🤍 Dog’s Death Sparks Change

Good morning, Bow Valley!

How’s everyone feeling after skijoring took over Banff? In its fourth year, the event felt noticeably bigger. We were on the ground reporting Saturday, and the crowds alone felt double last year’s. We spoke with visitors from across Canada and the U.S., and early reports suggest every hotel in Banff was booked. We’re working on deeper stories with numbers and local perspectives for later this week. But one early takeaway is already clear: the biggest winner of the weekend wasn’t a rider or a horse. It was the Subway on Caribou Street. With most restaurants quoting 3+ hour waits or turning away walk-ins, the Subway line wrapped the block, but still fed people faster than anyone else.

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

DOG KILLED BY BACKCOUNTRY TRAP PROMPTS CALLS FOR CHANGE

What’s Happening? The death of a dog caught in a baited kill trap near a public backcountry road in the Columbia Valley has sparked a growing campaign to ban baited fur traps on B.C. Crown land and is raising new questions closer to home in Alberta’s mountain regions.

What Happened On The Trail. Earlier this month, Radium Hot Springs residents Sean Boxall and Nicole Trigg were heading out for a backcountry ski day with their Siberian husky, Moon, near Horsethief Creek. Shortly after parking along a plowed pullout, Moon ran up a snowbank and triggered a meat-baited kill trap set just inside the treeline, only metres from the road. The trap, which was legally set on a registered trapline, could not be quickly released. Despite Boxall’s attempts to free his dog, Moon died at the scene. Boxall later required stitches for injuries to his hands.

Why This Is Raising Alarm. The couple says they were stunned to learn how common such traps can be on public land and how close they may legally be placed to roads and recreation areas. While a small trapline sign was posted nearby, they say it was partially obscured. In many jurisdictions, there is no requirement for clear or frequent signage warning recreationists of traps.

What This Means For Alberta And The Bow Valley. Trapping is legal and regulated in Alberta, including on Crown land around the Bow Valley. While no recent high-profile incidents have been documented locally, past cases elsewhere in the province have involved dogs injured or killed by traps near roads and recreation areas. 

The Push For Change. Following Moon’s death, Boxall and Trigg partnered with Exposed Wildlife Conservancy and The Fur-Bearers to launch Support Moon’s Law, calling for bans on baited kill traps and stronger public-safety rules.

FREE CONCERTS, READINGS, & TALKS AT BANFF CENTRE

If you’re looking for thoughtful conversations, new writing, and live music without the ticket price, Banff Centre has a full slate of free events coming up.

Literary Cabaret: Deep Winter Writers

Jan 20 & 22 | Doors 6:15 PM, Readings 7 PM | CLVB ’33

Two evenings of original readings by writers-in-residence from the Deep Winter Writers program. Chapter 2 on January 20 is hosted by poet and writer Holly Pester. Chapter 3 on January 22 is hosted by Divya Victor, award-winning author of CURB. Both hosts will also share readings from their own work. Learn More. 

Decolonizing the Narrative Conversation Series with Margo Kane: Journey to Indigenize

Jan 21 | 7 PM | Max Bell Auditorium

A conversation with Margo Kane, a Cree–Saulteaux Métis artist and the founder of Full Circle: First Nations Performance. Kane will speak about her journey to Indigenize her artistic practice, creating space for Indigenous artists, and how embodiment and storytelling shape her work. Learn More. 

Banff Musicians in Residence Open Studios

Jan 22 & 29 | 7 PM | Rolston Recital Hall Lobby

These open studios are part of the Banff Musicians in Residence program, where resident artists invite the public into their studios to share works-in-progress, impromptu performances, and brand-new collaborations. Learn More

Banff Musicians in Residence Participant Concerts

Avalanche – Jan 25 | 7:30 PM | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Sundog – Jan 30 | 7:30 PM | Rolston Recital Hall

Two free concerts, Avalanche and Sundog, bring together Banff Musicians in Residence artists from across genres to celebrate experimentation, collaboration, and creative discovery. 

_{*Presented by Banff Centre.}

THE DIGEST

• 🥏 Banff’s Disc Golf Experiment at Sundance Park. Banff council has approved a removable, low-impact disc golf course at Sundance Park, targeted for spring 2026. The idea is to test demand without locking the town into permanent infrastructure or changes to the park. It’s designed to be easy to install and remove if needed. No specific opening date has been confirmed yet. Once installed, it will become the Bow Valley’s third official disc golf site, alongside courses at Three Sisters Parkway and the Canmore Nordic Centre.

• ⌛ Mountaineering Heavyweights Share the Stage in Canmore. Last week, the Canmore Library hosted a Fireside Chat with mountaineering heavyweights Sharon Wood and Sarah Hueniken, alongside local author Joanna Cron. The conversation tackled why women’s achievements have often been sidelined, how grief and recovery shape time in the mountains, and how women’s risk-taking has historically been judged differently than men’s. We pulled together a full recap here plus a preview of Cron’s new book, The Mountaineering Women.

• 🌡️ Yes, This January Has Been Unusually Warm. If you’ve been thinking this January feels off, you’re not wrong. New data from Environment and Climate Change Canada shows 39 weather stations across Alberta set record highs on Jan. 14. Closer to home, the Bow Valley Provincial Park hit 15.1°C, beating a record that had stood since 1965. No wonder many of the Bow Valley’s usual walking trails now feel more like skating rinks after all that daytime melt refroze overnight.

• 🦵 New Canmore Shop Offers Expert Help For Injury Recovery. Banff Sport Medicine has opened the Banff Sport Bracing Shop, offering braces, joint supports, orthotics, and recovery tools with professional fitting and guidance. Instead of guessing online, locals can get expert help tailored to how they move, work, and play. The shop serves everyone from athletes to seniors. It’s opening at a convenient time, considering our publisher Ben has developed a weekly habit of reminding the office about his sore knees after every weekend adventure.

• ☑️ Stoney Nakoda Bring Traditional Fire Knowledge Back to the Bow Valley. Using federal funding through the Indigenous Guardians program, the Stoney Nakoda Nations are researching how cultural burning and traditional land stewardship can complement modern wildfire science. Elders are sharing generations-old knowledge about small, intentional fires used to care for the land. The work comes as wildfire mitigation ramps up across the Bow Valley, with hopes this time Indigenous knowledge has a seat at the table.

Traditional Media Called. It Wants Its Budget Back.

We get it. You’ve “always done” print.

But your customers are in their inbox, not your neighbor’s recycling.

We deliver clicks and sales, not column inches.

➡️ Stop funding nostalgia. Start driving results.

BANFF BRIDGE RENAMING SIGNAGE COSTS DOUBLE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE

What’s Happening? Banff is moving ahead with permanent signage for the pedestrian bridge formerly known as the Muskrat Street Bridge, now officially renamed the Thunder Medicine Pipe Bridge, with updated costs coming in at $30,000.

The Price Jump. When council approved the name change last fall, staff estimated the signage would cost between $12,000 and $15,000. A new request now outlines a one-time project cost of $30,000, plus about $4,000 per year in maintenance starting in 2027.

Here’s where the money goes:

• $5,000 for consultation with the Blackfoot Confederacy on interpretive content

• $5,000 for professional sign design

• $16,400 for manufacturing

• $3,750 for site preparation and installation

The funding allows for one permanent interpretive sign near the bridge entrance explaining the new name, its meaning, and its connection to the site. It also covers a full Blackfoot-language translation for both on-site signage and online materials.

Why The Name Matters. The pedestrian bridge, completed in 2013, had never been formally named before September, when council approved the change following consultation with Blackfoot Elders. The name Thunder Medicine Pipe Bridge refers to a sacred object with deep cultural significance. Town staff linked the renaming to Banff’s Indigenous Framework, adopted in 2022, which aims to support reconciliation, cultural revitalization, and language preservation.

What’s Next. Council also discussed the possibility of holding a naming ceremony with members of Treaty 7, but no plans have been approved yet. Signage for the Thunder Medicine Pipe Bridge is expected to be installed later this year.

THINGS TO DO

Monday

• Avalanche Awareness Night. Learn about avalanche risks tied to backcountry and out-of-bounds travel at this free, community-focused evening at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Expect snow safety presentations, short films from the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival, plus a trade show and door prizes. 7:00 PM Max Bell Auditorium. Free.

• Line Dance Lessons. Start the week dancing at the Canmore Recreation Centre with structured line dance lessons for beginners. Level 1 runs at 7 PM and Level 1.5 at 8 PM, featuring quick reviews, refreshers, and new choreography. A fun, social way to move, learn, and build skills. 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM. Canmore Rec Centre.

Tuesday

• Mitten Making with Felt. Create a cozy, wearable pair of eco-friendly mittens in this beginner-friendly, two-session workshop using wet felting techniques. You’ll explore different wool types, microns, posture, and hand techniques while working step by step from fibre to finished mitts. 6:30–8:30 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $97.75 - $115 (materials included).*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• ✨ G’Day Banff: Australia Day Party. We know a few Aussies read Bow Valley Insider, so this one’s for you. Australia Day lands Jan. 25 at the Rose & Crown in Banff, with trivia at 8 PM, DJ Tenax at 10, and Aussie food and drink specials on deck, think Sydney Mules, chicken parms, and meat pies. Sunnies, thongs, and boardies encouraged.*

• 💡 A Canmore Workshop on Building Smarter for the Climate. A heads-up for anyone in the building world: tickets are going for Life Cycle Assessments: An Introduction to Embodied Carbon, happening Jan. 28. The half-day, in-person workshop is hosted by the Biosphere Institute and the Bow Valley Builders & Developers Association, and explains the climate impact of building materials and how new rules could affect future construction. Breakfast is included. Tickets are $15.*

• 🚧 Whitebark Café Is Temporarily Closed for Renovations. We just learned one of our favourite Banff cafés is taking a short break. Whitebark Café is closed until the end of January for renovations, but the good news is you can still grab their whole-bean coffee and house granola at the Banff Aspen Lodge front desk. Watch their Instagram for reopening updates.*

• 📜 Parks Canada’s History Podcast Is Back. You probably didn’t know Parks Canada has a history podcast, but it does, and it’s back with new episodes. ReCollections dives into stories like Viking explorers at L’Anse aux Meadows, Basque whalers off the coast of Labrador in the 1500s, and a Gold Rush-era brothel in Dawson City. No stories from the Bow Valley yet, but it’s still worth a listen.

• 📣 Canmore Nordic Centre Trail Update. Conditions have improved after last week’s rain, though trails remain icy and fast in spots. Banff Trail was freshly groomed for skate and classic, with Meadowview and Bow Trail also in good shape. Some upper trails remain closed due to snowmaking and ongoing fireguard construction. Use caution on the Legacy Trail and in parking lots.

• 🚧 Area Closure For Wildfire Risk Reduction In Banff. Parks Canada has closed parts of the Upper Springs area until April 15 to support forest thinning, debris burning, and log hauling. The closure covers Upper Springs Block 1 (between Mountain Ave, the town boundary, and uphill toward the Banff Springs and Rimrock hotels) and Block 2 (south of Mountain Ave near the Rimrock). All trails in the area are closed.

CIVIC NEWS

• Snow Removal And Parking Bans In Banff. The Town of Banff continues snow clearing in residential areas, alleys, parking lots, parks, and municipal buildings this week. Parking bans are scheduled for Tue, Jan. 20 (Squirrel St; Cougar St), Wed, Jan. 21 (Badger St; Fox St; Marten St; Lynx St), and Thu, Jan. 22 (Muskrat St; Deer St). Watch for no-parking signs and move vehicles to allow curb-to-curb clearing. Sign up for alerts. 

LIVE MUSIC

• Monday, January 19th, 2025, 6:30 PM: Liam Daisley. Location: Banff Social. No Cover.

• Tuesday, January 20th, 2025, 10:00 PM:Jesse Peters. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

SPORTS

• Eagles Get the Last Word Against Calgary. After all the buildup around their heated Jan. 3 matchup, the rematch delivered on the ice. The Canmore Eagles beat the Calgary Canucks 4-2 on Friday night at the Canmore Recreation Centre. No repeat of the late-game chaos this time, but it was physical, loud, and closely watched after six suspensions came out of the first meeting.

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.