🐺 Coyotes vs Pets

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Today is the post-mortem from the Skijor weekend. We’ve spent the past week working on it, gathering local perspectives and waiting on key data and responses before publishing. That delay was intentional. Much of the early coverage, especially on Monday, included incorrect or incomplete information. While national outlets like CTV and Global offered solid reporting, much of it missed the local nuance that matters here. One stat might surprise you: Banff did not set a vehicle traffic record. So why did it feel like the town was at the brink?

— Fortune Whelan, Ben S., Sneha Kainth, Madalyn Beach

BANFF’S SKIJOR TRAFFIC WAS NOT AT RECORD LEVELS. SO WHY DID IT FEEL LIKE A BREAKING POINT?

What’s Happening? Banff’s skijoring weekend felt like a breaking point, not because of record traffic totals, but because thousands of people arrived and left within the same narrow window, pushing sidewalks, parking, and emergency access to their limits.

The Big Misconception. Early social media chatter framed the weekend as “record traffic.” Town data says otherwise. About 23,900 vehicles entered Banff on Saturday, below typical peak-summer days. The real issue was compression. Between noon and 1 p.m., Banff recorded its highest-ever single hour of inbound traffic, followed by a record outbound surge just after the races ended.

Why It Felt Worse Than Summer. Unlike July or August, where crowds spread out across the day and townsite, skijoring concentrated people into a few downtown blocks at the same time. Sidewalks near the course hit capacity shortly after 2 p.m. Parking was full by mid-morning, and illegal parking spilled into residential streets and fire lanes. Parks Canada temporarily waved cars through the east gate to prevent highway backups and protect emergency access.

The Resident Reality Check. Mayor Corrie DiManno told us the town was “stretched to the limit” by early afternoon. She cited blocked driveways, people walking along roads, and residents missing funerals or sports tournaments due to a lack of parking. She also pointed to people climbing on public infrastructure and private property to get a better view. She added that the crowd density around Banff Avenue was worse than even the busiest summer days.

The Economic Upside. From a business perspective, the weekend delivered exactly what winter events are designed to do. Banff Lake Louise Tourism said “local businesses and their employees had a truly banner weekend in what has traditionally been a quiet time of year.” Inder Singh, owner of the downtown Subway, told Bow Valley Insider his sales were about 50% higher than a typical January weekend and added, “I think we need more events like this.”

A Community Split. A Bow Valley Insider survey of 651 readers showed a near-even divide: 54% felt the impacts outweighed the benefits, while 46% supported continuing the event. Many landed in the middle, backing skijoring in principle but questioning its scale, location, and logistics.

What Comes Next? The Town of Banff is now leading a multi-agency review to assess options like ticketing, mandatory shuttles, park-and-ride systems, crowd caps, or relocating the event altogether. 

Read our full article for more interviews and a full play-by-play breakdown.

HOW WINEFEST IS TURNING CANMORE INTO A GLOBAL TASTING ROOM

This is not a wander-and-guess wine tasting. Winefest Canmore is built as a deliberate journey through wine history, moving glass by glass through the regions that shaped how the world drinks today.

You start with precise, mineral-driven whites from places like Chablis and Burgundy. From there, the experience deepens into classic Pinot Noir before shifting into structured Italian reds, where Sangiovese and Nebbiolo bring depth, earthiness, and age-worthy character. The final chapters feature iconic European regions, powerful Napa and Okanagan wines, and a thoughtful finish of aged Tawny and Vintage Ports.

There are two identical sessions, so you can choose what works best: Friday, February 13 (7–10 PM) or Saturday, February 14 (6–9 PM). Same wines. Same food. Same experience.

Coming from Calgary? Make a weekend of it. Stay the night, explore Canmore, and let someone else do the driving between pours. Local to the Bow Valley? This is a rare chance to experience a truly world-class wine festival without leaving home.

Hosted inside The Malcolm Hotel, the evening is fully all-inclusive, from premium tastings and chef-curated hors d’oeuvres to guided seminars and a take-home Riedel glass.

Tickets and more info here. 

_{*Presented by Rocky Mountain Wine Fest.}

THE DIGEST

• 🐺 Coyote Mating Season Is Back. Dog Owners, Stay Alert. Coyotes across the Bow Valley are entering mating season, a late-winter period that brings more daytime activity, stronger territorial behaviour, and a higher risk of conflict with pets. Parks Canada says coyotes may range closer to neighbourhood edges as they prepare den sites, sometimes under decks or sheds. Officials warn that dogs are the most common trigger for incidents, especially off-leash. 

• ✅ What Runs Off Banff’s Streets Is Putting Pressure on the Bow River. The Town of Banff has approved $150,000 to study untreated stormwater after monitoring showed runoff exceeding federal guidelines for aquatic life. Unlike sewage, stormwater from roads and parking lots flows straight into creeks and the Bow River, carrying road salt and vehicle-related contaminants. Data collected with Parks Canada points to declining ecosystem health downstream, prompting the town’s first system-wide look at how stormwater could be treated before reaching the river.

• 🚆 Labour Groups Back Calgary-Banff Passenger Rail Proposal. Major construction unions in Canada have just signed on to support the proposed passenger train linking Calgary Airport, downtown Calgary, and Banff. Supporters say the 150-kilometre rail line could create thousands of construction jobs and more long-term work tied to tourism, while mostly using existing rail lines. The proposal was sent to the federal government in December for review, but there is still no confirmed funding, approval, or construction timeline.

• 💡 How Early Settlers and Stoney Nakoda Shared the Bow Valley. A recent heritage storytelling night brought settler and Indigenous perspectives together, pairing stories of early forest rangers and ranchers with Stoney Nakoda accounts of life in the Bow Valley. Speakers described how both communities relied on the same land, but under very different legal systems. Stoney Nakoda speakers explained how the land sustained their families through hunting, ceremony, and community, even as colonial laws restricted their movement and traditions.

• 🖐 Cochrane Search and Rescue Needs New Volunteers. Cochrane Search and Rescue has opened its annual recruitment, with applications open until Feb. 10. The volunteer-run team provides 24/7 on-call search and rescue for Cochrane and the Bow Valley, responding to about 20 incidents last year and assisting with everything from missing-person searches to major events. No prior rescue experience is required. Submit a resume to: [email protected].

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BACKCOUNTRY BOOKING WEEK IS HERE (DESPITE THE PARKS CANADA TECH CHAOS)

What’s Happening? Earlier this month, we published a guide laying out 2026 backcountry reservation launch dates. Since then, Parks Canada has been hit with a major IT outage, forcing some reservation launches to shift. The result has been plenty of confusion online. 

Why the Dates Suddenly Moved. Parks Canada says a widespread Government of Canada IT disruption is affecting multiple systems, including its reservation platform. To ensure fair access, several launches were postponed, especially for frontcountry camping, with many now pushed into early February.

Frontcountry vs. Backcountry (This Is the Key Part). Most of the delays you are seeing apply to frontcountry campgrounds. Backcountry reservations in the Bow Valley and surrounding parks are still scheduled to open starting Monday. Could IT issues spill over? Possibly. Parks Canada says systems are being tested, but no one will know for sure until launch time. If you are planning a backcountry trip, you should still be ready to book.

Backcountry Booking Dates to Know. Everything in Yoho, Banff, and Kootenay National Parks opens Monday at 8 a.m. MT. Jasper National Park follows on Wednesday at 8 a.m. MT. We have compiled the relevant dates, campsites, and popular trails for Bow Valley backcountry users here.

How the Booking Queue Works. On launch day, Parks Canada uses a virtual queue to manage web traffic. About 30 minutes before 8 a.m., visitors may be placed on a waiting page. At exactly 8 a.m., everyone waiting is randomly assigned a spot in a virtual line. Arrival time before 8 a.m. does not matter. Anyone joining after 8 a.m. goes to the back of the queue. When it is your turn, you will have 30 minutes to enter the reservation system and book. Bookmark the Parks Canada reservation portal now. Good luck.

THINGS TO DO

Friday

• Community Fridays at Canmore Brewing. Swing by, grab a happy hour pint, and settle in for local tunes with friends. Catch Brad Bischoff, whose mountain-rooted sound blends folk, roots, and western traditions. Brad has shared stages with Blue Rodeo, Ian Tyson, and Tim Hus. 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Canmore Brewing Company. Free.*

• Friday Night Comedy. Looking for a guaranteed laugh tonight? Veteran headliner Matthew Murray brings decades of sharp stand-up, with Charles Payne opening and Scott Dumas hosting. Doors at 7:00 PM. artsPlace. $25.*

Saturday

• Contemporary Circus Comes to Banff. Play Dead is the debut creation blending acrobatics, dance, and physical theatre into a surreal portrait of everyday life. Set among domestic scenes and interlocking stories, the show finds beauty and absurdity in the mundane, celebrating life with dark humour and tenderness. 7:30 PM. Jenny Belzberg Theatre, Banff. $25-$45.*

Sunday

• Celebrate Australia Day. Celebrate Australia Day with a proper dose of trivia, tunes, and cheeky specials. Trivia with DJ Tenax kicks off at 8 PM, followed by music at 10. Expect Aussie drink specials like Sydney Mules and Melbourne Margaritas, plus classic eats from chicken parms to meat pies. 8:00 PM. Banff Rose and Crown. Free.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🥧 January Grab & Go Deals. Make winter nights easy with January Grab & Go specials from Valbella Gourmet Foods. Create a Lamb Rack Night for two with a marinated rack, roasting potatoes, and fresh couscous salad, or feed a crowd with a Valbella Pie Night featuring six savoury pies. Weekly home delivery is available across the Bow Valley, Cochrane, and Calgary. As of last night, it looks like the prices were just discounted on most items. Order here.*

• ⛸️ Banff’s On-Again, Off-Again, On-Again Ice Rinks Are Back. They opened before Christmas, melted out during the January warm spell, and now after a few days of -20, they’re back in business. All three outdoor rinks are open again at Fenlands, Sundance Park, and Rotary Park. Conditions can change quickly, so check rink status before heading out and enjoy it while winter’s cooperating.

• ❄️ Avalanche Awareness Days. Head to Lake Louise Ski Resort this weekend for Avalanche Awareness Days. From free beacon practice to snow profile talks, Ski Patrol Canada and avalanche pros will be on hand with practical, local safety knowledge. Drop in between 10 AM and 3 PM. 

• 🔥 More Wildfire Risk Reduction in Banff. Parks Canada has begun wildfire risk-reduction work on 125 hectares in Banff, including thinning trees at the base of Sulphur Mountain. Check the full closure map here. Expect intermittent noise, minor traffic delays on Mountain Ave and Spray Ave, and possible smoke during debris burning. 

• 🙋 Volunteer Opportunity. Canmore Hospital Foundation volunteers play a vital role in supporting Canmore General Hospital and healthcare across the Bow Valley. Opportunities range from helping at events and serving on boards or committees to gardening, supporting long-term care residents, or sharing creative skills. Your time helps strengthen patient care and community well-being. Learn more.

CIVIC NEWS

• $200K Banff Canoe Dock Repair. Banff council approved a $200,000 repair to stabilize the Bow River canoe dock, replacing a failed retaining wall to keep the current concession operating. The fix avoids a $1.5M redevelopment for now, ensuring the Banff Canoe Club can continue operating through its 2027 contract while longer-term plans remain on the table.

LIVE MUSIC

• Friday, January 23rd, 2025, 9:00 PM: Tyler Wood. Location: Tavern 1883, Canmore. No Cover.

• Friday, January 23rd, 2025, 9:30 PM: Northern Quarter. Location: Melissa’s MisSteak, Banff. No Cover.

• Saturday, January 24th, 2026, 10:00 PM: Jamie Allenach. Location: Canmore Rose and Crown. No Cover. 

• Sunday, January 25th, 2026, 7:30 PM: The Woodshed. Location: artsPlace, Canmore. $40 / members $34 / youth $20.

SPORTS

• Not Local, But Worth Watching: Alex Honnold Goes Live on Netflix. This one isn’t Bow Valley news, but plenty of Bow Valley climbers will be tuning in anyway. Alex Honnold is set to free-solo climb Taipei 101, a 101-storey skyscraper, live on Netflix. No ropes. No safety gear. We’re not endorsing free soloing, and we’ve talked at length about the risks. But it’s happening either way, and if you’re curious, your couch might be the safest place to watch. It’s happening tonight at 6 PM MT.

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Monday, 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.