🐈 Cougar Tracks Hikers

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INCREASED BEAR ACTIVITY BRINGS NEW RESTRICTIONS

What’s Happening? Parks Canada clamped down on off-trail hiking in parts of Banff to protect grizzlies, while a black bear joined golfers in Kananaskis.

Bear Rules Tighten in Banff. Starting yesterday (June 1), off-trail hiking is banned in Sunshine Meadows, Healy Pass, and Citadel Pass—popular zones for summer hikers. If you're headed to Rock Isle Lake, Simpson Pass, or the Standish Lookout, stay on the trail. Fines can hit $25,000, so maybe double-check that AllTrails route before you wander.

Bear on the Green. Over in K-Country, a black bear casually wandered onto the 18th hole at Kananaskis Country Golf Course, reminding golfers that in the mountains, tee times are shared. With wildlife sightings common, the course now offers “bear birdies”—players can skip a hole if an animal’s too close for comfort.

Final Rounds. While the bear warning has been in effect since May 8, play wraps up soon: the course closes Friday (June 6) for the G7 Summit and reopens June 20.

Spring Means Sharing Space. With valley bottoms greening up, bears are foraging where humans recreate. Sightings near trails, roads, and yes, golf carts, are more common this time of year. Bear spray is strongly recommended—even for a casual walk or round.

CELEBRATE INDIGENOUS VOICES THIS JUNE AT BANFF CENTRE

Head over to the Banff Centre during National Indigenous History Month for powerful performances and free events.

Leela Gilday Live
June 4 | 7:30 PM | Jenny Belzberg Theatre | $25

• Celebrate with award-winning Dene singer-songwriter Leela Gilday. Known for her soulful voice and powerful lyrics, Gilday shares music that speaks to identity, resilience, and northern life.

Ghostkeeper
June 27 | 9 PM | CLVB ‘33 | $20

• This Calgary-based band fuses ancestral memory with noisy pop and outsider blues—led by Shane Ghostkeeper and Sarah Houle.

Plus: Free Talks, Workshops, and More

• Throughout June, enjoy Indigenous-led conversations, workshops, an exhibition opening and reception, a virtual film screening, and an online Indigenous marketplace.

View Full Schedule

_{*Presented by Banff Centre.}

THE DIGEST

• 🐈 Cougar Warning Issued in K-Country. Alberta Parks has posted a warning at Gunnery Mountain after two hikers were followed by a cougar. No closure yet, but extra caution is advised. And if cougars aren’t reason enough to steer clear of Gunnery, one AllTrails review said: “Lotttttts of ticks, utterly surprised how many ticks we found.” 

• 🥵 Bow Valley Hits Record May Heat. The Bow Valley Provincial Park area clocked in at 29.7°C last Thursday, breaking its 1936 record. It was part of a broader heatwave that shattered 20 records across Alberta, with Edmonton topping out at 32.8°C. Now if only the Oilers could heat up enough to end their 35-year Stanley Cup drought.

• 🌱 Fire-Resistant Plants Take Root at Lake Louise. Parks Canada is planting willow and balsam poplar along the Lake Louise Fire Guard—chosen for their low flammability and erosion control. About 70 hectares are done, with more work (and tree removal) scheduled east of the highway starting this fall. 

• 🛰 RCMP Warns: No-Fly Means No Fly. Ahead of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis (June 15–17), RCMP announced strict airspace restrictions: 30 nautical miles around Kananaskis Village and 20 around Calgary’s airport. Unauthorized planes or drones? They could be intercepted—or shot down. Not that you could fly drones in Kananaskis anyway—recreational use is banned year-round without a permit.

• 🌊 Bow River Swells in Canmore. Locals spotted high, fast-moving water under the Old Bridge on Sunday (June 1), with some flooding on the pedestrian underpath (see video). The Town of Canmore monitors a range of hazards—including flooding—but despite the surge, the risk level remains at “normal conditions” as of May 30.

LAKE LOUISE SKI RESORT LAUNCHES MAJOR TERRAIN AND LIFT UPGRADE

What’s Happening? Lake Louise Ski Resort has started construction on a major 200-acre expansion, complete with a new quad chairlift and fresh terrain for intermediate skiers.

New Runs Incoming. Work is now underway at Richardson’s Ridge, located on the backside of the resort near Pika run. The expansion includes four new named trails, a handful of gladed sidecountry options, and what the resort calls “super fun, low-angle skiing”—ideal for powder days and intermediate riders.

What’s Being Built? The new detachable quad, dubbed Richardson’s Ridge Express, will run from the Pika/Corral Creeks junction to just below the ridge tree line. It’s slated for completion sometime during the 2025–26 season.

Part of the Big Plan. This project is part of the resort’s long-range plan, approved by Parks Canada and shaped by public and Indigenous feedback. It follows other recent upgrades like the six-person Pipestone Express heated bubble lift and improved access to West Bowl. 

THINGS TO DO

Monday

• Pasta Monday. Dive into $16 pasta night at Evergreen from 4–10 PM. Choose from bold Bolognese ragù rigatoni, savoury seafood fettuccine, or their homemade gnocchi alla Sorrentina. Comfort carbs never looked so good. Make Monday your favorite night of the week!*

• Bylaw Open House. The MD of Bighorn is reviewing and updating its Land Use Bylaw (i.e. the Zoning Bylaw) and they want to hear from residents, business owners and developers. 4:00 PM - 8:30 PM. 900A Harvie Heights Road. Free. 

• Try Roller Skating. Learn the basics, including balance, movement, and safety tips, from an experienced instructor. No experience is necessary, and roller skates are provided (limited sizes available). 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Fenlands, Banff. $10+GST.

• New Yoga Day and Time. Starting today, weekly yoga with CYAN moves outdoors. Breathe deep, stretch it out, and flow by the river. All levels welcome, by donation. Sign up at Eventbrite. 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Riverside Park, Canmore. Free. 

Tuesday

• Community BBQ. Banff Pride and BanffLIFE Basecamp are teaming up to bring young adults working and living in Banff a safe space to meet new friends. 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM. Sundance Park Pavilion, Banff. Free. 

• Crib Night. Meet new cribbage friends of all levels during this casual round-robin tournament. Cards, boards and score sheets are provided. For more information, email [email protected]. 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM. Cangolf, Canmore. Free to Play. 

• Minor Hockey Info Night. Not sure what program is right for your player & family? Whether your player is starting out or ready for competitive play, learn about all the options available with Canmore Minor Hockey. 7:00 PM. Canmore Rec Centre. Free to Attend.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🥂 Patio Season Starts Here. Table Food + Drink is throwing their annual Patio Party on June 8 from 2–5pm, complete with live music, a buffet, and drinks from local faves like Wild Life, Grizzly Paw, and Valbella. $29 gets you in—some tickets still available.*

• 🥾 G7 Closures? You Can Still Hike. The G7 is bringing checkpoints, roadblocks, and closed trails to Kananaskis from June 10–18—but that doesn’t mean your hiking plans are toast. We’ve got a full breakdown of which trails are still open and exactly where to avoid.

• 🏞️ Have Opinions on Parks? Alberta Parks wants your input on its new long-term Plan for Parks. The public survey (open until July 26) covers everything from recreation to conservation. It takes 10–15 minutes—and could help shape the future of the trails, forests, and campsites we all love.

• 🛠️ Street and Sidewalk Repairs in Banff. This summer road crews will resurface  Hidden Ridge Way, Hawk Ave & the Mount Edith House lot, and construct a new sidewalk on Moose St. to boost safety & transit access.

• 🚧 More Construction Closures. Bow Corridor trail is closed to the public from the junction with Heart Bunker access 1.5 km west of Heart Creek Day Use Area to the trailhead at Deadman’s Flats as crews will be removing and replacing old, unsafe structures.

• 🚲 June is Bike Month. From free maintenance clinics to the Banff Bike Bus and Tiny Tykes Rodeo, there's something for everyone in Banff and Canmore. Ride, repair, and roll into summer—details and signups.

• 🤝 Spring Youth Program. Explore flat-water canoeing with the MD of Bighorn & YMCA Camp Chief Hector! This spring youth outdoor program offers fun, friends & skill-building for ages 12–17. Gear is provided, bring your lunch, and a change of clothes. $10 per participant. Register: [email protected].

• 🎶 Do You Love Local Music? Banff musician, Steph O’dette has played a lot of venues in the past couple of years, including Sunshine Village, Canmore Market, and the Bison in Banff, to name a few. Her new album will be available June 11 on iTunes, Spotify, and vinyl.

• 🎨 Walk Through Story & Paint. The Indigenous Mural Walking Tour at Cave and Basin takes you through 10 vibrant mural boxes, guided by the voices and stories of Indigenous artists. It’s a 60-minute journey through art and history—plus, your ticket includes entry to both the site and the Whyte Museum.

• 🙋 Volunteer Coordinator Needed for the Canmore Highland Games. If you’re passionate about diverting waste and reducing GHG emissions through recycling AND keen to gain leadership and organizational skills, this might be the opportunity for you. Learn more about this position.

CIVIC NEWS

• Updated MD of Bighorn and Mountain View County Fire Agreement. The two municipalities have approved updates to its fire services sub-agreement, streamlining fees and improving flexibility. A new clause ensures the Bighorn fire chief is notified promptly of any emergency response. The updated agreement takes effect once both councils approve it.

• Canmore’s Vacancy Tax Faces Appeal. Fair Future Canmore is challenging the court ruling that upheld the Town’s vacancy tax, set to start in 2026. The appeal argues the Town overstepped its authority under the MGA. The tax aims to fund local housing initiatives.

LIVE MUSIC

• Tuesday, June 3rd,  2025,  7:30 PM: Colin Linden Location: artsPlace, Canmore. $40 / members 34 / youth $20.

• Tuesday, June 3rd,  2025,  10:00 PM: Banff Punk Night: Vol. 6 Location: Pump and Tap, Banff. No Cover.

• Tuesday, June 3rd,  2025,  10:00 PM: Karaoke Tuesdays with Andrew Staygold. Location: Melissa’s MisSteak, Banff. No Cover. 

SPORTS

• Bow Valley Soccer Teams Shine in Invermere. Nearly 100 players from Canmore and Banff hit the pitch at the Clash of the Titans tournament, with Canmore teams snagging five top-three finishes. It was Banff Soccer’s first tournament showing—and by Sunday, even their U11s were playing like vets. Next stop: Revelstoke this fall.

• Silver Times Two for Bow Valley Volleyball. The U16 and U17 girls from Rocky Mountain Volleyball Club brought home two silver medals from nationals in Edmonton. It’s the club’s second and third national podium finishes—proof that volleyball in the Bow Valley isn’t just growing, it’s thriving (and getting real good at silver).

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.