🏠 Canmore Just Emptied The Fund

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Apparently, Canmore is a “hidden gem.” Who knew? VRBO recently named Canmore one of its "exciting hidden gems," alongside the equally elusive city of Winnipeg. We're not sure how hidden either destination really is, but Canmore can add another travel ranking to its ever-growing collection.

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

CANMORE DRAINS $3.66M HOUSING RESERVE TO HELP BUILD 144 RENTALS

What’s Happening? Canmore council has unanimously voted to empty its $3.66 million housing reserve to help build 144 new rental homes at Palliser Lane. It's a big investment in a town where 250 local households are waiting for affordable rentals, but it also leaves the reserve empty for future housing projects.

144 New Homes Are On The Way. Located on Palliser Lane below Silvertip, just north of the Trans-Canada Highway, the $76.7 million development will more than double Canmore Community Housing’s (CCH) below-market rental units.

The project includes one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with 29 accessible units. Construction is already more than 40% complete, and the first residents are expected to move in during summer 2027.

And the demand is clear. The average wait for a CCH rental is more than 400 days, while 82 households have been waiting more than two years.

So Why Spend It All? The money will help CCH qualify for provincial and federal grants, although that funding isn't guaranteed. If approved, the grants could reduce how much CCH needs to borrow, helping keep rents lower for future tenants.

CCH hopes to offer rents at least 10% below market rates, although exact prices haven't been decided yet.

But There's A Catch. There's no firm plan to refill the housing reserve, leaving less money set aside for future projects. Some councillors expressed concerns about emptying it but ultimately supported the investment.

Mayor Sean Krausert put it simply: "Money sitting in reserves doesn't do anything to house people."

And there's another financial challenge. Canmore's Livability Tax, which helps fund housing and affordability projects through a separate reserve, is also expected to bring in nearly $1 million less than its already reduced budget.

What's Next? Town staff will discuss ways to refill the housing reserve during November budget talks. Other Town funds could still be used for future housing projects, but nothing has been decided.

For anyone hoping to get into one of the new rentals, CCH recommends joining the waitlist now rather than waiting until the buildings open. To qualify, households must earn less than $88,492 to $160,894 annually, depending on the size of the unit they're applying for. Applicants must also meet local employment or residency requirements and cannot own residential property anywhere in the world.

Read our full story

WANT TO EARN $129 A DAY DRIVING A SCHOOL BUS? CANADIAN ROCKIES PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS HIRING.

What's Happening? Canadian Rockies Public Schools (CRPS) is hiring school bus drivers in the Bow Valley, with routes starting at $129 per day for approximately four hours of work. On-call drivers can earn up to $140 per day. And here's the good news: you don't need previous bus-driving experience to apply.

How Does It Work? Drivers work split shifts, taking students to school in the morning and bringing them home in the afternoon, leaving the middle of the day free. The positions include benefits, with training provided locally in Canmore.

Want To Earn More? CRPS also offers additional driving opportunities, including school field trips paying $28 per hour and charter trips paying $37 per hour. Charter work can include weddings, group outings and special events, with opportunities available on weekends and during summer.

Who Can Apply? Whether you're semi-retired, self-employed, a parent or simply looking for additional income, CRPS welcomes applicants with a valid Alberta Class 5 non-GDL driver's licence and a clean driving record.

Interested? CRPS is currently hiring for two positions: 

• Permanent school bus drivers: View job details or apply here 

• On-call spare drivers: View job details or apply here 

_{*Presented by Canadian Rockies Public Schools.}

THE DIGEST

• 💰 Canmore Cave Fundraiser Raises $14,300 For Veterans’ Mental Health. What do crawling through tight underground passages and mental health have in common? More than you might think. On Oct. 25, veterans, military members and community participants headed into Rat’s Nest Cave for the sixth annual Into the Summit fundraiser. Our journalist Keith Fernandes joined the group underground, squeezing through narrow passages, navigating obstacles and experiencing firsthand how teamwork and facing fears connect to the event's mental health mission. The fundraiser raised roughly $14,300 to support veterans and their families. Read Keith's firsthand account.

• 🔥 Tree Clearing And Burning Continue Around Banff This Winter. If you notice smoke or hear chainsaws around Tunnel Mountain, Middle Springs or the Spray Valley in the coming months, it could be Parks Canada's wildfire prevention work. Crews are removing trees, thinning forests and burning leftover debris near Tunnel Mountain, the base of Sulphur Mountain, Valleyview, Cave and Basin and the Spray River Loop. The goal is to reduce wildfire risk near homes and other facilities. Some trails may temporarily close while crews are working, so watch for posted restrictions.

• 💧 Canmore's $26M Water Plant Can Now Treat Nearly Twice As Much Water. Roughly 60% of Canmore's drinking water passes through a treatment plant near the Nordic Centre, and it just got a major upgrade. The new facility, which opened in October, can treat 170 litres per second, nearly double the old plant's capacity. It also features improved filtration, backup systems, and safer chlorine technology. The upgrades give Canmore more room to grow, and there's some good news for taxpayers: the project is currently under its $26-million budget, with final costs still being calculated.

• 🏛️ Canmore Courthouse Is Getting Security Upgrades. Alberta is spending more than $6 million to improve security at 10 courthouses across the province, including Canmore and Cochrane. Planned upgrades include better building access controls, security technology, emergency systems and areas where prisoners are moved through the building. The improvements follow a 2023 study identifying safety concerns. Some projects are still being designed, with work expected to wrap up in 2027.

What Happens After Someone Sees Your Ad?

Do they:

A) Click
B) Buy
C) Forget you existed 3 seconds later

Most businesses don’t know.

We do.

We track leads and actual customers.

Because “awareness” doesn’t pay the bills.

➡️ Let’s make your marketing measurable

BANFF CALLS FOR ACTION ON RAILWAY LANDS PLAN AMID GROWING PARKING PRESSURES

What’s Happening? Banff wants to make it easier for visitors to park and get around town, but plans for more parking and a transportation hub near the historic train station remain under federal review. More than two years after council approved the plan, Mayor Corrie DiManno is calling for progress as parking demand grows and potential impacts on nearby wildlife habitat are assessed.

Parking Is Already Tight. Finding a free parking spot at the Banff train station, just outside downtown on Railway Avenue, can be challenging on busy days. This summer, the lot was filling up by around 11 AM, an hour earlier than in 2025.

During peak periods, town staff estimated another 190 to 400 spaces were needed to meet demand for free parking.

Some visitors also park in Banff before catching shuttles to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, adding to demand.

What's Being Proposed? The idea is to make it easier for visitors to park once and explore Banff without their cars.

The plan includes more parking near the train station, better walking and cycling connections, and a larger transportation hub where visitors could connect with public transit. Additional parking is also being considered near the Fenlands Recreation Centre.

What About The Environment? Parks Canada is reviewing how the proposed development could affect nearby wildlife habitat, particularly the Fenland-Indian Ground Wildlife Corridor, which helps animals move through the area.

The town submitted its environmental assessment in mid-2026, but the review isn't finished. A 60-day public consultation and a final federal decision are still required, with no consultation start date confirmed.

Even if the plan is approved, individual projects would need separate permits before construction could begin.

The Bigger Picture. DiManno says Banff also needs a longer-term strategy for moving people around the national park, rather than relying on individual parking and transit projects.

"We need an answer," she said during the Oct. 27 committee meeting.

For now, the redevelopment remains under review as Banff looks to address parking demand while protecting the national park's environment.

Read our full story

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Olympic Climber Alannah Yip Takes The Stage In Banff. What does it take to go from winning your first national climbing championship at age 12 to competing at the Olympics? Find out as Alannah Yip, Canada's only female sport climber at the Tokyo Olympics, shares stories from her competitive career and journey to the world's biggest sporting stage. Part of the popular Dirtbag Café speaker series. Wednesday, Nov. 4, at CLVB '33, Banff Centre, 7:30-9 PM. $20.

Thursday

• Last Chance: Taste For Adventure Food Festival Ends. This Thursday, enjoy special menus at 28 participating restaurants. Try The Fat Ox's $44 three-course dinner with beef short rib or gnocchi, Juniper Bistro's $60 tasting menu featuring bison or butternut squash steak, or The Prow's $50 three-course menu featuring duck, Arctic char and elk short rib. Prices vary.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🎟️ Tickets Are Now Available For Banff's Christmas Light Experience. In Search of Christmas Spirit returns Nov. 12, transforming the Cascades of Time Garden into an illuminated outdoor trail featuring glowing wolves, bears, moose, and other wildlife. The 45-minute experience uses lights, sound, and storytelling to bring a Christmas tale to life. Admission is free, but tickets are required for everyone over age two, and the event sells out each year.

• 📣 Looking For A Long-Term Career In The Bow Valley? Carignan Mechanical is hiring certified plumbers and gasfitters, with opportunities to develop skills, mentor apprentices and move up within the company. It’s one of the best local workplaces to consider if you want to build a career here. Benefits include company-paid training, an accommodating schedule, extended health and dental coverage, and a company van and gas card. Pay starts at $42/hour plus 9.6% stat and vacation pay. Red Seal certification and three-plus years of relevant experience are required. Apply here.*

• 🌊 Banff Upper Hot Springs Is Back Open. The Banff Upper Hot Springs has reopened following its annual fall maintenance closure, which began Oct. 13. Parks Canada completed repairs, equipment servicing and facility improvements during the shutdown. As we previously reported, the closure came just months after the hot springs reopened in March following a lengthy rehabilitation project. Now, visitors can once again enjoy the warm mineral waters and mountain views.

• 🚧 High Rockies Trail Bridge Closed After Heavy Rain. If you're heading out on the High Rockies Trail in Spray Valley Provincial Park, be aware that the Spencer Creek Bridge is closed until further notice. Heavy rain damaged the bridge approaches, washing away sections of the ramps and making them unsafe to use. Alberta Parks has created a temporary bypass trail marked with flags. Follow those markers rather than attempting to cross the bridge, and be prepared for a short creek crossing depending on water conditions.

• 🎤 Bow Valley Chorus Is Hosting A Free Christmas Concert. Mark your calendars for Dec. 13, when the local choir takes the stage at Our Lady of the Rockies Shrine Church in Canmore for the first time. The concert will feature Christmas favourites like O Holy Night and Mary, Did You Know?, carols by John Rutter and an audience singalong of O Come, All Ye Faithful. All 400 seats are free, and everyone is welcome. Donations are appreciated to help cover concert costs.*

• 🚧 Seasonal Avalanche Closures Begin In Banff, Yoho And Kootenay. If you're heading into the backcountry this winter, keep an eye out for temporary closures during avalanche control operations. From Nov. 1 to May 30, Parks Canada may close designated areas along the Icefields Parkway, Sunshine Village access road and parts of Yoho and Kootenay national parks while crews deliberately trigger avalanches to protect highways and railways. Closures typically last 24–36 hours and are announced the day before. Entering a closed area could result in fines up to $25,000. Check closure zones and maps here.

• 📍 The Drake Is Changing Its Name. Again. After 30 years as The Drake, Canmore's longtime bar became The Drake Screaming Retriever. Now it's going back to its original name. The reason? According to the owners, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) regulations require separate brand identities for bars and breweries. The Drake says nothing else is changing, including the staff, food and atmosphere. As the bar put it, “Bureaucracy wins this round.”

CIVIC NEWS

• Dead Man’s Flats Road Closure Will Last Three Weeks. If 2nd Avenue is part of your regular route, you'll need to take a detour. Both lanes near the Summit Development site will be closed for construction, with work expected to wrap up Nov. 22. That's three weeks of taking the long way around, so plan accordingly if you're heading through the area.

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, November 4th, 10:00 PM: Open Mic Night. Location: Tommy's Neighbourhood Pub, Banff. No Cover.

• Thursday, November 5th, 8:30 PM: Acoustic Arn & DJ Palf. Location: High Rollers, Banff. No Cover.

SPORTS

• Canmore Bodybuilder Comes Out Of Retirement And Strikes Gold. Fiona Groves is making quite the comeback. After retiring in 2022, the 47-year-old returned to bodybuilding and earned one gold and two silver medals at the WNBF Calgary Nationals on Oct. 24. Now, she's preparing to wrap up her 15-year bodybuilding career at the World Championships in Calgary on Nov. 21, with one final competition close to home.

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.