🙅 Canmore Shops Close

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Some of our team went larch hunting in the Highwood this weekend, and we have two takeaways. First, it’s still a little early, although a lot can change in a week. Second, Kananaskis’ most popular larch hike is closed this year. So, where should you go instead? We’ve got the goods below.

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

STAFFING SHORTAGES ARE FORCING BOW VALLEY BUSINESSES TO CUT BACK, OR CLOSE ENTIRELY

What's Happening? A Canmore retailer says it is closing largely because it can't find enough staff, while another ended its seasonal operation early to concentrate limited staff on its core business. It’s a familiar Bow Valley problem: plenty of jobs, not always enough people to fill them. 

One Business Is Closing Entirely. Charisma Collective owner Sharon Gerrard told Bow Valley Insider staffing is the "number one reason" her Canmore women’s clothing and accessories store is closing.

For a specialized retailer, Gerrard said simply finding anyone isn't enough. Employees need some experience, plenty of energy and the ability to spend much of the day on their feet.

Housing and immigration pressures have made that harder. Gerrard said two employees left because of Canmore's rental costs and moved to Calgary, while another temporary worker had to leave after losing her work permit.

"Retail, of course, is not a high-paid job, so it's not as if we can attract people who can actually afford to live in town," she said.

And There Are Plenty Of Jobs. The Job Resource Centre recorded 1,822 Bow Valley job openings between Nov. 1, 2025 and Apr. 30, 2026, up 58% from the same period a year earlier.

Its latest report says limited accessible housing and changes to immigration levels are creating a "natural ceiling for workforce expansion." Previous data also found just 16% of Canmore job postings included staff housing in 2024.

Others Are Scaling Back. Valbella Gourmet Foods also felt the staffing squeeze this summer. President Jeff van Rotz told Bow Valley Insider the company closed its food truck earlier than planned in part so it could concentrate employees on its core deli and wholesale operations. The truck is expected back next summer.

Van Rotz stressed the company was never in a “dire situation,” but said there were times it could have used another employee or two. He credits a core group of long-term staff with helping Valbella manage the shortage.

The company also offers discounts, free hot lunches and staff accommodation, which van Rotz considers a major advantage in Canmore.

“You gotta go the extra mile for staff in the Bow Valley,” he said, pointing to housing and rental costs as major challenges for retaining workers. 

Read our full story

WHEN WAS YOUR KID’S LAST EYE EXAM?

If your answer is somewhere between “last year?” and “I genuinely have no idea,” this is your reminder.

Kids’ vision can change as they grow, and unlike adults, they don’t always realize when something isn’t quite right. If the board has always looked a little blurry or reading has always felt harder than it should, they may simply assume that’s normal.  Sometimes one eye sees well and masks the fact that the other eye doesn’t see well at all.

That’s one reason regular eye exams matter.

The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends children have their first comprehensive eye exam between 6 and 9 months, another between ages 2 and 5, and then every year from age 6 until adulthood.

And it’s about more than figuring out whether they need glasses. About 80% of learning is visual, so vision, eye coordination and overall eye health can play an important role in reading, concentration, hand-eye coordination, sports and everyday learning. An eye exam can also help identify concerns such as lazy eye or crossed eyes while a child’s vision is still developing.

With school now back in full swing, it’s a pretty good time to get that annual check off the list.

Canmore Family Eyecare is currently waiving its usual $25 additional fee for children’s eye exams through the end of September.

Book your free 15-min phone consultation to discuss your child’s eye health.

_{*Presented by Canmore Family Eyecare.}

THE DIGEST

• 🚧 Kananaskis’ Most Popular Larch Hike Is Closed This Year. Pocaterra Ridge and Cirque remain closed for trail construction, which might throw a wrench into some fall plans. Then again, remember our viral video from last year showing the absolute parking circus around Pocaterra? Nearly 2 million views later, maybe this is the year to try somewhere else. We put together eight lesser-known larch hikes around Kananaskis, from short outings to full-day adventures, that still deliver plenty of gold without defaulting to the typical favourites. Check out our guide.

• 🚗 Impaired Driver Caught Going 170+ km/h Near Canmore. Canmore RCMP say they stopped an impaired driver travelling more than 170 km/h on Highway 1 shortly before midnight Sept. 1. The vehicle was also swerving and driving without its lights on along an unlit stretch of highway. The driver’s licence was suspended, the vehicle was seized for 30 days, and tickets were issued for travelling more than 50 km/h over the 110 km/h limit. The driver also faces a mandatory court appearance.

• ✅ Nearly Every Buyer at Silvertip’s New Building Plans to Rent It Out. Silvertip’s Cadence Pond only broke ground in August and won’t be finished until 2028, but fewer than six of its 70 condos remain. Every buyer so far has opted into Silvertip’s short-term rental program, with units offering hotel-like services including cleaning, concierge and shuttles. And while we had Silvertip on the phone, we asked about that proposed gondola up Mount Lady Macdonald. The update? They’re still waiting on the province, which hasn’t yet decided whether to redesignate the land needed for the project. Read more about both updates.

• 📊 Banff Is About to Put a Number on What It Costs to Live There. For the first time, a living wage is being calculated specifically for Banff, factoring in housing, food, transportation, child care and other basic expenses. The voluntary benchmark will estimate what someone needs to earn per hour working 35 hours a week and could be used by employers seeking living-wage certification. For context, Canmore’s last calculation was $38.80/hour in 2023, but Banff gets its own number because local costs and services differ. Stay tuned; the answer comes this fall. 

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POPULAR HWY 1 ROADSIDE PULLOUT COULD BE CLOSED OVER SAFETY CONCERNS

What's Happening? One of the first roadside pullouts drivers encounter after entering the mountains from Calgary could disappear. Alberta is looking at closing the familiar Lac des Arcs stop as part of changes intended to make the westbound merge onto Highway 1 safer.

Wait, Which Pullout? It's the westbound stop overlooking Lac des Arcs, the mountains and, rather prominently, Canada's largest cement plant across the water. If you still have no idea what we're talking about, we made a slightly sarcastic video earlier this year asking why so many people stop there in the first place.

The Safety Concerns Aren't New. MD of Bighorn Reeve Lisa Rosvold said she's been pushing the province to address the area for nine years.

"I was personally tickled to see this because this is something I've been talking to the province about for 9 years," Rosvold said.

RCMP told Bow Valley Insider there were 12 reported collisions at the Lac des Arcs interchange between Jan. 1 and Sept. 12 this year. Note: that figure covers both directions of Highway 1 and the entire interchange, not specifically the pullout.

And This Goes Back Decades. A 2005 Alberta Transportation assessment described what appears to be the same roadside turnout as "substandard." It found the lanes used to slow down and accelerate back onto the highway were too short, while the narrow space between Highway 1 and the lake left little room for improvements. The province recommended removing it.

So, What Would Replace It? Closing the easternmost pullout would allow Alberta to build a proper westbound on-ramp onto Highway 1, according to plans presented to the MD. Council unanimously backed sending the province a letter supporting the proposal. 

But It's Not Closing Yet. The council vote doesn't actually close the pullout. There's no construction timeline yet, and Alberta Transportation hadn't responded to Bow Valley Insider's questions by publication.

Read our full story 

THINGS TO DO

Monday

• Bow Valley Slackliners Meet at Riverside Park. Bow Valley Slackliners are making the most of the remaining warm evenings with a casual meetup. Bring a slackline, flow toys, instruments, a hammock or just yourself to learn, practice or hang out. Everyone’s welcome, slackliner or not. 6 PM - 9 PM. Riverside Park, Canmore. Free. 

• Karaoke at The Drake. Some Mondays call for dignity. This is not one of them. The Drake’s weekly karaoke night starts at 10 PM, with a crowd that usually rewards commitment over actual talent. Pick a song, grab the mic, and see what happens. Hungry first? Their oven-baked pizzas are part of the ritual. 10 PM. The Drake Screaming Retriever. Free.*

Tuesday

• Alberta Passenger Rail Information Night. The province is hosting another virtual session covering its Passenger Rail Master Plan and potential connections over the next 30 years. With the Calgary-Banff rail conversation moving along, it’s a good chance to hear the province’s thinking firsthand. 7 PM - 8:30 PM. Online. Free. 

• Canmore Gets a Latin Night Out.  Noche Caliente returns to Canmore on Tuesday, bringing salsa, DJs, prizes and Latin party energy to The Drake. The night starts with salsa from 9-10 PM, followed by a DJ set running until 2 AM. If your Tuesday could use considerably more dancing, this is probably the move. The Drake Screaming Retriever, Canmore. $10.*

WANT TO TRY NORQUAY’S VIA FERRATA? HERE’S 20% OFF

If Mount Norquay’s Via Ferrata has been sitting on your Bow Valley bucket list, this might be the excuse you’ve been waiting for.

Starting tomorrow, Bow Valley Insider readers can save 20% on Via Ferrata adventures at Norquay, for bookings between September 15 and October 11 with code NQ-BOW-VALLEY.

Never tried a Via Ferrata? Think of it as the middle ground between hiking and rock climbing. You’ll climb ladders and metal rungs, traverse exposed rock faces and cross suspension bridges, all while clipped into a fixed safety cable and travelling with a certified guide.

And you don’t need any previous climbing experience. We tried it for the first time ourselves last month. Watch the video here. 

There are five routes to choose from, starting with the 2-2.5-hour Explorer and working up to the 6-hour Summiteer. If you want the route with Norquay’s memorable 55-metre suspension bridge, that’s the Skyline.

All routes include your guide, technical climbing equipment and the chairlift ride up the mountain.

Want to squeeze in one more mountain adventure before winter? Book here.

_{*Presented by Banff Norquay.}

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🛼 Learn to Skate at the Canmore Rec Centre. If your kid is still figuring out how to stop without using the boards, this is a good place to start. Canmore Skating Club’s fall program uses Skate Canada’s CanSkate system, which teaches the basics for hockey, figure skating, ringette or just confidently bombing around the rink. Sessions run October 5 to December 14 at the Rec Centre, Mondays and Thursdays from 4:45-5:30 PM. $155 per session, with family and multi-day discounts.*

• 🫶 Looking for More In-Person Connection? Our Lady of the Rockies is starting a seven-week series built around something pretty simple: sharing food and having real conversations with people in the community. Each Thursday starts with finger food and a short video posing a bigger question about things like fulfillment, identity and purpose, followed by small-group conversation. It’s open to people of any faith or no faith, and there’s no registration or seven-week commitment. Drop into one or come every week. Thursdays starting Sept. 17, 6 PM - 7:15 PM. Location here.*

• 💸 Save 20% on a Fall Stay at Emerald Lake Lodge. If a shoulder-season getaway has been on your radar, Emerald Lake Lodge has extended its Early Explorers offer. Book by Oct. 12 and you’ll save 20% on stays between Oct. 11 and Dec. 17. It’s worth checking a few dates, because there are some great deals midweek and even on weekends. Think fireplaces, hot tub, sauna and a much quieter Emerald Lake. Our publisher, Ben, already snagged an early-December night, so you might spot him in the sauna.*

• 🧑‍🚒 Phase 3 of Canmore’s Fireguard Starts Today. The final phase of the Bow Valley Community Fireguard begins Sept. 14, with tree removal and thinning stretching from the Rundle Forebay toward Pigeon Mountain and Dead Man’s Flats. Roughly 465 hectares will be treated, including areas being opened up to improve wildlife habitat. If you use trails around Three Sisters, expect closures as work moves through different areas over the coming months. Construction continues into March 2027. 

• 🗳️ Tomorrow Is the Final Day to Vote in the Bow Valley Insider Awards. This is your chance to recognize the local businesses you actually use, trust and recommend across 85 categories, from restaurants, bakeries and coffee shops to mechanics, bike shops, fitness studios and more. The winners are entirely decided by readers, not our editorial team or advertisers. Voting ends tomorrow, Sept. 15. Cast your votes here. 

CIVIC NEWS

• South Canmore Has New Traffic Signs. If you drive through South Canmore regularly, pay attention this week. The Town has changed stop and yield signs at several intersections around 1st, 4th and 5th streets. The changes follow resident concerns about speeding and drivers cutting through the neighbourhood, particularly during busy periods. Give the new map a look. 

LIVE MUSIC

• Monday, September 14th, 10:00 PM: Brent Lee. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

• Tuesday, September 15th, 10:00 PM: Jesse Peters. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

SPORTS

• 41 Shots, Four Misconducts, One OT Winner. The Canmore Eagles opened their international exhibition against Korea University with a 3-2 overtime win Friday night. Canmore controlled much of the game and outshot Korea 41-25, but a late third-period equalizer forced extra time. Things also got a little spicy, with a third-period scrum handing out four misconducts. Then new captain Aidan Tkachuk delivered the finish, scoring 2:49 into OT to seal the win.

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.