🙅 Canmore Event Gets Axed

Good morning, Bow Valley!

And, happy Thanksgiving!

Today is the last day of the season to reach Moraine Lake using Parks Canada shuttles, private shuttles, or Roam Transit connections. All services wrap up for the year after today. That said, if you're fit enough and willing to brave the elements, you can still bike there. It's approximately 14 km one way from Lake Louise, with more than 500m of elevation gain. Just remember that Moraine Lake is considered backcountry, with no cell service at the lake, so you'll need to be fully self-sufficient.

-Ben S., Cassandra Stefanic, Fortune Whelan, Brendan Nogue, Alexia Chambers, Keith Fernandes

CANMORE VENUE CANCELS BOOKING FOR ALBERTA INDEPENDENCE TOWN HALL

What’s Happening? An Alberta referendum town hall in Canmore found itself without a venue after Silvertip cancelled its Oct. 7 booking. The event was set to feature speakers involved in Alberta independence campaigns, while the resort’s owner, Stone Creek Resorts, made its own position clear: it supports Alberta remaining part of Canada.

What Did The Resort Say? Stone Creek Resorts confirmed it cancelled the venue booking but did not explain why or when organizers were notified. In a statement to Bow Valley Insider, the company described itself as "proudly Canadian" and said it fully supports Alberta remaining part of Canada.

Whether the town hall went ahead elsewhere or was rescheduled remains unclear.

What Do We Know About The Organizers? The town hall advertised three speakers, including two involved in Alberta independence campaigns: Tanya Clemens and Cory Morgan.  

Morgan is the primary contact for Pathway to Independence, a registered third-party advertiser campaigning for a future binding separation referendum. 

Clemens co-leads Let Alberta Decide, an organization advocating for Alberta independence.

Meanwhile, At Canmore Town Hall. Just one day before the scheduled event, Canmore council unanimously passed a resolution supporting Canadian unity.

Mayor Sean Krausert warned that uncertainty surrounding separation could worsen Canmore's housing, affordability and staffing challenges.

What's Next? Albertans vote Oct. 19 on 10 referendum questions, including whether to remain in Canada or begin the constitutional process toward a future binding separation referendum. 

Advance voting starts tomorrow and runs until Oct 17th.  Find your local voting location here. 

Read our full story

A NEW 132-UNIT MOUNTAIN RESORT IS COMING TO HARVIE HEIGHTS. HERE'S WHAT'S PLANNED.

If you've driven by Harvie Heights along Hwy 1 heading to the Banff gates lately, you might have noticed some construction activity.

That's the future home of Banff Legacy Resort, a new 132-unit vacation property development that's now under construction, with units available for purchase.

And this isn't your typical hotel or condo complex.

Here's What's Being Built. The development will feature nine buildings with one-, two-, and four-bedroom townhouse-style vacation residences, each with its own private entrance.

Every unit will come with a balcony, air conditioning, modern appliances and titled underground parking. The two- and four-bedroom residences will also feature two-level layouts, with living areas downstairs and bedrooms upstairs.

There's More To The Project. Plans include a hot tub, a concierge service and a two-level commercial space that could eventually house a coffee shop or light-dining operation.

The location is another selling point. The resort sits just five minutes from downtown Canmore and approximately one kilometre from the Banff National Park gates.

And Yes, You Can Own One. Unlike a traditional hotel, these residences will be individually owned. Buyers can use them for personal vacations, rent them out short-term, or do a combination of both, subject to visitor-accommodation regulations.

Of the 132 units, only 50 are being released for public sale, with one-, two-, and four-bedroom options available.

Interested? Fill out this quick form to get available unit information (scroll down after clicking).

_{*Presented by Banff Legacy Resort.}

THE DIGEST

• ⛷️ Banff's Three Ski Resorts Are Changing Their Lift Hours. As you probably know, Alberta is no longer changing its clocks in the fall, which means our ski resorts are opening a little later this winter. Starting this November, Sunshine Village, Lake Louise and Mt. Norquay will all operate from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, shifting opening and closing times 30 minutes later than last year. The change gives crews more daylight to prepare the mountains each morning, while skiers still get a full day on the slopes. Sunshine and Lake Louise are tentatively opening November 6, followed by Norquay on November 7.

• 👔 Bow Valley Employers Are Still Struggling To Find Workers. The Job Resource Centre’s fall hiring fairs drew 258 job seekers across Banff and Canmore, but finding staff remains an uphill battle. Mackenzie Tindal, the centre’s employer services coordinator, told Bow Valley Insider that housing remains one of the biggest obstacles, with about 40% of local job postings advertising staff accommodation in September. Sunshine Village also told us that changes to federal immigration rules are increasing competition for workers, particularly in behind-the-scenes roles like housekeeping and kitchens. Employers are responding by recruiting earlier and improving wages, benefits and housing.

• 📈 Canmore Homeowners Seek Nearly $1.3 Million Over Pathway Upgrades. Two property owners along the West Bow River Pathway claim the Town's $3.6-million project, completed in 2024, permanently reduced their property values. They're seeking a combined total of up to $1.3 million in compensation. Canmore council has now approved $150,000 for legal costs to defend the claims before a provincial tribunal. The dispute stems from widening and paving the popular riverside trail to improve year-round accessibility. Hearings are expected between November and January, and no compensation has been awarded.

• 🎃 Halloween Plans? The Bow Valley Has Plenty. Spooky season is here, and Banff, Canmore and Lake Louise have plenty planned throughout October. We're talking ghost tours, costume contests, family-friendly trick-or-treating, haunted party buses, pumpkin carving and more. Our team has rounded up what's happening across the valley, including plenty of free activities. We've organized everything by date, with times, locations, prices, and registration details, so you can easily plan your Halloween festivities. Check out our complete Bow Valley Halloween guide.

We Have 2 Spots Open For Our Food & Drink Partnership Program

Run a restaurant, bar, or café? We have two spots opening in November for our year-round Food & Drink Partnership Program.

We feature your menus, specials, events, and whatever else you’ve got cooking, reaching 26,000+ digital publication readers and 75,000+ social followers.

And there’s an appetite for it: 74% of our audience say they want more food and drink content.

You’ll join local favourites like Grizzly Paw Brewing, Rose & Crown, Eclipse Coffee Roasters, Valbella, Juniper Bistro, Stirling Lounge, and more. We cap the program at 30 partners, so once these two spots are filled, that’s it for the year.

Want in? Fill out this quick form.

A DRY SUMMER PUT BOW VALLEY WILDFIRE DEFENCES TO THE TEST

What’s Happening? The Bow Valley had all the makings of a difficult wildfire season, with dry conditions and weeks of high and extreme fire danger. Fortunately, no major wildfire took hold. Local fire officials credit earlier rainfall, public cooperation, and years of mitigation work for helping protect communities like Banff, Canmore, and Lake Louise.

How The Fire Season Unfolded. Wildfire concerns began unusually early near Kananaskis, where a fire broke out on Jan. 14 amid dry conditions and little snow cover.

Fortunately, increased precipitation through much of the season helped reduce the potential for fires to spread.

But the summer still had its moments. The Calgary Forest Area reached extreme wildfire danger on July 31, and Banff National Park was under a fire ban from July 30 to Aug. 31.

What Helped Keep Fires At Bay? Officials point to more than favourable weather. FireSmart projects, vegetation removal, fire restrictions, and coordination between emergency agencies all helped manage wildfire risk.

Banff officials also credited residents and visitors for following fire precautions.

“We plan for the worst and are happy when there are no local fires,” the Town of Banff told Bow Valley Insider.

Building A More Fire-Resilient Valley. Since 2002, Parks Canada says it has treated more than 22,954 hectares through 73 fire-management projects in Banff National Park.

Meanwhile, work continues on the Bow Valley Community Fireguard, designed to reduce available fuel and give firefighters safer places to respond.

Are We Out Of The Woods? Not quite. As of Oct. 5, the Calgary Forest Area had recorded 101 wildfires this year, burning just over 22 hectares. None were active, but wildfire danger remained high due to dry conditions and a lack of precipitation.

Crews are also working with Îyârhe Nakoda First Nations on controlled burns covering more than 100 hectares to reduce future wildfire risk. Smoke and flames may be visible near Highway 1, Highway 1A and Ghost Lake in the coming weeks.

“Preparedness can reduce risk, but it does not remove it,” said MD of Bighorn fire chief Rob Duffy.

Read our full story

THINGS TO DO

Monday

• Mondays Are For Rib Lovers. Start your week with $6 off ribs at The Grande Kitchen + Bar. Choose between braised Alberta pork ribs in a root beer BBQ glaze or AAA Alberta beef short ribs, plus specials on sides to round out your dinner. It's a pretty good excuse to skip cooking on a Monday. 5 PM to close. The Grande, Canmore.*

• Thanksgiving Dinner At Sandtraps. They're serving up a full turkey dinner with mashed potatoes, stuffing, seasonal vegetables, gravy, cranberry sauce and pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. You can dine in or order takeout to enjoy at home. 4 PM to close. Sandtraps, Canmore. $33.95 per person + GST and gratuity.*

Tuesday

• Glow-In-The-Dark Bingo Is Coming To Banff. Bingo is getting considerably brighter at the Rose & Crown, which is launching BING-GLOW. The new event will run every other Tuesday, with $20 getting you five bingo cards, glowing swag, and either a pint or highball. There are also up to $250 in Rose & Crown gift cards up for grabs. Doors open at 7:30 PM, with bingo starting at 8 PM.*

• Advance Voting Opens Today In Banff And Canmore. Want to get your vote in early? Advance voting runs October 13-17, and you can vote at whichever advance location is most convenient. Head to the Canmore Recreation Centre (1900 8 Avenue) or the Kinnear Centre at the Banff Centre (107 Tunnel Mountain Drive). 9 AM-8 PM.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 💰 Help Canmore’s Biathletes Get To The International Racing Circuit. In case you didn't know, even our elite athletes aren't fully funded and rely on community support to compete internationally. That's why the Biathlon Alberta Training Centre is launching its annual fundraiser, aiming to raise $15,000 to help cover athletes' expenses for the upcoming racing season. You can support them by grabbing tickets to the November 13 banquet at the Canmore Nordic Centre or entering the 50/50 raffle. These athletes represent our community on the international stage, so let's get behind them.*

• 🚧 Two Popular Banff Attractions Close Tomorrow. A heads-up if you're planning a visit to Johnston Canyon or the Banff Upper Hot Springs. Both are closing October 13 for maintenance and safety work. The hot springs will be closed until early November for equipment servicing, repairs and ongoing roof deck work. Johnston Canyon's closure will last until late November while Parks Canada addresses rockfall hazards. The main trail and parking lot will be inaccessible, but there's still another way to reach Upper Falls and the Ink Pots. Here's how to access them.

• 🔌 Learn How EV Charging Works In The Bow Valley. Thinking about buying an electric vehicle, or already own one and want to better understand your charging options? The Biosphere Institute is hosting a free talk on October 19 with local EV advocate Edmund Ong. He'll explain home charging, public stations, fast chargers and what your options look like if you rent or live in a condo. There'll also be practical advice on electrical requirements and getting started. Free, but RSVP required.*

• 🏗️ Banff Avenue Sidewalk Construction Starts Tomorrow. The Town of Banff is beginning a $672,000 project to replace approximately 15,500 aging sidewalk paving stones along the 100 and 200 blocks of Banff Avenue. Work starts October 13 and will happen in stages through 2029, beginning on the east side between Caribou and Buffalo streets. Expect temporary sidewalk detours and occasional lane closures, although crews will limit construction zones to 20 metres at a time. Work affecting business entrances will stop by 11 AM each day to minimize disruptions. See the full construction schedule and map.

• 🚧 Small Trail Closure In Kananaskis. If you're heading into Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, there's a minor closure to be aware of near William Watson Lodge, located in the Kananaskis Lakes area. A short section of the lodge's pathway and the nearby Bill Benson Trail will close starting October 13 while crews investigate the area's water infrastructure. The rest of the park remains open, but expect short detours and some construction noise. There's no confirmed reopening date yet, so follow posted signs if you're visiting the area.

CIVIC NEWS

• Canmore Neighbours Clash Over Exterior Lighting. A dispute over backyard lighting in Stewart Creek has reached Canmore's development appeal board. Nearby residents say lights from one home are so bright they illuminate neighbouring yards, while the homeowners argue their fixtures comply with Town regulations. The Town issued an order requiring changes to the lighting, but the owners are appealing it. The board has yet to issue a decision.

LIVE MUSIC

• Monday, October 12th, 10:00 PM: Brent Lee. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

• Tuesday, October 13th, 9:00 PM: Noche Caliente.  Location: The Drake, Canmore. $10. 

SPORTS

• Canmore Eagles Sweep Calgary In Heated Weekend Series. The Eagles defeated the Calgary Canucks on both Friday and Saturday, completing a two-game home sweep against their rivals. Saturday's matchup got particularly heated, with several misconduct penalties handed out late in the game as tensions boiled over.

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.