🚗 Caught: Canmore Road Rage

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Expect your phone to buzz at 10 AM today. The Town of Canmore, Banff, and Parks Canada are running a coordinated alert test. It’s a system check in case there’s an emergency the public needs to know about. Think flood or wildfire. It’s a good reminder to sign up for alerts if you haven’t already.

- Fortune Whelan, Ben S., Madalyn Beach

JOHNSTON CANYON UPDATE: REPORTS OF JUMPING IN “ACCURATE,” RCMP SAY

What’s Happening? This is an update to our Monday report on the Johnston Canyon incident. RCMP now say the case is a presumed fatal drowning, and the trail network has since reopened following the suspension of recovery efforts. 

What We Know. Police say the incident happened May 1, when witnesses saw a 25-year-old man enter the water and not resurface.

“We had witnesses who saw the person enter the pool, go beneath the surface, and fail to resurface,” said Sgt. Mike Buxton-Carr, Banff RCMP commander, told Bow Valley Insider.

“The RCMP are conducting a missing persons investigation with the presumption that the person has died by drowning,” he said.

Search efforts involving Parks Canada and partner agencies covered both upper and lower pools and extended downstream, but the individual has not been located.

Search Suspended. Recovery operations have now been halted due to dangerous water conditions, especially with spring runoff increasing flow and turbulence.

“Due to ongoing hazardous water conditions, all available search efforts have been exhausted at this time, and recovery operations have been suspended,” Parks Canada said in a statement.

Trail Reopens. The Johnston Canyon trail system, closed May 2 to support the response, reopened May 4.

“It is a public area, and having that reopened does not affect our investigation,” Buxton-Carr said.

Police also confirmed reports that the individual intentionally entered the water.

“We are aware of how the person entered the water. It is accurate, the stories that are out there about the person jumping in,” Buxton-Carr said.

Why It’s Dangerous. The Lower Falls area funnels water into a narrow gorge with steep rock walls and fast-moving current. Conditions are especially hazardous this time of year.

“The upper and lower pools, which are surrounded by cliffs, are fairly hazardous to access,” Buxton-Carr said. “Please exercise extreme caution,” he added.

Read our full story

BANFF’S NEWLY RENOVATED BREWSTER CENTRE HAD A PROBLEM YOU COULDN’T SEE

On paper, the Brewster Transportation Centre checked all the boxes. Newly renovated. High traffic. Front door to Banff for thousands of visitors.

But something still felt… off.

The space was clean and updated, but it didn’t match the experience outside. You’re in the Rockies, then you walk in and it feels flat. No warmth. No connection to where you actually are.

That’s where Micheline from F2 Floral Fashion came in.

She was brought in to design and install architectural botanicals throughout the space, including three built-in planters, eight oversized vessels, and eight-foot trees placed throughout the centre.

The goal was simple: bring nature indoors.

With a tight timeline leading up to the grand opening, everything had to be sourced, delivered, and installed while construction was still wrapping up.

The result is subtle, but you notice it right away. Natural tones, softer energy, and a space that just feels better to be in.

So if you’ve got a restaurant, office, or home where the space just feels a little off, it might be worth having Micheline take a look.

Book a phone consult with Micheline to talk about your space (it’s free).

_{*Presented by F2 Floral Fashion}

THE DIGEST

• 🚗 Road Rage Caught on Camera in Canmore. A 30-second video making the rounds on Reddit shows a violent road rage incident at the Bow Valley Trail and Railway Ave intersection, right in front of Beamers. The clip shows a tipped-over motorcycle, followed by two men approaching a vehicle and attacking the driver after he steps out, kicking and tackling him to the ground. Our editor said the whole thing probably started because “the traffic sucks at that intersection,” which, if you're local, you can understand that dark humour. We’re following up with RCMP today and will have more details (hopefully) on Friday. 

• 🥗 Canmore’s Vegan Challenge Brings Crowds. A month-long plant-based dining event, the Vegan Chef Challenge, has been running across Canmore, with 14 local restaurants creating feature vegan dishes and competing for votes. It’s the first time the program has landed in a Canadian town. Early rankings have Rocky Mountain Flatbread, Kain Tayo, and Lovely Ice Cream leading the pack, though voting stays open until May 8. Some spots are keeping popular dishes, while others used it as a low-risk test of what actually sells. Read what restaurants told us. 

• 🔌Banff EV Chargers Approved Despite Revenue Hit. Banff council has approved seven new EV chargers in the Bear Street Parkade, replacing paid stalls and cutting about $100,000 a year in parking revenue starting in 2027. The chargers are expected to bring in roughly $14,700 annually, highlighting the tradeoff between climate goals and visitor-paid parking revenue, a key funding source for transit and infrastructure. Council backed the move as part of its net-zero push, though some questioned the financial hit and fairness for non-EV drivers. 

• 🦌 Elk Calving Closes Part of Tunnel Mountain. Parks Canada has closed sections of Tunnel Mountain’s west slope until June 30 to protect elk during calving season. The restriction targets informal and secondary trails south of the main route, while popular paths like the summit trail and Bow River Trail remain open. Calving season peaks mid-May to late June, and cows can get aggressive if approached. So if you’re planning an after-work hike on Tunnel, stick to marked trails, keep dogs on leash, and give wildlife plenty of space. Check the full area.

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HEALTHCARE UNCERTAINTY FOR NON-PERMANENT RESIDENTS COULD IMPACT BOW VALLEY HIRING

What’s Happening? A proposed Alberta referendum on Oct. 19 could reshape immigration rules, including a potential 12-month delay before some non-permanent residents can access provincially funded healthcare.

What’s On The Ballot. The healthcare delay is part of a broader set of immigration questions voters will weigh this fall. These include whether Alberta should take more control over immigration levels, restrict access to publicly funded services based on status, and potentially require a 12-month residency period before eligibility for services like healthcare.

Why It Matters Locally. In Banff and Canmore, seasonal and international workers are a core part of the workforce. Some employers, such as Basecamp Resorts, report that roughly one-third of staff are on temporary arrangements. Local groups say even the possibility of reduced healthcare access could make hiring more difficult. 

“This could make an already difficult hiring environment even harder,” said Natasha Lay, executive director of the Bow Valley Immigration Partnership, told Bow Valley Insider.

The Worker Perspective. Lay says healthcare access plays a major role in whether workers choose the Bow Valley.

“A 12-month waiting period for access to provincially funded services could create real uncertainty for people who live and work in the Bow Valley,” she said. “Access to healthcare is not just about emergencies, it is also about prevention, mental health, and helping people stay well enough to participate fully in community life.”

She added that uncertainty can shift decisions quickly.

“If access to healthcare or other essential support feels uncertain, some may decide not to come, or not to stay.”

What The Province Says. Provincial officials say the proposal is aimed at managing costs and aligning immigration with labour needs.

“Immigration needs to be economically focused, meeting the real labour demands that exist in our workforce,” Hunter Baril, press secretary for Alberta’s Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration, told Bow Valley Insider.

Baril said services for non-permanent residents are estimated to cost about $2.6 billion annually.

“This is the concern we are trying to address with the support of Albertans through a referendum,” he said.

Read our full story 

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Injured? This Workshop Covers the Mental Side. Injury recovery isn’t just physical, and this session leans into the mental side. Hosted by the Banff Sport Medicine Foundation, it blends expert insight, real stories, and small-group discussion. You’ll walk away with practical tools to handle the mental grind of being sidelined. 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM. Origin Spring Creek, Canmore. Free. RSVP required.*

• FireSmart Info Session. With wildfire season around the corner, this is a practical look at how to reduce risk around your home. Banff’s FireSmart coordinator will walk through local resources, incentives, and what actually makes a difference. 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Banff Public Library. Free.

Thursday

• Banff Wellness Pop-Up + Hotel Giveaway. The Bison Courtyard in Banff is turning into a mid-day wellness hub with 20+ local businesses, free food and drink, live music, and plenty to browse. The headline draw: a giveaway featuring a one-night stay and $150 dining credit at Juniper Hotel & Bistro, plus over $1,000 in additional prizes. Easy one to swing by, even if it’s just for a quick lap. 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Bison Courtyard. Free.*

MOST BOW VALLEY LOCALS DON’T KNOW PHARMACISTS CAN DO THIS

If you wake up with seasonal allergies, a UTI, a cold sore, strep, or the flu, you know you need help promptly rather than missing work or keeping kids out of day care. Luckily, in Alberta, pharmacists can assess and prescribe for many of these common issues on the spot. That means no appointments, no waiting times. At Banff Value Drug Mart, owner and pharmacist Varun handles these cases daily. Walk in, explain what’s going on, and you can leave with treatment in minutes. He’s already helped a few of us at Bow Valley Insider.

_{*Presented by Banff Value Drug Mart.}

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🌌 Night Sky Workshop Teaches You What You’re Looking At. If your idea of a good night includes looking up instead of scrolling, this one’s worth a look. The Interpretive Guides Association is hosting a virtual workshop on May 12 that breaks down how to understand the night sky. It covers spotting the Milky Way, aurora, and constellations, plus how to plan around moon cycles and weather. You’ll also get simple tips for night photography and making stargazing more meaningful. Runs 6 to 7:30 PM on Zoom. It's not recorded, so it's a show-up-or-miss-it situation.*

• 🍔 Banff Burger Club Returns With Smash Burger Pop-Up. Banff Burger Club is a one-day pop-up built around smash burgers, and it’s back Friday, May 22 at The Fat Ox of Banff. Expect a tight menu of stacked burgers, crispy sides, and a classic banana split to finish, served from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Book a table if you want to lock it in, or roll the dice with a walk-in and see how it plays out. Either way, come hungry.*

• 🌦️ Climate Change & Mental Health Talk. A free low-pressure session on how climate change is affecting people mentally, from everyday stress to feeling overwhelmed by it. Hosted by the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, it includes short talks, open discussion, and a small seed-planting activity. Mark your calendar for May 8 from 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM at the Canmore Library. RSVP here.*

• 🔥 Wildfire Contained, Aerial Response Caught on Video. That brush fire near Highway 1 we flagged on Friday is now contained, with crews continuing to monitor hot spots. Over the weekend, Rocky View County firefighters shared a behind-the-scenes look at the multi-agency response, including a low-flying airtanker dropping retardant directly over the blaze. Worth a watch.

• 🍽️Mother’s Day Brunch at Juniper Bistro. If you’re booking one thing for Mom, follow our lead. This is where we’re booking. Juniper Bistro is hosting a relaxed brunch with Mount Rundle and Vermilion Lakes as your backdrop, plus a grazing table, a chef-made hot dish, and coffee or tea included. It’s $59 for adults, $25 for kids (6-12), and free for ages 0-5. Reserve here.*

CIVIC NEWS

• MD of Bighorn Land Use Bylaw Heads to Hearing. This is one of those updates that sounds dry until it affects what can be built next door. The MD is rewriting its land use bylaw, covering density, short-term rentals, home businesses, and smaller homes across its hamlets. Feedback so far shows residents are split, with no clear direction emerging. Next step: a public hearing May 19 in Exshaw, where residents can weigh. 

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, May 6th, 2026, 7:00 PM: Andrew Staygold. Location: Melissa’s MisSteak, Banff. No Cover.

• Thursday, May 7th, 2026, 7:30 PM: Yura Lee & Jason Vieaux. Location: artsPlace, Canmore. $25-$50.

SPORTS

• From Empty Stands to Sellouts. The Canmore Eagles turnaround didn’t happen overnight. In the early 2010s, crowds dipped to around 80, with debt mounting and the team’s future uncertain. Today, they’re coming off their first AJHL title with packed stands and a trip to the Centennial Cup ahead. Players and staff point to one thing behind the shift: the community showing up through the lean years. 

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.