👮 Drug Bust in Canmore

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Quick favour today. You'll read more below about the Canmore MTB Classic returning next week, but we spoke with organizers last night and they're still looking for volunteers. If you can spare a few hours, please consider helping out. The event is bringing hundreds of athletes from around the world to Canmore. Perks include meals and snacks during shifts, a beer ticket, an event t-shirt, raffle entries for every shift worked, and a volunteer appreciation party. Sign up.

- Fortune Whelan, Ben S., Madalyn Beach

TWO CANMORE RESIDENTS CHARGED IN $490K DRUG TRAFFICKING CASE 

What’s Happening? Four people, including two Canmore residents, have been charged after an RCMP investigation into alleged drug trafficking between Calgary and the Bow Valley led to the seizure of roughly $490,000 worth of fentanyl, cocaine, counterfeit opioid pills, and a prohibited firearm.

The Investigation Started In March. RCMP said the investigation began after officers identified a person suspected of transporting wholesale quantities of drugs from Calgary into the Bow Valley. Investigators allege the drugs were being brought to the region for distribution.

“Through continued investigation, Cochrane Crime Reduction Unit confirmed that the suspect was actively involved in drug trafficking within the Bow Valley,” RCMP said.

On March 13, police stopped a vehicle linked to the investigation and seized 1,097 grams of fentanyl.

What Police Seized. Over the course of the investigation, RCMP seized 1,186 grams of suspected fentanyl, 915 grams of suspected cocaine, 2,895 suspected counterfeit opioid pills, seven grams of suspected methamphetamine, a prohibited semi-automatic rifle, and two prohibited magazines containing 30 rounds each.

Police said approximately 2,000 of the pills seized in Canmore were counterfeit Xanax tablets, which RCMP noted are often composed of synthetic opioids that can be more potent than fentanyl.

Four People Charged. Canmore residents Mackenzie Harbar, 30, and Katie Ervin, 31, each face four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking. Harbar also faces 10 charges of failing to comply with conditions.

Public social media profiles indicate Harbar and Ervin are in a relationship.

Both are scheduled to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Cochrane on June 16. Harbar was ordered held in custody pending his next court appearance, while Ervin was released on conditions.

Evidence gathered during the Canmore search led investigators to two Calgary homes, where RCMP seized additional drugs, more than 1,100 synthetic opioid tablets and a prohibited firearm. Aaron Cahoon, 30, and Jordan Nyiro, 31, were charged with multiple drug trafficking offences.

Why It Matters. RCMP said the quantities seized had the potential to contribute to fatal overdoses and disrupted an alleged drug trafficking operation supplying the Bow Valley.

Read our full story

YOUR HOME AFFECTS YOUR STRESS MORE THAN YOU THINK

Most people think about stress as something caused by work, finances, traffic, or life in general.

But your home quietly affects your stress levels too.

The mattress you’re not sleeping well on. The cramped dining space you’ve been meaning to fix for three years. The couch that looked great online but feels like sitting on packed snow. The cluttered room that never quite feels calm.

In a place like the Bow Valley, where people spend long days working, hiking, skiing, parenting, commuting, and recovering from all of the above, home should actually help you recharge, not add to the chaos.

That’s part of why more people are paying closer attention to how their homes feel, not just how they look.

Castle Mountain Home Furnishings has been helping Bow Valley locals create more functional, comfortable homes since 1980. From customizable furniture and mattresses to appliances, they offer free in-home design consultations, delivery, and setup, helping people build spaces that genuinely work for mountain living.

They’ve also recently moved into a new showroom at 500 Bow Valley Trail.

Right now, Bow Valley Insider readers can get 20% off all custom furniture orders from now until June 22. Just fill out Castle Mountain’s contact form and mention you’d like the “Bow Valley Insider deal.”

_{*Presented by Castle Mountain Home Furnishings.}

THE DIGEST

• 🚴‍♂️ Canmore Cyclist Dies After Crash Near Banff Gates. A 71-year-old Canmore man has died after losing control of his bicycle and striking a concrete barrier along the shoulder of the Trans-Canada Highway near Banff National Park's east gates. RCMP say the crash happened around 4 PM on May 29, with no vehicle involved. The rider was taken to Canmore Hospital in critical condition before being airlifted by STARS to Calgary, where he later died from his injuries. Police say the incident was non-criminal and the investigation has been completed. 

• 🏗️ Heading To Radium From The Bow Valley? Budget Extra Time. If you're planning a trip to Radium Hot Springs this summer, expect construction delays along Highway 93 South through Kootenay National Park (see map). Parks Canada has launched three infrastructure projects, including major work in Sinclair Canyon near Radium, where delays could reach 45 minutes during peak periods. Construction is expected to continue through October and will also affect areas near Kootenay Crossing and south of the Alberta border. Access to Radium Hot Springs and most attractions will remain open throughout the project. 

• 🚧 One Year Later, Bow Glacier Falls Trail Remains Closed. It's been nearly a year since a fatal rockfall at Bow Glacier Falls claimed two lives and forced the closure of the popular trail (we covered the story last year). Parks Canada says the area around the falls remains closed while geotechnical assessments continue, and there is still no timeline for reopening. The closure has been in place since June 19, 2025, with fines of up to $25,000 for entering the restricted area. We recently hiked the trail and found that you can still complete most of the route and reach a viewpoint overlooking the falls, but the final section remains closed. 

• 🐻 Grizzly Cub Escapes Oncoming Train. A newly released video shows a grizzly bear cub and its mother moving off railway tracks in Banff National Park just moments before a train passes (see footage in our full article). The footage comes less than three weeks after a cub was killed by a train near Protection Mountain. It also follows new research showing that bears are often drawn to railways and roads because those disturbed areas produce abundant vegetation and provide easy travel routes. The problem: those same corridors expose bears to trains and vehicles, turning valuable habitat into a dangerous trap. 

The Local Paper Will Take Your Advertising Dollars.

We don’t.

We turn businesses away.

Not often. But it happens.

If we don’t think we can get you results, we’ll tell you.

Because bad partnerships help no one.

If we do say yes…

We’re all in.

➡️Let’s see if it’s a fit

CANMORE WANTS THE MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CUP BACK

What’s Happening? The Canmore MTB Classic returns next week with roughly 400 riders from around the world, but organizers say the event is about more than racing. Their long-term goal is to bring mountain biking’s World Cup circuit back to Canmore for the first time since 1999.

From Local Race To International Event. The event began in 2016 when local parents, including Ron Sadesky, wanted to create more high-level racing opportunities for young Western Canadian athletes.

“All the Canada Cup races and national championships were focused in Eastern Canada,” Sadesky said. “We thought we needed to give kids out west a chance to compete in national-level races.”

What started as a grassroots effort has grown into Canada’s only stop on the UCI Continental Series calendar, one level below the World Cup.

A Full-Circle Moment. One of the young riders the founders hoped to support was Sadesky’s son, Logan. Now a World Cup racer, Logan returns to Canmore next week after winning the elite men’s short-track race at last year’s event.

“To see him win the race last year, and especially with the field that was there, was really special,” Sadesky said.

“This is his home course. You want him to do well here.”

Canmore’s World Cup Ambitions. Event organizer Josh Peacock believes Canmore already has many of the ingredients needed to host a World Cup. The Canmore Nordic Centre regularly hosts international biathlon and cross-country skiing events, and Peacock says the mountain bike trails are already world-class.

“This was the goal over the last couple of years with getting this Continental Series, was to show the International Federation that we can scale it to that level,” Peacock said.

The Biggest Hurdle? Money. While the Canmore MTB Classic operates on an annual budget of roughly $250,000, Peacock estimates hosting a World Cup would require closer to $2 million.

“It always comes down to budget,” he said.

Despite the challenge, organizers believe Canmore has proven it can host world-class events and see next week’s race as another step toward bringing mountain biking’s biggest stage back to town.

Catch The Race. Spectators can drop in from June 10-13 at the Canmore Nordic Centre, but Saturday is expected to be the main attraction, featuring the biggest races, a vendor expo, beer garden, giant viewing screens, and a festival atmosphere.

Read our full story

THINGS TO DO

Friday

• Valbella Food Truck Opens Today. Valbella's seasonal food truck returns today, serving lunch every Thursday and Friday outside the deli. Expect burgers, bratwurst, smokies and other summer favourites made with Valbella's signature meats, plus a licensed patio with mountain views that earned "Best Patio View" honours last year. 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM. Valbella, Canmore.*

• Summer Beer Garden Grand Opening. The Grizzly Paw’s backyard beer garden opens today, complete with a special beer release: The Trailblazer, an IPA aged in Wild Life Distillery gin barrels. The brewery's spacious backyard venue adds another outdoor gathering spot to Canmore's summer lineup, and if you show up tonight, you can enter to win one of three rafting trips for two with Canmore Raft Tours. 2PM - 9PM. 310 Old Canmore Rd., Canmore. No cover.*

Saturday

• Ribbon Skirt Community Project. Led by Stoney Nakoda artist Anna Poucette, the free workshops invite participants to learn cultural teachings and sew ribbon skirts (basic sewing machine skills required) that will be gifted to Indigenous women and girls for ceremony and cultural events. Space is limited. 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. Free.*

• Tim Hus at the Exshaw Legion. Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion with live Canadiana music from Tim Hus. The afternoon includes a 3 PM meat draw, 5 PM pulled pork supper with coleslaw, chips, and dessert, and a 6:30 PM show. Contact Kim at [email protected] for tickets. Exshaw Legion. $30.*

Sunday

• Recreation and Parks Day Returns to Banff. Sundance Park will be buzzing with flower crown making, Japanese tea, Banff Library storytime, a community BBQ, and a variety of outdoor activities to kick off Recreation and Parks Month. Featured programs include beginner skateboarding lessons, outdoor painting sessions, and a family-friendly Bear Aware workshop. Many activities are free. 10 AM to 2 PM Sundance Park, Banff. 

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🚧 Highway 1A Near Gap Lake Closing Saturday. If you're travelling between Canmore and Exshaw this Saturday, plan ahead. Highway 1A will be closed near Gap Lake from 6 AM to 11 PM while CPKC completes mandatory upgrades to the rail crossing. Drivers should expect detours and allow extra travel time throughout the day. 

• 🍽️ Looking For A New Breakfast Spot? Sandtraps Restaurant serves breakfast daily from 8 to 11 AM, with mountain views and a large patio included at no extra charge. The menu features everything from eggs benedict and omelettes to pancakes, breakfast wraps, huevos rancheros, BLTs, breakfast burgers, and fresh coffee to start your day. Here’s the full menu.*

• ✅ Banff’s Popular Pilates Studio Is Opening In Canmore. Studio 103, the Pilates studio that’s built a loyal following in Banff, is opening a Canmore location in mid-June. A few members of the BVI team recently took a class at the Banff studio and can confirm: your core will be humbled. To celebrate the launch, Studio 103 is offering 10% off class packs for anyone who joins the Canmore waitlist before opening day. A class pack is essentially a bundle of classes you can use whenever you want.*

• 🏞️ Lake Agnes Teahouse Is Open For The Season. A beloved Lake Louise classic is back. Lake Agnes Teahouse has opened for the season, which means hikers can once again earn their tea, soup, and famous chocolate cake the old-fashioned way: by hiking up. The seasonal teahouse runs without electricity, so bring cash and start early to avoid the crowds.. 

CIVIC NEWS

• Winter Shelter Gets Four More Years. Canmore council has unanimously approved a four-year extension allowing the Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley to continue operating its emergency winter shelter at Scout Hall through 2030. The decision follows the shelter's busiest season on record, with 56 people using the service, more than 1,300 meals served, and capacity exceeded on 24 nights despite a recent expansion. Shelter operators say a growing number of guests are employed or actively seeking work but unable to find affordable housing.

LIVE MUSIC

• Friday, June 5th, 2026, 5:00 PM: DJ Tenax.  Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

• Saturday, June 6th, 2026, 7:30 PM: Women of the Bow Valley.  Location: artsPlace, Canmore. $15-30.

SPORTS

• Big Race Weekend at the Nordic Centre. It will be a busy weekend at the Canmore Nordic Centre as hundreds of athletes hit the trails for back-to-back events. The 5 Peaks Trail Running Series brings approximately 800 runners on Saturday, June 6, with kids, sport, enduro, and grit distances ranging from 1 km to 22 km. On Sunday, June 7, the Canmore Crux gravel biking event takes over with a new four-hour lap format. 

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.