levels are welcome. Open to ages 12+. 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Fenlands, Banff. Free for Banff residents with a Pauw Pass.

Thursday

• Girl Winter Film Tour Hits Canmore. Ski season storytelling hits the big screen for a night of women-centric short films celebrating snow sports, courage, and creativity. With International Women’s Day around the corner, it is the perfect excuse to gather your crew and feel the mountain magic together. 7:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $12.50 - $25.*

• Clocktower Club Returns to Banff. The Clocktower Club is back, and the bluffing begins Thursday. This free community game night features Blood on the Clocktower, the cult-favourite social deduction game of secrets, strategy, and dramatic reveals. Trust no one, question everything, and bring your best poker face. 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM. Banff Library. Free. 

4 SPOTS LEFT: MARCH ICE CLIMBING ADVENTURE

We’ve got 4 spots left for our beginner-friendly ice climbing experience on March 21. If you’ve ever wanted to climb a frozen waterfall, this is your chance. The day blends hands-on instruction with plenty of time on the ice. Nolan from Leviathan Mountain Guides is leading the adventure, and no prior climbing experience is needed. Registration deadline is Monday. More details here.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• ✨ They’re Turning an Ice Rink into a Theatre. The Canmore Skating Club is transforming the Rec Centre arena into an immersive theatre experience for Canada: Our Story on Ice. Expect professional lighting, music, and even on-ice seating that puts you right in the action. The show features performances by local skaters alongside special guest Olympian Keegan Messing. It only comes to Canmore once every two years, and it always draws a crowd. If you’re planning to go, grab your tickets before they sell out.*

• 👩🏻 Women in Business Share How to Juggle It All. The Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce is hosting Multi-Passionate: Making Space for All That Moves You on March 12, an International Women’s Day event focused on women in business. A panel of local entrepreneurs will share how they balance multiple ventures, family life and personal goals without burning out. The evening includes networking before and after the discussion and is open to anyone who supports women in business. Registration closes March 8, and space is limited. Tickets here.*

• 🍀 Dirty Bingo at Exshaw Legion. Dirty Bingo is back this Saturday for an adults-only night of laughs, playful chaos, and unapologetic fun. Expect cheeky prizes like spicy bedroom toys. The kitchen and bar will be open. Come play, cheer loudly, and see if luck lands you some sexy romance goodies. The action starts at 7:00 PM and costs $10 to play.*

• 📸 Bow Valley Photographer Featured in Calgary’s Exposure Festival. Congratulations to Canmore photographer Camille Nathania Santiago, whose project DICHOTOMY was featured at this year’s Exposure Photography Festival. The series explores identity in mountain culture, spotlighting people of diverse backgrounds, body types, and lived experiences. Camille, a queer woman of colour and longtime Bow Valley creative, brings her own perspective to work that challenges narrow ideas of what an “athlete” should look like. Explore more of her work here.

• 🎥 Dragons’ Den Auditions. If you’ve ever pictured yourself pitching to the Dragons, here’s your shot. Producers are hosting in-person auditions in Calgary on February 28 and March 1 at the Sandman Downtown. We’ve met no shortage of amazing entrepreneurs across Canmore and Banff. This could be a chance to sharpen your pitch, meet other founders, and who knows, maybe land on national TV. If you decide to audition, let us know. We’d love to feature your business and follow the journey.

CIVIC NEWS

• Exshaw’s Density Debate Is Back. The housing conversation in Exshaw is heating up again. Council for the Municipal District of Bighorn has given first reading to a proposal that would increase units in the Exshaw Mountain Gateway from 14 to 22. Supporters cite housing diversity and affordability, while others question infrastructure capacity. The public hearing is set for March 24 at 6:30 PM.

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, February 25th, 2026, 10:00 PM: Noche Caliente. Location: Sizzlers, Banff. $10 Cash Cover.

• Thursday, February 26th, 2026, 8:00 PM: Boots, Beers, B-Sides with DJ Deon. Location: The Dusty Boot, Banff. No Cover. 

SPORTS

• Eagles Move Within Reach of South Division Title. The Canmore Eagles grabbed five of six possible points on a three-game road swing and now sit seven points clear atop the AJHL South with six games left. At 59 points, they’re closing in on their first division title in 23 seasons.

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.