⛷️ Canmore Athletes Deliver

Good morning, Bow Valley!

A week ago, we shared that our local dog rescue, Heart Mountain Rescue, had welcomed 12 new puppies and was preparing to open adoption applications. Unfortunately, those listings had to be taken down. The entire litter has since been diagnosed with parvo, a serious virus that attacks a dog’s digestive system and causes severe vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and extreme weakness. Without treatment, it is often fatal. The cost of medication and care for all 12 puppies is estimated at $10,000. As of last night, just $2,052 has been raised. If you’re able to donate $5 or $10 today, it would go directly toward life-saving care for these pups. Donations through this link automatically generate a tax receipt.

Thank you for helping if you can. We’ll keep you updated on the litter.

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

TWO BOW VALLEY ATHLETES MAKE THEIR MARK AT THE OLYMPICS

What’s Happening? Two hometown Canmore competitors were in action over the weekend at the Olympics, posting a career-best result in cross-country skiing and a hard-fought finish in alpine downhill.

Xavier McKeever Delivers Career-Best Result.  Canmore’s Xavier McKeever finished 13th in the men’s Olympic skiathlon, marking Canada’s strongest men’s Olympic cross-country result since 2018. The mass-start format demands smart positioning and pacing, and McKeever said he felt more confident as the race unfolded.

“I’ve been feeling good in training all week, and you don’t often know if that’s going to transpire to the races,” he said. “I just tried to ski as efficiently as possible and make smart decisions tactically.”

He said the skate leg, historically a weaker point for him, ended up being a highlight. “Once it settled, I felt my legs again and felt really strong,” he said, calling the race the best of his career so far. The moment carried added weight for the second-generation Olympian, who raced in front of his parents and grandmother. His mother, Milaine Thériault, is a three-time Olympian, and his father, Robin McKeever, is also an Olympian. 

Catch footage of McKeever’s race in our full article. 

Jeffrey Read Takes On One Skiing’s Toughest Courses. Canmore alpine skier Jeffrey Read, the son of Olympian and Crazy Canuck legend Ken Read, finished 25th in the men’s downhill, navigating the fast, technical Stelvio course under softer February snow conditions, where small mistakes were harder to recover from.

“Ups and downs,” Read told Bow Valley Insider afterward. “Had a good feeling out there, but didn’t execute some sections and lost some time.”

He noted that warmer snow made the race about smoothness and fine margins. The downhill is expected to be his only start of these Games, with Read currently listed as a reserve for the super-G.

Catch footage of Read’s race in our full article. 

BOW VALLEY INSIDER ICE CLIMBING DAY RECAP

Last weekend, six members of the Bow Valley Insider community teamed up for a learn-to-ice-climb day in Canmore, led by a professional guide. We spent the day getting comfortable on ice, covering the basics like footwork, ice axe placement, and moving confidently up and down frozen waterfall routes.

The group ranged from 16 to 60 years old, and for most, it was a first time on the ice. As one participant put it, “It was a glorious day and a fabulous experience. Our guide was knowledgeable, calm, and incredibly reassuring, especially with my pre-climb jitters.”

Our social media producer, Lisa, joined the day and captured highlights from the climb. You can watch the short recap video here.

If you missed this one, there’s one final ice climbing day happening Saturday, March 21. It’s the last chance this season to join the fun. Details here. We’re only taking 6 spots. 

THE DIGEST

• 💪 Team Canada’s Olympic Fits Break the Internet. Team Canada’s opening ceremony jackets by Lululemon sparked instant online roast after their Olympic debut, with social media likening them to sleeping bags and Tim Hortons cups. The result: backlash, memes, nostalgia for past kits, and a steady stream of behind-the-scenes content. Instead of staying quiet, Bow Valley athletes leaned in, posting fit checks from the Olympic Village across Instagram, TikTok, and X. 

• 🍂 You Didn’t Imagine It. Last Week Felt Like Spring. A rare February warm spell smashed temperature records across the Bow Valley and nearby mountain parks, with some highs standing for more than 80 years. Between last Wednesday and Thursday, Banff hit 11.3 C, the Bow Valley provincial park climbed to 15.2 C, and Jasper reached 11.8 C, all well above historic norms. The heat had real impacts. Lake Louise’s Ice Magic showcase closed just one day after opening as sculptures rapidly deteriorated. 

• 🩺 Alberta Quietly Cuts Health Coverage for Some Foreign Workers. A policy change that took effect Jan. 7 removed public health care access for people on International Experience Canada work permits, including working holiday and young professional visas. The move is raising alarms in the Bow Valley, where tourism businesses rely heavily on international workers. Affected workers say they were not warned, learned only after applying, and now face gaps between private insurance and routine care. 

• 🚩 Exshaw Cement Plant Renewal Faces Pushback From Bow Valley Residents. People living near the Exshaw cement plant are challenging Amrize’s bid to renew its provincial operating approval for another 10 years, saying ongoing dust, noise and air-quality issues have never been fully addressed. Dust is described as regularly coating homes and becoming airborne again with wind or yard work. Critics are urging the province to shorten the approval or add enforceable dust-reduction targets.

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PRO HOCKEY PLAYERS LAUNCH NEW TRAINING PROGRAM IN CANMORE

What’s Happening? A new pro-led hockey development program is launching in Canmore this summer, with two Bow Valley-raised players aiming to keep young athletes training locally instead of spending hours on the highway.

Who’s Behind It. Be a Pro Hockey Training is co-founded by Noah Philp and Sam Jones, both of whom grew up playing hockey in the Bow Valley before leaving to pursue higher-level development. Philp has played in the WHL and made his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers in 2024, and is currently with the Carolina Hurricanes. Jones has played professionally in the UK’s Elite Ice Hockey League with the Belfast Giants and represented Great Britain internationally.

Why They’re Doing It. The founders say the biggest gap for Bow Valley hockey families isn’t ice time, but travel. Jones said young players often spend 45 minutes each way driving to Cochrane, Airdrie, or Calgary multiple times a week. “When you’re doing that, you don’t have the same opportunities to recover, rest, get your homework done, or get to the gym,” Jones told Bow Valley Insider. Their goal is to offer a consistent, high-quality training option close to home.

How the Program Works. Be a Pro combines on-ice skills with mindset and habit development, focusing on accountability, recovery, and daily routines. Training is age-specific, with lighter schedules for younger players and increased intensity for older groups. A new pathway model allows athletes to move up or down between groups based on performance, keeping sessions competitive.

Check out what’s coming this summer and the program’s longer-term vision in our full article. 

THINGS TO DO

Monday

• Level Up Your Avalanche Game. Avalanche Skills Training Level 2 is a 3-night, 4-day course for confident skiers, riders, and climbers looking to sharpen decision-making in real winter terrain. Expect advanced avalanche theory, field-based scenarios, guided tours, and hands-on practice, plus cozy hostel nights. Built for people who want to move smarter, not just steeper. 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. Fenlands, Banff. Details here.

• Pop-Up Thrift Event. Hangtime Flea is a travelling market blending sustainability, secondhand fashion, and community connection. Expect a curated mix of vintage finds, handmade goods, and small local brands. Each event supports independent sellers, reduces waste, and keeps thrifting culture alive in mountain towns. This is a more intentional way to buy local. 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Canmore Brewing Company. Free to attend.

Tuesday

• Waterwalker Film Festival. A must for paddlers, nature lovers, and armchair adventurers alike, this inspiring lineup features canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and river stories that blend adventure, craftsmanship, and conservation. From quiet backcountry trips to powerful whitewater runs, these films celebrate time on the water and the deep connection between people and place. 7:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $10-$20. Details here.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🎿 Snowshoeing and Storytelling in Lake Louise. On Feb. 26, longtime Rockies guide Joel Hagen leads a half-day snowshoe outing near Lake Louise that blends winter trail time with storytelling skills. Expect an easy-paced walk, warm drinks, and practical tips on wildlife tracks and various nature observations. Snowshoes and poles are included, and the group meets at the Lake Louise Visitor Centre. Ideal for people who lead trips or programs and want to tell more engaging stories on the trail, but everyone is welcome, regardless of level. Sign up here.*

• ✨ You Don’t See This Anywhere Else in the Rockies. Just launched at Emerald Lake Lodge, the Emerald Sky Dome is a private, heated dining dome built for slow evenings and really good food. You arrive for a welcome drink, then settle in for a six-course chef’s tasting that changes regularly. No crowds, no background noise, no rushing courses. Go all in and stay the night, or tack it onto a ski day at Lake Louise. Either way, you should try it at least once this winter with someone you love or a group of friends. More details and bookings.*

• 🍺 Brewery Paint & Sip on Valentine's Day. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a relaxed Paint & Sip night at Canmore Brewing Company. Bring friends, a partner, or enjoy a solo date and meet someone new. This unguided paint night lets you choose a paint-by-numbers piece that speaks to you while enjoying great beer and easy conversation in a fun, welcoming setting.*

• 🍱 Freezer-Friendly February at Cornerstone Cafe. February’s busy, daylight’s short, and cooking can feel optional. Cornerstone Cafe is leaning into that reality with Reheat & Eat meals made locally and frozen fresh for easy weeknights after skiing, work, or both. Choose from butter chicken, Thai coconut curry, bison stew, paneer makhani, or beef bourguignon. Buy seven meals, get the eighth free. Order ahead online. Pickup at the Canmore Nordic Centre. $16.95–$22.25 per meal.*

• 🦺 A Calgary Artist Stitches Climate Stories Into Wearable Art. This short documentary follows Calgary-based artist and activist Ellen Monaghan, who creates handmade “climate vests” designed to get people talking about climate change without statistics or lectures. Using upcycled fabrics, humour, and familiar western imagery, her work turns environmental issues into personal, wearable stories. The film is produced by Rockies-based storyteller Pauline Allio, grounding global climate questions in everyday mountain life. Watch for free here.

CIVIC NEWS

• Construction Moves Ahead at 100 Palliser Lane. Canmore Community Housing’s largest affordable rental project is now well underway. Crews have finished foundation walls on one building and are prepping to start building upward, while work on the second building has reached the elevator core and underground servicing stage. When complete, the project will deliver 144 below-market rental homes for local workers and families across two mid-rise buildings. The development includes underground parking, bike storage, shared outdoor spaces, and energy-efficient design aimed at long-term housing stability in Canmore.

LIVE MUSIC

• Monday, February 9th, 2025, 10:00 PM: Brent Lee.  Location: Banff Rose and Crown. No Cover.

• Tuesday, February 10th, 2025, 10:00 PM:Bonfire Moon. Location: Banff Rose and Crown. No Cover.

SPORTS

• Canmore Eagles Pile On in Another Lopsided Win. The Canmore Eagles put up eight goals again, cruising past the Olds Grizzlys 8-2 in front of a packed Fenlands crowd. It marked the fourth straight decisive win over Olds this season and the third time Canmore has scored eight or more against them. Seven different Eagles found the net, with Bryson Insinger scoring twice. Aidan Tkachuk added three assists, extending his point streak to 14 games. The win keeps Canmore firmly atop the AJHL South Division.

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.