🚗 Cars Almost Drove Onto Lake Louise

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Well, it’s not often we lead with a hockey story. In fact, this might be a first. With two seconds left in the January 3rd Canmore Eagles game and the Eagles up 6-3 on the Calgary Canucks, a full-on brawl erupted on the ice. It quickly spiralled beyond the usual end-of-game scuffles and turned into one of the wildest AJHL fights we’ve seen. The fallout was significant: six players were suspended for a combined 21 games. Watch the footage here.

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

CAN CANMORE REWORK DOWNTOWN PARKING WITHOUT ELIMINATING IT?

What’s Happening? Canmore town council has kicked off a review of how much parking new downtown developments are required to build.

The Basics. When someone wants to build housing or commercial space downtown, the rules usually require a set number of on-site parking stalls. At its January 6 meeting, Town of Canmore council discussed expanding when developers can pay the town instead of squeezing every required parking stall onto their own lot.

That option is called parking “cash-in-lieu.” The money collected can then be used for shared parking or transportation solutions elsewhere, rather than forcing each development site to solve parking on its own.

Why Parking Is the Bottleneck. Town staff said many downtown lots are small, oddly shaped, or physically constrained by rivers and access points. In those cases, parking rules can make redevelopment impossible, even for modest projects.

Senior planner Joshua Cairns told council that parking requirements are often the single biggest barrier stopping downtown projects from moving forward, especially in walkable areas where people already rely less on cars.

What’s Actually Changing? Council is considering expanding where cash-in-lieu can be used, particularly for residential and mixed-use projects downtown. Instead of digging expensive underground parking or overbuilding stalls, developers could contribute to shared solutions like off-site or edge-of-town parking, paired with walking, biking, or transit. 

No prices, stall reductions, or new parking targets were approved. This was about policy direction only.

Why It Matters? Staff framed parking flexibility as a way to unlock housing and business projects that currently stall at the planning stage. The idea is not to eliminate parking, but to provide it more strategically, while supporting downtown goals like walkability and redevelopment.

What Council Said. Discussion was supportive, with no opposition at this stage. Mayor Sean Krausert called it an important step in turning long-term plans into on-the-ground rules. A public hearing is scheduled for February 3, 2026, where residents can weigh in before any final decision is made.

The full policy discussion is available on our website. 

ONE SPOT LEFT FOR OUR JANUARY ICE CLIMB

By now, this ice climbing day might sound familiar. We’ve been sharing details throughout the week, and today is the final day to sign up. Registration closes tonight, and there’s just one spot left. This beginner-friendly day runs January 31 in Kananaskis, fully guided by Leviathan Mountain Guides. No experience needed. You’ll learn the basics, climb real frozen waterfalls, and head home with a few great photos. That last spot needs to be claimed by 11:59 PM. Full details and booking here.

THE DIGEST

• ⛷️ A 16-Year-Old Lost a Ski Mid-Flip at Whistler and Somehow Rode It Out. This didn’t happen in the Bow Valley, but it’s too wild to ignore. During a training lap at Whistler, Squamish-based freestyle skier Ty Reichert launched a double backflip, clipped his skis mid-air, lost one entirely, and still stomped the landing on a single ski. Reichert says instinct and years of “air-awareness training” took over. We interviewed Reichert and have the full clip here.

• 🏞️ Who Controls Competition Inside Canada’s National Parks Is Back Under Scrutiny. A debate is resurfacing over how paid attractions in Banff and Jasper are regulated. A report from the Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project argues that most major sightseeing experiences are concentrated under a single operator, raising concerns about market power inside national parks. Pursuit, which owns several major attractions in both parks, disputes that view, pointing to millions of visitors, free alternatives, strong satisfaction scores, and local reinvestment. The Competition Bureau reviewed the issue last year and declined to intervene.

• 🚗 Two Cars Drove Onto Pedestrian Routes at Lake Louise and Both Got Towed. Photos of the cars stuck near the lakeshore blew up online, but Parks Canada says the two overnight incidents were unrelated and quickly dealt with. One driver received an $81 ticket, the other a warning, and both paid steep towing bills. Standish Towing told us recovery runs about $680 to Banff or $817 to Canmore from Lake Louise. The photos were shared with us by a nearby local. 

• 🐰 Our Lost Bunny Coverage Just Hopped Onto CBC Kids News. It started as a stuffed bunny left behind on a Parks Canada shuttle near Lake Louise. Parks Canada turned the search for its owner into a lighthearted social media series, using Bunff’s adventures to share park safety tips. CBC Kids News picked up the story this week after spotting our coverage, following Bunff’s travels through Banff and Yoho. What began as a lost-and-found post has quietly turned into a full-blown social media star.

• 🎬 Kelly Ripa Says a Live TV Ski Segment in Banff Would Never Happen Today. During a recent episode of Live with Kelly and Mark, Kelly Ripa looked back on a 2012 on-air ski segment filmed in Banff and called it “reckless” by today’s standards. She joked that the show’s producer got her drunk, handed her flaming torches, and sent her skiing downhill at night, despite her admitting she was a “dangerous” skier at the time. The clip resurfaced this week.

A Small Town Love Story

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CANMORE CONSIDERS ALLOWING MORE HOMES ON SOME DOWNTOWN PROPERTIES

What’s Happening? Canmore council is considering a zoning change that would allow some downtown residential properties to add up to two smaller homes on the same lot, often called accessory homes.

The Big Idea. At its January 6 meeting, the Town of Canmore discussed zoning changes that would expand what homeowners are allowed to build on downtown properties. Specifically, some lots could host up to two additional small units alongside an existing house, whether as suites inside a house, homes above garages, or small detached buildings, depending on design rules.

What’s Changing (and What Isn’t). Right now, many properties are limited to one or no additional units. The proposal would increase that cap in some downtown areas. Town staff were clear about one thing: no one would be required to build anything. This change would simply give property owners more options if they choose to use them. 

Why Council Is Looking at This. The proposal is part of Connect Downtown, Canmore’s long-term plan for how the town centre evolves over the next 25 years. The goal is to add housing gradually without large-scale redevelopment or major changes to neighbourhood character. Planners framed accessory homes as a way to add housing within existing neighbourhoods, rather than relying on big new buildings.

How This Fits a Regional Pattern. Canmore is not alone in exploring this approach. In Banff, accessory homes are already allowed across residential neighbourhoods, with grants of $30,000 available to build new units. Canmore’s proposal does not include any funding or grants at this time and focuses solely on what is permitted under zoning rules.

What It Could Mean Locally. For homeowners, the change could open doors to long-term rentals, space for family members, or added housing without tearing down existing homes. For neighbours, the impact would depend on how many people choose to build, with height, size, and design rules still in place.

What’s Next? Council will hear public feedback on February 3, 2026, before deciding whether to approve or revise the proposal.

The full policy discussion is available on our website.

THINGS TO DO

Friday

• Community Fridays at Canmore Brewing. Enjoy live music and happy hour beers. This week: sharing their first performance together, Rhonda Shippy on upright bass, Arif Boga on guitar, and Nurdjana de Rijcke on vocals bring a vibrant mix of soul, jazz, and blues. 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Canmore Brewing Company. Free.*

• Movie Screening: Girl Climber. Climber Emily Harrington has done it all, Everest, 8,000-metre peaks, and podium finishes. Now she’s chasing a 24-hour ascent of El Capitan. After a near-fatal fall, the film dives into ambition, risk, and what it takes to belong in a male-dominated climbing world. 7:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $12.50-$25.*

Saturday

• Design Wearable Art for a Community Fashion Runway. This free, drop-in workshop invites adults and families to create wearable art for a community fashion runway tied to a local gallery show. Make a mask, outfit, headpiece, or anything wearable using provided materials or your own. 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. Free.*

Sunday

• Ukrainian Christmas: Festive Skating & Caroling in Banff. Bring the family for an afternoon of skating and holiday cheer. Enjoy open skating with scenic views, cozy up with hot chocolate and traditional donuts, and join carolers. Skates aren’t provided on-site, so bring your own or rent nearby. 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM. 119 Birch Dr, Banff. Free.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🛒 New Shop in Canmore: Banff Sport Bracing. Banff Sport Medicine is quietly opening the doors to Banff Sport Bracing, now welcoming walk-ins. Drop by Tuesday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, for expert help from a certified Bracing Technician and get the right fit. Find braces, recovery gear, and practical solutions, minus the Google spiral. Locals get 10% off all January. Check out all the fancy braces here.*

• 🎠⛷Skijor Sunday Wind-Down at The Fat Ox. In town for Banff Skijor next weekend? The Fat Ox has you covered. Swing by for brunch from 10 AM to 12 PM, or stop in later for Banff Burger Club. Expect crispy-edged smash burgers with big flavours, including a classic, a bison smash with blue cheese, and a mushroom-forward Forest Burger. No reservations. Just walk in hungry.*

• ⛷ Skijoring Will Trigger Transit Detours in Downtown Banff. With Skijoring events taking over downtown, several Roam Transit routes will detour from 6 AM Friday, January 16, to noon Monday, January 19. Routes 1 and 2 will run via Beaver Street, Route 3 will detour along Marten Street, and Routes 8X and 9 will skip the high school hub. Expect delays and temporary stops.

• 👏 Grants Now Open for Mountain and Alpine Projects. Have a mountain project or adventure that could use funding? The Alpine Club of Canada offers annual grants and scholarships supporting conservation, education, and alpine exploration. More than $30,000 is awarded each year, with opportunities especially relevant to Albertans and Bow Valley outdoor communities who work or explore in mountain environments. Apply by January 31. 

• 👋 The Publisher of Rocky Mountain Outlook Is Signing Off. After 17 years at the Rocky Mountain Outlook, publisher Jason Lyon has shared a farewell message and is moving on to a new role with the Town of Canmore. His tenure spanned nearly two decades of local reporting and community storytelling. We wish him well in his next chapter.

• ❄️ Winter Safety Day. Winter Safety Day is back on Sunday, January 18, from 11 AM to 3 PM at the Canoe Meadows Day Use Area on Highway 40. This free, family-friendly event brings together Alberta Parks, search and rescue teams, outdoor educators, and avalanche experts for hands-on demos, safety tips, fat biking, snowshoeing, wildlife talks, and hot chocolate.

CIVIC NEWS

• Banff Trail Riders File Appeal Over Stables Redevelopment. The owners of Banff Trail Riders’ horse stables have filed an appeal after the Municipal Planning Commission denied their redevelopment plans. The project includes a 10,000 sq. ft. indoor riding arena and a 1,900 sq. ft. concession area. The appeal argues the concession is accessory to recreation use and consistent with prior approvals. 

• Kananaskis Rescues Made Up a Big Share of Diamond Valley Fire Calls Last Year. Diamond Valley Fire Rescue responded to 531 calls in 2025, with nearly half coming from outside town limits, including Foothills County and Kananaskis. Those rural and backcountry calls averaged almost 22 minutes to reach, reflecting distance and terrain. The on-call department handled rescues, medical calls, fires, and alarms, logging more than 5,400 volunteer hours. It’s a reminder that Kananaskis emergencies often rely on crews responding from well outside the park.

LIVE MUSIC

• Friday, January 9th, 2025, 57:00 PM: The Tracks Band. Location: Minsehaft, Canmore. No Cover. 

• Saturday, January 10th, 2026, 9:00 PM: Deejayzorrow. Location: Sizzlers, Banff. No Cover. 

• Saturday, January 10th, 2026, 9:30 PM: Black Tie Flannel. Location: Melissa’s MisSteak, Banff. No Cover.

SPORTS

• Canmore’s Will Gadd’s New Book Reframes Ice and Mixed Climbing. A new edition of Ice and Mixed Climbing is out, and it’s less about suffering and more about moving well. Veteran climber Will Gadd argues for warm hands, efficient movement, modern gear, and letting conditions dictate objectives. The takeaway: if ice climbing feels miserable, you’re doing it wrong.

That’s all, folks!

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

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