🔥 Canmore Prepares For Fire

Good morning, Bow Valley!

We snagged some last-minute media credentials for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s final day in Banff, so that’s where some of us are this morning. We’re going to try to sneak in a few locally relevant questions, but we’re not expecting much more than the free coffee they promised us. Expect more motorcades rolling from Banff toward Calgary later today.

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

CANMORE HAS A NEW PLAN TO PREPARE FOR WILDFIRE

What's Happening? Canmore has updated the strategy that will guide its wildfire preparation for the next five years. While it covers everything from thinning forests to preparing firefighters, there's a growing focus on something the Town can't do itself: reducing wildfire risks around private homes.

Why The Focus On Homes? Wind-driven embers can travel up to two kilometres ahead of a wildfire and ignite leaves in gutters, firewood, bark mulch, juniper or other combustible materials around a property.

“Wildfire is the town’s top-rated hazard,” Canmore’s regional FireSmart co-ordinator Simon Bagshaw said.

The previous 2018 strategy included a map dividing areas into low, moderate, high and extreme wildfire risk. The new strategy leaves that map out because officials worried people in lower-risk areas could assume they didn't need to prepare their homes. 

“We don’t want residents to look at the map and think, ‘My house is in a low area, therefore I don’t actually need to do anything,’” he said.

More Residents Are Getting Involved. Before 2023, Canmore Fire-Rescue averaged about 10 free FireSmart home assessments annually, where staff inspect properties and recommend ways to reduce wildfire risk. That jumped to 74 in 2024 and 132 in 2025.

Canmore also has 17 volunteer neighbourhood “champions” who organize wildfire-prevention work with neighbours. A new free bin program for disposing of combustible yard waste was fully booked this year.

What About The Forest? More than 230 hectares of fuel-reduction work has been completed within Canmore since 2010. Separately, the provincial Bow Valley Community Fireguard has cleared or thinned more than 1,200 hectares around the community.

But fireguards can't stop embers from travelling ahead of a fire, which is why the Town says work around individual homes still matters.

Could Some Of This Eventually Become Mandatory? Unlike Banff, Canmore doesn't currently require existing homeowners to remove certain wildfire hazards. A 2025 review identified 25 ways the Town could strengthen its rules, which will be considered alongside a rewrite of development regulations expected by 2028. For now, the approach remains largely voluntary, relying on education, free home assessments and neighbourhood programs. 

Read our full story

DON’T WAIT UNTIL OCTOBER TO PLAN YOUR PRIDE.

Banff Pride doesn’t kick off until October 2, but there’s a pretty good reason to figure out your plans now: early bird pricing ends Monday, September 14.

And with 11 days of events, you’ve got some decisions to make.

There’s Drag Brunch, Pride Bingo, Banff Punk Night, Big Gay Burlesque, late-night parties, the Pride Market and plenty more happening across town.

Then there’s everything happening outside the festival.

Early October is one of the best times to be in Banff. The larches are turning gold, the summer crowds have thinned out, and there are still plenty of afternoons worth spending outside.

In other words, hike by day. Pride by night. Not a bad October.

The festival runs October 2 to 12, but September 14 is the date to remember if you’d rather pay early bird prices.

🏳️‍🌈 Check out the full schedule and start planning

_{*Presented by Banff Pride.}

THE DIGEST

• 🚲 Dead Man’s Flats Is Getting a New Bike Park. Plans have been approved for a “gravity-fed bike park” beside the community’s outdoor rink, with different routes ranging from young kids on balance bikes to more experienced riders. Instead of a traditional pump track, riders will start higher up and coast through jumps, rollers and other features. The 924-square-metre project has been years in the making and will require roughly 100 dump-truck loads of material to build. One catch: a permanent vehicle entrance and parking lot won’t necessarily be built at the same time. Map of location here.

• 🏌 Exshaw Is Getting a New Disc Golf Course. And part of the funding comes from an unlikely source: The Last of Us. The new course will be built at the Exshaw Recreation Grounds, with the MD contributing $1,655 from a $5,000 fund created following filming of the HBO series in the community. The Exshaw Community Association is also contributing money and has secured discounted baskets and donated garbage and recycling bins. The number of holes, layout and opening date haven’t been announced yet. Map of location here.

• 🌳 Cochrane’s 300-Year-Old Grandfather Tree Has a New Memorial. If you’ve never visited the Grandfather Tree, there’s a new reason to go. The roughly 300-year-old white spruce stood along Big Hill Creek in Cochrane Ranche until a windstorm knocked it down in January 2025. Now, some of its preserved wood has been incorporated into a commemorative bench at the original site, overlooking what remains of the tree and its root system. There’s also a new sign telling its story. It’s a neat little stop next time you’re heading through Cochrane. Here’s the trail. 

• 🗺️ The Best One-Day Icefields Parkway Itinerary. One of the most common questions we get about the Icefields Parkway, even from locals, is how to experience it if you only have one day and don’t feel like driving all the way to Jasper. We recently tested a single-day itinerary ourselves that keeps the drive manageable while still giving you the classic Parkway experience: lakes, glaciers, peaks, canyons, and a few genuinely worthwhile stops. So if you want a simple game plan from Banff or Canmore, here’s our guide.

You Probably Should’ve Reached Out Already

Not trying to be dramatic… but most of our partners book months in advance.

Sept? Gone.
Oct? Only 3 spots remaining
Nov? Filling fast

We only have so much space each month.

So if your competitor gets here first…

➡️ Fill out the form before they do

BANFF LEGION SAYS GONDOLA SHUTTLE STOP IS COSTING IT $2,000 TO $3,000 A MONTH

What's Happening? The Banff Legion says a trial gondola shuttle stop directly outside its Banff Avenue location, just before the Bow River Bridge, is costing the branch $2,000 to $3,000 a month in lost revenue. The Legion wants the stop moved and has asked the Town to consider compensation.

What's The Problem? Since May 15, the curb outside the Legion has been used as a stop for a free, privately operated Banff Gondola shuttle, part of the Town's broader effort to reduce vehicle traffic heading toward Sulphur Mountain.

The Legion says its front patio business has "virtually dropped to zero" because of buses unloading, diesel exhaust and passengers waiting outside. It also reports increased washroom use, conflicts with waiting passengers and interference with access to its Veterans Monument.

But The Shuttle Is Working. Town communications director Jason Darrah told Bow Valley Insider the free shuttle has been "a major success" and is one of the main contributors to reducing congestion on Mountain Avenue.

Pursuit, the company that owns and operates the Banff Gondola, says it takes the Legion's concerns seriously and is working with both the branch and the Town. 

The Legion Says It Wasn't Consulted. In a Sept. 1 letter, Legion President T. Newt McMillan and Past President Bryan Gerrie said the stop was introduced without consulting the branch's executive. They also said they were told its impact would be monitored but nobody had followed up with them.

So, What Happens Now? The trial runs until Oct. 12, when the gondola shuttle stops operating for the season.

The Town's broader review of summer traffic and parking, expected in late October or November, will also examine the shuttle stop.

Whether it returns to the same location next year, gets moved elsewhere or results in compensation for the Legion remains undecided.

Read our full story

THINGS TO DO

Friday

• Fat Ox Long Table Dinner. If you’re still figuring out Friday night, Fat Ox has a few spots left for its outdoor dinner inspired by Northern Italy’s Festival delle Sagre. Expect long communal tables, live music, a welcome cocktail and five courses including beef tartare, roasted carrot risotto, Alberta short rib and chocolate bonet. Basically, settle in for the evening. 7 PM. Fat Ox, Banff. $119.*

• Canmore’s Giant Clothing Swap Starts. Swap-O-Rama is taking over the Canmore Public Library with free clothing, shoes and accessories. You don’t need to donate anything to take something home, and you can still drop off gently used items during the weekend. Friday, 4 PM - 7:30 PM. Canmore Public Library. Free. Can’t make Friday? The swap continues Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday

• A Free Day of Horses, Yoga and More. Life on the Land returns to Star 6 Ranch with a pretty awesome lineup of free activities, including yoga, cold plunges, Indigenous storytelling, traditional Ĩyethka crafts, equine experiences and donkey walks. There’ll also be live music and food trucks, and you can drop in for one activity or make a full day of it. Some limited-capacity activities require advance registration and are filling up. Check full schedule. 10 AM - 6 PM. 81130 Ranch Rd E, Exshaw. Free.*

• Rose & Crown’s 41st Birthday Party. Banff’s OG mountain pub is celebrating 41 years with 41% off appetizers from 2-5 PM, plus a rooftop BBQ serving $6 hot dogs and $8 cheeseburgers from 6-8 PM. There’s also a $19.85 throwback menu before DJ Styler Nazo and JG & The District take over the night. 12 PM - 2 AM. Rose & Crown, Banff. No cover.*

Sunday

• NFL RedZone Sundays. Trade the couch for the pub and catch RedZone with sound, plus multiple games playing across the TVs. They’re serving $15 fried chicken alongside drink specials and weekly giveaways. 11 AM. Rose & Crown, Banff. No cover.*

• Yin Yoga and Sound at The Yoga Lounge. Wind down Sunday with an hour of slow, gentle yoga followed by the sounds of crystal singing bowls. The class focuses on holding simple stretches for longer periods, relaxing and releasing tension, so you don’t need to know your way around a yoga studio to join. 7 PM - 8 PM. The Yoga Lounge, Canmore. Drop-in fees apply.

SUMMER CAMP, EXCEPT YOU’RE AN ADULT NOW.

If Camp Chief Hector was part of your childhood, here’s an excuse to go back.

On September 26, Camp Chief Hector YMCA is hosting Homecoming, a full-day event where former campers, staff and their families can return to camp and do a surprising amount of the stuff that made it fun in the first place.

There’ll be camp activities, tours, lawn games, a fireside chat, lunch and dinner at Hector Lodge, followed by an evening Coffee House with music, stories and a cash bar.

And if one day isn’t enough, you can actually sleep at camp again.

For an additional $25 per person, guests can spend Saturday night in one of Hector Lodge’s wood-stove-heated yurts, complete with bunk beds, and wake up to breakfast the next morning.

Bring the old camp crew. Bring your family. Or finally show your partner the place behind all those stories.

Homecoming runs from 10 AM to late on September 26, with registration available by donation in support of Camp Chief Hector YMCA.

More details and to register

_{*Presented YMCA Camp Chief Hector.}

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🥩 Thanksgiving Pre-Orders Are Open at Valbella. If you’re hosting this year, Valbella can take a pretty big chunk of the prep off your plate. Their Thanksgiving lineup includes fresh free-range whole turkeys, stuffed turkey breasts, spiral and bone-in hams, brioche or gluten-free stuffing, turkey gravy and port-wine cranberry sauce. You can even finish things off with bourbon pumpkin, apple or maple pecan pie. Bow Valley orders close Oct. 5 and will be delivered Oct. 9. Order here.*

• 💼 Banff’s Biggest Job Fair Is Next Week. If you’re looking for winter work, this is probably the room to be in. More than 20 major Bow Valley employers are coming together Tuesday, including Sunshine Village, Lake Louise Ski Resort, Mount Norquay, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Parks Canada, Roam Transit, Banff Centre and more. You can meet employers directly and learn what they’re hiring for. The fair runs Sept. 15 at the Moose Hotel in Banff.

• 🚧 Cloudline and Part of Highline Close Sept. 13. This one hurts a little around the BVI office. A few of us regularly run Highline after work. Construction on the Bow Valley Community Fire Guard is closing Cloudline, part of Highline and the surrounding area until further notice. The East Connector remains open, along with Highline west from that junction. Check the closure map. 

• 🙋 ReUse Bow Valley Is Looking for a Volunteer With Building Experience. If you know your way around construction, renovations or building materials, ReUse Bow Valley could use your help. They’re looking for someone who can identify materials worth saving and help connect them with people or projects that can reuse them instead of sending them to the landfill. The role could be a particularly good fit for someone retired from the trades. Interested? Email [email protected].*

• 🐻 Bear Warning Issued for Entire Jasper Townsite. Travelling to Jasper this weekend? Here’s a heads up. Black bears have been regularly coming into town in search of fruit trees, prompting Parks Canada to issue a warning for the entire townsite.The usual bear-safety advice applies: stay alert, make noise, keep dogs leashed and give bears plenty of space.

CIVIC NEWS

• Neighbours Challenge Large Accessory Home Along Cougar Creek. The Town approved a new accessory home that would be larger than normally allowed and sit 15 metres from Cougar Creek instead of the required 20. Two neighbours appealed, citing its size, location and impacts on views. The owners say it’s being built for a 77-year-old parent and designed for accessibility as he ages. Canmore’s appeal board is expected to issue a decision within 15 days. 

LIVE MUSIC

• Friday, September 11th, 2026, 6:00 PM: DJ Tenax.  Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

• Friday, September 11th, 2026, 10:00 PM: Red Mile High.  Location: The Drake Pub, Canmore. No Cover.

SPORTS

• Jasper Swimmer Completes the Entire Length of Maligne Lake. Kat Scheuermann has become the first recorded person to swim all 22 kilometres of Maligne Lake. The 27-year-old spent six hours and 53 minutes in water around 4 C, stopping twice on shore to warm up, including one 90-minute break. Friends followed in canoes and kayaks with food, hot drinks and hot-water bottles before a growing crowd welcomed her into Home Bay. Her verdict on doing it again? “Not this year, for sure.”

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Monday, 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.