🏆 Canmore Olympian Injured

Good morning, Bow Valley!

And just like that, we’re at the end of July.  If we get some clear skies tonight, you should be able to see the Northern Lights.  Don’t forget to look up!

In today’s Bow Valley Insider:

• An update on Jasper evacuees in Canmore & Banff

• New rules for e-bikes

• What’s going on with Bow Valley athletes at the Olympics 

Let’s get to it!

— Fortune Whelan, Shireen Ahmed, Lauren H., & Ben S.

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UPDATES FOR JASPER EVACUEES IN BANFF & CANMORE

What’s happening: Many Jasper residents headed to the Bow Valley after they were ordered to evacuate following the wildfires. The community has come together; as a Canmore resident put it, ‘this is our sister mountain town.’ Several resources are available to help the evacuees.

How you can donate: A donation centre in Canmore is open 9am-6pm daily. Address is 100B 56 Lincoln Park.

They are looking for things like:

• Gas and grocery gift cards

• Clothing like rain/puffer jackets, fleeces, hiking boots, runners, sandals, etc. 

• Hiking packs, batteries & headlamps.

• Youth clothing and footwear (roughly ages 8-14)

Resources for Jasper evacuees: Help for Jasper is a one-stop shop for evacuees to find out where to get help with health, accommodation, food, clothing, pets, and things to do. Float Canmore is giving out free floats, Flow State Banff is offering free yoga classes,  and discounted meals are available at Alberta restaurants, including Banff Ave Brewing. 

Remember to sign up for alerts here: 

• Banff Updates

• Canmore Updates 

• MD Bighorn, Lake Louise, Field

THE DIGEST

• 🖤RCMP are investigating the sudden death of a woman found at Barrier Lake earlier this month.

• 🏅Kelly VanderBeek, a former Olympian from Canmore, returns as an on-air talent for her eighth Olympic Games, covering women's 3X3 basketball, skateboarding, and breaking (aka break dancing).

• 🎞️The Thicket is a movie hitting theaters in early September. While set in Texas, it was filmed all over Alberta, including Kananaskis.  Check out the trailer on YouTube.

• 🐻Every week, we are reminded we’re in bear country. This week is no different as there are several Bear Closures for King Creek Day Use Area and King Creek Ridge in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and Rummel Lake in Spray Lakes Provincial Parks. Hikers who encountered bears in both areas deployed their bear spray. 

• 🔥A small wildfire near Goat Pond in Kananaskis Country was extinguished on July 30. The 0.01-hectare fire, caused by an unauthorized campfire during a fire ban, was quickly controlled and put out by Alberta Wildfire crews.

• 📷Banff-based travel author, Meghan J Ward, reflects on Jasper with beautiful photography by Paul Zizka in this personal piece where Ward admits for all her “awe of the mountain landscape, far too often [..] taken it for granted.”

• 🚧Canmore will see temporary closures at two railway crossings from August 27-29 for track replacements by CPKC Rail. The affected areas include Railway Avenue North and 17th Street, and the 10th Street pedestrian crossing. The Town will cover the $520,000 cost. These repairs are part of ongoing maintenance needs.

E-BIKES WELCOME WHEREVER CYCLING IS ALLOWED

What’s happening: Class 1 e-bikes are now allowed on all designated pathways, trails, and roads within parks where cycling is permitted, including the Canmore Nordic Centre. This includes riding your own or rented. 

Background: A two-year e-bike pilot project tested pedal-assisted electric bikes (class 1) on some trails/pathways in Kananaskis between 2019 and 2021. The project was to assess the safety of e-bikes on cycling routes and get feedback from users. Following the feedback results, pedal-assist e-bikes have continued to be permitted on all designated pathways and trails where cycling is permitted.

What counts as a class 1 e-bike? Non-throttled electric powered bicycles that provide up to 500 Watts of continuous max output. Electronic assist must stop when either pedaling stops or at 32 km an hour. This does not include e-scooters or skateboards.

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Child development session for ages 0-6: Toys Together is a free drop in session to help kids socialize with others, 9am-11:30am at the Family Connection Centre, Canmore. 

• Free dart boards available! Canmore Brewing has three boards you can play darts on from 1pm to close.

• Early happy hour alert! Head to Canmore’s Bridgette Bar for half-price beverages and pizzas between 2pm and 5pm. 

• Paint your beer glass (and then drink from it): Canmore Brewing has chosen Canmore Young Adult Network as part of their Give Back Tap and is launching with a Beer Glass Painting night from 7pm. Tickets are $30 which includes a glass, beer and painting supplies. 

• Free yourself, express yourself, and enjoy yourself at Ecstatic Dance with DJ Lethargica: 7:30pm-9:30pm at The Yoga Lounge, Canmore. Take two hours out of your day to dance in silence and without technology as a form of meditation, harmony, and being yourself in a safe, nonjudgmental place. 

Thursday

• Attend a community gathering for Jasper and Jasper evacuees: A free drop-in session for reflection and meditation will be held at Ralph Connor Memorial United Church from 12 PM to 7 PM. At 7 PM, there will be a communal gathering with music, poems, meditation, and prayers.

• Happy hour alert! Get discounted fondue and cocktails at Bluebird Wood-fired Steakhouse & Patio between 4pm and 5pm daily. 

• Join others for yoga, socializing and painting rocks with acrylics! The Gathering Circle is a place for connection, support and fun. This group is free at Cascade Ponds between 6pm and 8pm but registration is required. 

• Play Women’s Indoor Soccer: 6pm-8pm at The Fenlands in Banff as a free soccer drop-in session for residents. Equipment is provided.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🥇The libraries in Banff and Canmore have both won the Minister’s Awards for Municipal and Public Library Excellence. Canmore received the award in 2023 for their clothing Swap-o-Rama, and Banff was honored in 2022 for its Library of Things. The Government of Alberta presents these awards to recognize excellence and share innovative ideas across the province.

• ✍️Today is the last day to complete the 2024 Bow Valley Integration Survey, which aims to understand whether newcomers feel welcomed and belonged. Bow Valley Immigration Partnership wants to hear from all residents, including immigrant and francophone communities. Complete the survey here.  

• 🏷️You can get 15% off at Nesters Market in Banff for today only after the local discount was moved to the last Wednesday of every month. 

• 📣Calling volunteers for Canmore Folk Fest! The Biosphere is looking for volunteers to help with the festival’s waste diversion initiative, safety, artist transportation, and help with family activities. You’ll get a free full weekend pass too!

• 🥤Have a drink to help the Bow Valley's animals. Grizzly Paw has introduced Nine Live Sour Ale, and all proceeds will be donated to the Bow Valley SPCA.

• 🍺Canmore Brewing Company’s Hightline Lager placed Silver in the annual Canadian Brewing Awards competitions. The competition was open to all Canadian-owned commercial brewers and beer brands whose products were produced and packaged in Canada.

• 🐕Here are 29 Dog Friendly Patios in Canmore and 25 Dog Friendly Restaurant Patios in Banff.

• 🏌️‍♀️anmore Disc Golf has courses as well as tag nights every Wednesday.

• 🏘Canmore Community Housing’s Vital Homes Program provides a range of housing appropriate for the community’s needs. Want to know more? Attend a Vital Homes Ownership Information Session, via Teams, on August 7th, September 4th and October 2nd. Email [email protected] to register.

CIVIC NEWS

• A friendly reminder from the Town of Banff that the fire ban is still in effect until officially removed. This came after a backyard campfire was reported.

• This is your last chance to have your say on the Council Ward Boundary for MD of Bighorn, as the survey closes today. The municipality's population increased by 20% between 2016 and 2021.

LIVE MUSIC

Wednesday

• Hear Steph O’Dette play: 6pm-9pm, Farm & Fire.

• Pianist Hunter Noack’s IN A LANDSCAPE: Classical Music in the Wild: 7pm-8:30pm, Shaw Amphitheatre, Banff Centre - a soundtrack to your outdoor experience!

• Open Mic Night with Rejean Chiassaon: 8pm-11pm at the Rose & Crown Canmore.

Thursday

• Another chance to hear Steph O’Dette play: 11:30am-2pm, Rundle Bar Patio.

• Listen to Danny Floyd Cole: 5pm-8pm, The Yard Poutinerie. 

• Irish Night: From 7pm, St James’ Gate Banff.

• The Doggone Brothers Band Patio Show: 7:30pm, Elevation Gallery. $25 including a free beverage. 

SPORTS

• Canmore’s Krissy Scurfield’s olympic dream came to a heartbreaking end. Scurfield went to Paris 2024 to represent Canada in women’s rugby sevens but was unable to continue to the semifinals due to an internal laceration she sustained during a match. Her teammates went on to win a silver olympic medal for Team Canada!

• Alberta Whitewater Association has sent a Public Safety Announcement, urging anyone heading to the river to avoid a recreational injury by leaving ankle straps at home while paddle boarding.

That’s all, folks!

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