⚖️Canmore Just Banned This

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Remember that “burger quest” idea you voted on recently—a series to find the best burger in the Bow Valley? Well, it’s happening. And now we’re hiring someone to literally get paid to eat burgers and film it for Instagram. Check out the job posting here and apply if you’re hungry.

In today’s Bow Valley Insider:

• Canmore limits short-term rentals in key neighborhoods

• The “Boss,” Banff’s famous grizzly, gets shared to 17.3m followers

• The Atmosphere on Banff Ave is shutting down

• Plus, adventure film tour, run club, $18 lift tickets, & more!

Let’s get to it!

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

P.S. Quick shoutout to Katherine Stack for referring so many friends to Bow Valley Insider! She’s currently studying osteopathy and loves the Valley for its incredible nature and amazing people. Her favorite spot? Epi—especially their weekend brioche.

Want to advertise to 10,000+ Bow Valley locals? Fill out this quick form.

CANMORE CAPS SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN KEY AREAS

What’s Happening? Canmore council voted to ban future tourist homes in Teepee Town and the Bow Valley Trail area, aiming to preserve housing for full-time residents—not vacationers. These zones sit just northeast of downtown Canmore, close to the Trans-Canada Highway, and are not representative of the town as a whole.

Why the Change? The town says tourist homes—residential units rented like hotels—are driving up housing prices and hollowing out neighbourhoods. Existing ones can stay (they’re “non-conforming” but legal), but no new ones will be allowed.

Owners Push Back. Owners and property managers argue the changes hurt their investments, reduce property values by up to 25%, and threaten tourism-driven income. They want more consultation and clarity on how existing rights will be preserved.

The Bigger Picture. Studies show conflicting data: a StatsCan report says up to 15% of Canmore housing is used short-term, while an Airbnb-funded study claims little rent impact. Council says the move is about livability—not just stats.

What’s Next? Big projects like Three Sisters Village still allow tourist homes (up to 1,300 units), but council says discussions with developers there will be “careful” and likely slow.

WHO IS THIS ENERGY-OBSESSED COMPANY?

And why are they taking over Bow Valley Insider today?

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Some Bow Valley homeowners have already cut their power bills significantly with solar and net metering.

(And let’s be honest—extra cash means more après-ski, fewer utility bill panic attacks.)

The best time to switch? Before another rate hike makes your bill look like a mortgage payment.

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(Didn’t click? Either you love unpredictable power bills or have an emotional attachment to your electric company.)

_{*Presented by Infinity Solar.}

THE DIGEST

• 🔒Banff’s Atmosphere Store Is Closing. The Banff Atmosphere is shutting its doors for good on April 6. Staff say all regular-priced gear is gone, but clearance items—like some tents—are an extra 25% off. Canadian Tire is closing all standalone Atmosphere stores as part of a national restructuring plan.

• 🚡$18.67 Lift Tickets At Norquay For One Day Only. To celebrate its 99-year Canadian roots, Mt. Norquay is offering $18.67 lift tickets on April 2—less than a tenth of the usual price. Wear red and white, channel your inner maple leaf, and ski your patriotic heart out. Tickets must be pre-purchased online.

• 💨Avalanche Warning In Effect Through Monday. A Special Public Avalanche Warning remains in place for Banff, Yoho, Kootenay, Jasper, and Kananaskis. Storm snow over weak layers has triggered massive slides—even in trees. Stay out of steep terrain, and don’t assume tracked slopes are safe.

• 🐻Banff’s Biggest Bear Gets The Spotlight. Pubity just featured The Boss, Banff’s most notorious grizzly, to its 17.3M TikTok followers. Known for his size, dominance, and survival instincts (including surviving being hit by a train), he’s now catching global attention–again. Just don’t ask him for a selfie.

• 🚧Tunnel Bench Trails Closed For Wildfire Work in Banff. Several trails around The Toe and Tunnel Bench—including “Teddy Bear’s Picnic,” a popular section of the loop—are closed until May 25 for wildfire risk reduction. Parks crews are thinning, burning, and hauling logs. Entering the area could cost you up to $25,000.

BANFF’S HOUSING CRUNCH GETS A CREATIVE FIX

What’s Happening? Banff is planning a new development at 50 Wolf Street that will combine affordable housing with public spaces like a community kitchen, dining hall, and lounge—marking the first project of its kind in town.

More Than Just Housing. The site won’t just offer places to live. It’ll also house key community services—like the Family Resource Network playroom and programs from the Whyte Museum building—freeing up space ahead of future redevelopment plans.

Addressing the Housing Crunch. With Banff still short 700–1,000 homes, this project aims to offer below-market rental units (i.e., housing priced lower than typical rent in town) and possibly homes for purchase in the future.

Design Still in Progress. The Town is hiring a builder and architect to shape the final plans. The location, which includes a proposed public washroom near the canoe docks, will need to blend into the surrounding parkland and pedestrian corridors.

THINGS TO DO

Monday

• Business Networking Event. Bevvies & Business is a networking event for those who are looking to become a member of the Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce. 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM. CanMore Together. $20 / $10 for members.

• Run Group. Lace-up and meet up with other runners at Lululemon on Banff Ave for the Monday night run club. 6:00 PM. lululemon, banff. Free. 

• Food Rescue. Bring a bag and help keep good food from becoming waste. 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Lower level, Sundance Mall. Free. 

Tuesday

• Zero Waste Workshop. Multifamily property and staff accommodation managers are invited to a virtual workshop to learn practical tools for reducing waste, reusing materials, and improving recycling efforts at your property. Sign up by emailing [email protected]. 10:00 AM. Online. Free.

• Writing Group. Join the writers of the roundtable, aka The Canmore Writing Group, for dedicated writing time. 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Malcolm Hotel, Second Floor. Free. 

• Swim for a Toonie. Public Swim includes access to the leisure pool, lazy river, and space in the lap pool for foam toys. 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Elevation Place. $2. 

• Adventure Film Tour. Adventure for most of us is stepping outside our comfort zone and climbing our own personal Everest. These films showcase real stories about women from a variety of cultures and sports around the world. 7:00 PM. artsPlace. $25 / members $21.25.

• Banff Bison Talk. The Bow Valley Naturalists are hosting a free talk on Banff’s reintroduced bison. PhD student Jonathan Farr will unpack how bison, elk, and bighorn sheep share food and space in our changing mountain ecosystem. 7:30 PM. Robb Whyte Building. Free. 

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🚌The Easy Way to Lake Louise—Without Driving. Check out our tips about getting to Lake Louise without a car, which include lesser-known, wallet-friendly routes locals actually use.

• 🚧Banff Road Closures This Week. Caribou Street will be closed today and Wednesday between Lynx and Bow Ave for tree removal.

• 🧘🏻‍♀️Emerald Lake Wilderness Yoga Retreat. Join Sarah Harvie, a renowned holistic wellness instructor, at the Emerald Lake for a transformative 3-night getaway designed to nurture your mind, body, and soul.

• 📚One Week Until Clocktower Club. Banff Public Library is thrilled to host a community Blood on the Clocktower night, featuring Mark Walker. The library will transform into a haven for cunning, investigation, and duplicitous fiends. All skill levels are welcome.

• 💽New Single from The Doggone Brothers. The first single from local band, The Doggone Brothers, is now streaming on Spotify. Join the band for their album release concert on April 4th at artsPlace.

• 👨🏻‍⚕️Need a Family Doctor? Mountain Maternity is accepting new patients. Head over to their website to book a Meet & Greet appointment with an accepting physician. 

• ⌛Banff History. Check out this reel shared by Fairmount Banff Springs of Banff National Park in 1958! 

• ▶️Earth Talk Replay. Did you miss last Monday’s Earth Talk? Adam Linnar’s presentation explored the environmental justice framework and its relevance to affordability and conservation in the Bow Valley. Here is the replay.

• 👩🏻‍🦰👩🏻YWCA Women’s Circle. Join facilitator Amelie for Macrame Night, where you’ll learn essential macrame knots and techniques to craft a stylish and functional water bottle holder.

• 👟Running Shoe Demo. Strides Canmore has Hoka brand running shoes available for folks to try out all week in-store.

CIVIC NEWS

• Banff’s Municipal Enforcement Vehicles Now Have In-Car Video Systems. Two of three vehicles were equipped in Nov 2024 to boost officer safety, enhance transparency, and aid prosecutions. Footage has already helped resolve traffic infractions by clearly showing violations. 

• Proposed Dog Park Decision. Tune into Banff’s Regular Council Meeting today at 2:00 PM, which includes a decision on the proposed dog park at Marmot Crescent. Attend in-person at Banff Council Chambers or livestream here.

LIVE MUSIC

• Monday, March 24th, 2025,  10:00 PM: Brent Lee. Location: Rose and Crown Banff. No Cover. 

• Tuesday, March 25th, 2025,  10:00 PM:Andy Loops. Location: Rose and Crown Banff. No Cover.

SPORTS

• Canmore Eagles Bounce Back, Tie Series 1-1. After a rough 11-2 loss Friday, the Canmore Eagles soared back with a 5-2 win over Drumheller Saturday night. Owen Jones scored twice, and goalie Alex Scheiwiller locked in 32 saves. The series shifts to Drumheller midweek, with Game 5 back in Canmore on March 28.

That’s all, folks!

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