🐆Cougar Killed

Good morning, Bow Valley!

If you’re off for Family Day, we’ll know the moment your out-of-office reply hits our inbox. Enjoy the day off—and if you’re reading this on Tuesday, welcome back!

In today’s Bow Valley Insider:

• The debate over cougar hunting heats up

• Tourists risk it all for the ‘gram—again

• Banff’s Caribou Street is getting a facelift

• Plus, half-priced pasta, astrophysics talk, outdoor skating, & more!

Let’s get to it!

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

Want to advertise to Bow Valley locals? Learn more.

COUGAR HUNT SPARKS DEBATE IN CANMORE

What’s Happening? A female cougar was hunted near Canmore, allegedly leaving behind two young kittens. The kittens have since been captured and are awaiting placement in a shelter. In Alberta, it is illegal to hunt a female cougar accompanied by a young cougar with spotted fur. Alberta Parks is investigating as to whether the young cougars are, in fact, orphaned cubs.

Concerns Over the Hunt. Wildlife photographer John Marriott, who had tracked the cougar for years, called the hunt "demoralizing." Critics, including MLA Sarah Elmeligi, argue that Alberta’s expanded quotas ignore wildlife science and disrupt natural population dynamics.

Government’s Stance. The province says hunting helps manage predator populations and reduce human-wildlife conflicts. Alberta Parks Minister Todd Loewen defends the policy, stating it protects species like bighorn sheep, moose, and elk.

Cougars vs. Sheep. The Wild Sheep Foundation of Alberta (WSFAB) supports legal cougar hunting in areas critical to bighorn sheep. They argue sheep numbers are declining while cougars are increasing.

By The Numbers:

• Alberta’s estimated cougar population: 2,050

• Province’s sustainable target: 1,500

• A cougar must kill a large mammal every 9-12 days to survive.

WSFAB denies bounty claims, saying outfitters are only reimbursed for hunting costs.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN VOLLEYBALL CLUB RAISES $4K FOR NEW UNIFORMS WITH “FILL YOUR FREEZER” FUNDRAISER

In December, The Rocky Mountain Volleyball Club (RMVC) raised $4,000 for new uniforms with a Fill Your Freezer Fundraiser, selling delicious groceries like chicken, bacon, tiramisu, and other everyday essentials while earning a portion of sales for their club.

RMVC serves local youth athletes in the Bow Valley community with recreational and competitive programming.

➡️ Read their story here

Carolyn Hillier, the coordinator, was thrilled with their results and is excited to offer the fundraiser again in the spring for their growing club.

"TeamFund was a phenomenal company to work with. We raised $4,000 in less than a month, and I know we can double that amount next year. They offer great support tools to run a successful campaign!"

If you’re a community organizer looking for an easy way to raise funds, TeamFund can help—just like they did for RMVC. Find out how to get started!

_{*Presented by Team Fund}

THE DIGEST

• 🤳Highway selfies are getting out of hand. Tourists (and some locals) pulling over on highways in Banff, Canmore, and Kananaskis for selfies are sparking outrage. A Reddit post called out the dangerous trend, with many sharing near-miss stories. Despite signage, the issue persists, putting both people and wildlife at risk. Watch the video here.

• 🐺Coyotes are getting bold in Canmore. Residents are being warned after multiple reports of aggressive coyotes charging dogs, with one owner forced to fend off an attack with a stick. Experts urge keeping pets leashed, removing food attractants, and carrying bear spray. 

• 🚍More buses, better routes for Bow Valley. Banff, Canmore, and Stoney Nakoda are getting a share of $3.4M in federal funding to improve rural transit. Expect new buses, expanded routes, and upgraded infrastructure, making it easier to get around.

• ☝More Canadian Tourists in the Bow Valley. Banff, Kananaskis, and Canmore made a list of top places for Canadians to visit if they’re ditching a U.S. trip due to Trump’s tariff threats and the rough exchange rate. 

• 🚒See the wildfire risk reduction teams in action. Parks Canada is ramping up fire prevention in Banff and Canmore, clearing flammable trees, expanding fire guards, and planning prescribed burns. The town is also offering incentives for homeowners to fireproof their properties ahead of wildfire season.

MAJOR CARIBOU STREET OVERHAUL SET FOR 2025

What’s Happening? Caribou Street is getting a major overhaul in 2025, replacing nearly 100-year-old water, sewer, and drainage systems. The project will also improve pedestrian safety and enhance the street’s design.

What’s Changing?

• Aging underground infrastructure will be fully replaced.

• Caribou & Lynx Street intersection will be realigned for safer pedestrian crossings.

• The east side will adopt Bear Street’s pedestrian-friendly design, while the west side will match Banff Avenue’s style.

Construction Timeline:

• Fall 2025: Underground servicing begins.

• Winter 2025-26: Work pauses.

• Spring 2026: Surface work resumes, aiming for completion before peak summer tourism.

How to Stay Updated: A public open house will be held on March 3 (6–8 p.m.) at Banff Town Hall to discuss project details. 

Budget Breakdown. The project is expected to cost $6.8 million, funded by general capital, water, and sewer reserves.

THINGS TO DO

Monday (Family Day)

• Pasta Mondays. Mondays just got better with half-price pasta and a weekly rotating special to keep things fresh. Pair your plate with $7 build your own negronis, $6 wine, $5 house lager, or $2 Italian sodas. Gluten-free and kid-friendly options are available. The Prow, Banff. 

• Celebrate Family Day at The Fenlands. Enjoy skating, curling, shinny, sticks & pucks, outdoor nature play, and more! 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM. Fenlands. Free.

• Free Balloon Twisting. Encore Events will take charge of your Family Weekend events at Ski Nakiska. 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Nakiska Day Lodge. Free. 

Tuesday

• Free Soup. Enjoy a bowl of soup for free every Tuesday. 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM. Banff Park Church. Free. 

• Bevvies & Business. A networking event for Bow Valley Chamber members and prospective members. 5:15 PM to 6:45 PM. ATB in Banff. $10 for members, $20 for non-members.

• Writing Group. Join the writers of the roundtable, aka The Canmore Writing Group, for dedicated writing time. 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Malcolm Hotel, Second Floor. Free. 

• Movie Night. If Gladiator did not entertain you, catch Gladiator II, which follows Lucius into the Colosseum years after witnessing Maximus’ death. 7:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $12 / youth $6. 

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🪐Astrophysics Presentation. The Mountain Grannies are bringing Astrophysicist Dr. Phil Langill back to Canmore to present an entertaining and informative talk on recent discoveries from our solar system, including a rare planetary alignment happening right now! 

• 🛼Outdoor Skating. Skating is now permitted on the pond by the Canmore Golf and Curling Club Pro Shop! Rink hours are 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, 7 days a week, all are welcome!

• 🙋‍♂️Volunteer Opportunity. The YWCA Banff is seeking help for the 10th-anniversary edition of their VINEart Gala and Auction, happening on Saturday, March 15 at the Fairmont Banff Springs!⁠

• 🏬Grocery Store Now Open. Head over Spring Creek Market to grab all your foodie essentials and local goodies. You might even find some exclusive items only available at this location. 

• 🔀Public Grading Experiment. On Feb. 24 the Climbing Gym at Elevation Place will set two ungraded routes in the right-hand corridor near the slab wall, and they want YOU to help grade them! Climb the routes, assign a grade, and drop your responses anonymously in the box provided.

• 🤸Calling Inversion Junkies. CAPTivate Gymnastics is hosting a handstand workshop for adults of all skill levels on Feb 19 from 7:45-9:45 PM inside the Canmore Rec Centre. Register here. 

• 💪Children’s Outdoor Recreation. Check out this great outdoor recreation opportunity for children (12Y - 17Y) in the MD of Bighorn. The event takes place on Friday, February 21 at the YMCA Camp Chief Hector. Info Session this Wednesday, January 29 at the Bighorn Library.

• 🏆Congratulations! Big congratulations to Canmore’s Darkhorse Martial Arts clubs who placed first in Team Points at the Submission Ace Championships over the weekend.

• 🐶Working Dogs Retire Too. Lloyd is ready for a life of leisure and family adventures. If you think he might be the perfect addition to your home, head to the Snowy Owls website to learn more about the adoption process and submit an inquiry.

CIVIC NEWS

• The MD of Bighorn’s Regular Monthly Council Meeting last week was a busy one. Council approved a $20k grand to the Exshaw Library Society, as well as allocated $35k to community groups and organizations through the Community Services Grant program. 

• Canmore Council approved the 2025-2026 budgets, maintaining services while introducing the Livability Tax Program to support housing. The $98.1M (2025) and $104.9M (2026) budgets include tax increases of 3.9% and 7.1%. A median home ($1.043M) will see a $6.94 monthly increase.

LIVE MUSIC

• Monday, February 17th, 2025,  10:00 PM: Brent Lee. Location: Rose and Crown Banff. No Cover. 

• Monday, February 17th, 2025,  10:00 PM: Karaoke Mondays. Location: The Drake Pub, Canmore. No Cover.  

• Tuesday, February 18th, 2025,  10:00 PM: Jesse Peters. Location: Rose and Crown Banff. No Cover. 

SPORTS

• Skiing. Canmore’s Brit Richardson is on fire. The 21-year-old skier is making waves in the senior ranks after a breakout performance in the FIS World Cup. A former Junior World Champion, Richardson’s speed and skill are turning heads as she climbs the rankings on the international stage.

• More Skiing. Canmore’s Eric Read placed 24th in the men’s slalom race at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. While his final run didn’t go as planned, he’s taking the positives and looking ahead to the next challenge.

That’s all, folks!

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