🎥 Famous Locals Hit the Big Screen

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Well, we’d usually put this under the Sports section, but this is too good not to lead with.  Canmore’s own Noah Philp scored his first NHL goal this week after 17 games in the league, helping the Edmonton Oilers take a 3–1 win over Vancouver. Watch the goal here.

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

THE LOCAL’S GUIDE TO THE BANFF FILM FESTIVAL

What’s Happening. The 50th anniversary of the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival kicks off in just over two weeks, and the lineup is a beast with 87 films across nine days. Whether you’re into ice climbing, bike-packing, or emotional hometown stories, the problem is the same every year: how do you choose?

The Dilemma. Few people buy an all-week pass or take time off work to see everything. So this year, we did the heavy lifting. We went through the entire schedule to find which days pack the most Canadian and Bow Valley storytelling into just one or two days. Because if you’re going to watch mountain stories, you might as well start with the local ones, eh.

Stories From Our Backyard. Of the 87 titles, 23 were made by Canadians or feature Canadians, and six were filmed in or about the Bow Valley. This year’s local stories dig into what makes mountain life here so magnetic:

• Ahon follows the Filipino-Canadian K8 Mountaineering Club as they find community and belonging through climbing. 

• Elladj captures ice-skating phenom Elladj Balde carving art into local frozen lakes.

• Wall of Walls shows Canmore’s Will Gadd taking on some of the wildest ice faces in the world. 

• Trailblazing: The Matt Hadley Story, follows a Canmore trailbuilder rebuilding his life and identity after a devastating accident. 

• The Mighty Quay celebrates 100 years of Banff’s Mount Norquay. 

• And Iikaiksimatsa’pao’p (Grateful to Be on the Land) follows Canmore’s Cassie Ayoungman as she blends Siksika teachings with climbing. 

The Best Bang For Your Buck: Nov 2 packs in seven Canadian films, or pair it with Nov 1 for up to twelve. Prefer strictly Canmore and Banff stories like the ones above? Nov 9 delivers three of them.

Here’s the complete guide that walks you through how to take advantage of everything.

YOUR MUSCLES CALLED. THEY WANT A REFUND.

Decades of hiking, biking, and pushing your limits have left your muscles overworked, tight, and maybe even a little resentful. If they could talk, they’d be asking for payback.

At Banff Sport Medicine, massage therapy is more than just relaxation, it’s a reset for your body. Whether you’re dealing with stiffness, soreness, or just need to loosen up before your next adventure, a targeted sports massage helps relieve tension, improve circulation, and restore mobility.

Think of it as damage control for an active lifestyle. Because the more you take care of your body, the longer it’ll keep up with you.

Book your massage session today and give your muscles what they deserve.

_{*Presented by Banff Sports Medicine.}

THE DIGEST

• 🚩 How Not to Be That Tourist in Banff. For this one, we imagined ourselves working at Banff Lake Louise Tourism and asked: what should tourists not do when they come to Banff? The result is our list of the 10 most common Banff tourist mistakes. We’re not being sarcastic. It’s genuinely the guide you send your cousin from Ontario before their next trip to Banff. Think of it as your starter kit for blending in with locals and avoiding eye rolls at the crosswalk. 

• ✅ Bow Valley Teacher Strike Update. You can now apply for “strike relief payments,” which provide $30 per child per missed school day ($150 per week) for kids 12 and under. Payments are retroactive to Oct. 6 and start going out Oct. 31. And as a reminder, we’re still updating our list of strike-day activities for kids and teens across the Bow Valley, featuring local businesses stepping up with special programs. We just added another one last night.

• 🏨 Banff and Lake Louise Just Got the Michelin Seal of Luxury. Four local hotels, including Fairmont Banff Springs, Chateau Lake Louise, Post Hotel & Spa, and The Lodge at Bow Lake, have earned a coveted Michelin Key, the hotel world’s equivalent to Michelin’s famous restaurant stars. The award celebrates properties that excel in design, service, and sense of place. Alberta now has six Key hotels, with four right here in the Rockies. Meanwhile, over at Bow Valley Insider HQ, we’re still hunting for hostels under $100 a night.

• 🌉 Kananaskis Bridge Greenlit Despite Trout Concerns. Federal officials have approved West Fraser Cochrane to rebuild a bridge over the Highwood River, two years after halting the project for missing permits. The bridge will give access to logging zones where the company plans to clear roughly 2,000 football fields of forest. Conservationists warn the decision threatens bull trout spawning habitat.

Step Into the Marketing Ring…

In this corner:
✅ Access to 16,000+ Bow Valley Locals
✅ Scroll-stopping copy written in our voice
✅ Trackable results you can brag about

And in the other:
🛑 Print ads your customers flip past with their morning coffee

Ready to fight smarter?
➡️ Partner with Bow Valley Insider and join the winning team

TWO PROPOSALS THAT PROVE CANMORE’S ELECTION ISN’T BORING

What’s Happening. Amid the usual talk of housing, traffic, and livability, a few bold ideas have shaken up Canmore’s 2025 municipal race. While most candidates have played it safe, two first-timers, James “Strickly” Strickert and Laura Finlay, have offered visions that could change how the town looks and functions.

The Sports Complex. At the Biosphere Institute forum, Strickert said he’s against rezoning the Palliser lands for housing. Instead, he wants to turn the site into a solar-powered community sports complex. He called it “the sunniest spot in Canmore” and argued it could unite residents through recreation while generating renewable energy to offset costs. His idea runs counter to the town’s long-term plan, which envisions affordable housing there, but it is the kind of curveball that gets people talking.

The Parkade Pitch. A few days later, at a builders’ forum, candidate Laura Finlay made her own splash by suggesting a five-story parkade built on top of Elevation Place. While others talked policy, Finlay zeroed in on gridlock and parking pain near downtown. “Traffic is very tight,” she said. “I think a parkade is our only solution.”

The Takeaway. Neither proposal is likely to break ground anytime soon, but they prove something important: in a race often defined by familiar talking points, Canmore’s candidates still have room for a few wild cards. Full details in our article.

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Vote Early. Skip the election day lines and cast your ballot during advance voting to shape your community’s future. Canmore: Rec Centre, 1:00–7:00 PM. Banff: Town Hall, 3:00–7:00 PM. 

• Art Exhibit Reception. Celebrate the opening of Weaving Community at the Three Sisters Gallery, where artists explore connection, identity, and belonging through craft and contemporary art. 6–8 PM. Elevation Place, Room 212, Canmore. Free.

• Sleepy Hollow Like You’ve Never Seen It Before. Banff Centre presents a thrilling adaptation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Follow schoolmaster Ichabod Crane as he navigates a superstitious village haunted by secrets and the Headless Horseman. Catch it in Banff before its Calgary run. 7:30 PM. Jenny Belzberg Theatre, Banff. $20-$45.*

Thursday

• Advance Voting. Skip the lines on election day and cast your ballot early to help shape your community’s future. 10 AM–6 PM at Canmore Rec Centre. 10 AM–2 PM at Banff Town Hall. Free.

• Drive an EV for Free. Curious about electric vehicles? Now’s your chance to test several out yourself. On deck are a 2025 Chevy Silverado, Hyundai IONIQs, and a Volvo XC60. Ask questions, and experience the latest technology. 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Canmore Rec Centre. Free, but book ahead.*

JEFF MAH FOR CANMORE COUNCIL

A few months ago, I was driving in the car with my 10-year-old daughter. She was upset because her best friend was moving away. Despite her friend's parents having well-paying jobs (teacher and engineer) they were priced out of Canmore. My daughter then counted how many friends she had lost over the years... and she ran out of fingers.

This is NOT how a community is built. We are losing our workforce, our next generation and their great ideas and energy.

No society thrives long-term under the crush of increasing disparity.  We have made gains this past term, but we need to keep pushing. 

I'm campaigning on:

• More non-market housing for locals

• Regional human use strategy for tourism

• Environmental protection

• Livability

• Arts & culture

• Truth & reconciliation

I'm a strong candidate because I’m experienced and get results. I'm particularly proud of:

• Breaking ground on 100 Palliser Lane: Canmore Community Housing's new 144-unit rental building.

• Implementing Voyent Alert app

• The Livability Tax: accelerate housing projects for locals. 

• Paving the West Bow River Pathway for year-round connectivity.

My vision of Canmore is one of kindness, diversity and inclusivity - where a thriving middle class can set down roots and make this place even better. On Mon, Oct 20th, re-elect me, Jeff Mah!

🔗Website: jeffmah.com

🔗Podcast: YouTube: The Canmorite Podcast

_{*A message paid for by the Jeff Mah campaign.}

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🥘 Sustainable Cooking Workshop in Canmore. Join the Biosphere Institute and the Co+Kitchen for Flavours of Home, a hands-on cooking workshop celebrating sustainable, planet-friendly meals. On November 13, 2025, you’ll cook, eat, and take home delicious leftovers featuring dishes like mushroom donair and upside-down tacos. Tickets $15. Get yours here.*

• ✨ Canmore Miners’ Union Hall Has a New Look. The Canmore Miners’ Union Hall has been polished up with new floors, fresh paint, acoustic upgrades, and a modernized kitchen. Still the same community hub at heart, now better equipped for weddings, workshops, fundraisers, and arts events. Locals get 20% off rentals, making it one of the most budget-friendly venues in town. Drop in tomorrow (Oct 16) from 5–7pm to see the upgrades and celebrate the refresh.*

• 🔁 Share & Repair Fair. The Town of Banff and the Biosphere Institute are hosting their 2nd annual Share and Repair Fair on Sunday, October 26, 2025, from 10 AM – 2 PM at Fenlands. This free community event celebrates reuse, repair, and waste reduction with local vendors, workshops, live music, and on-site repairs. RSVP for free to win prizes.*

• 🌭 Jays Game Specials in Banff. This week, cheer on the Blue Jays at The Boss in Banff. Grab your $5 Jumbo Hot Dog with ketchup and mustard, plus $5 and $8 house beers. The specials are available in the lounge during every game. Jays are down 2–0 in the series. The next games are tonight at 6 PM and tomorrow at 6:30 PM.*

• 🎃 Halloween Party at the Banff Legion. Get your costumes ready for the Banff Legion’s Halloween Party on Friday, October 31, at 7 PM. Dance the night away with DJ Taxi Mike, enjoy free entry, free pool (with brand-new felt), and food and drink specials. Prizes for best costume and fun for the whole family.*

• 🏘️ Provincial Housing Needs Survey. Throughout October, a province-wide survey is collecting data on housing and service needs in 64 Alberta communities, including the Bow Valley. The results will help shape future housing policies and funding. Findings are expected in spring 2026. Take the survey.

• 🚌 Attention Canmore Palliser Residents. This winter, Route 12 is adding morning and evening service to make getting around Canmore easier than ever. Since the route won’t be heading to the Nordic Centre this season, it’s focusing on Palliser residents with convenient stops along Palliser Lane, Bow Valley Trail, and downtown. See the full schedule.

CIVIC NEWS

• Banff Eyes Traffic Safety Hotspots. Council will review traffic safety problem areas in 2026 after data showed most concerns involve cyclists and speeding. With tourism booming and streets busy, officials say intersections pose higher collision risks than steep roads like Mountain Ave or Tunnel Mountain Rd. 

• Join an MD of Bighorn Board or Committee. Are you passionate about making a difference? Here’s your chance. Apply by October 24. Learn more.

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, October 15th, 2025, 1:00 PM: The Last Dance. Location: Banff Ave Brewing. No Cover.

• Thursday, October 16th, 2025, 7:30 PM: Kobo Town. Location: artsPlace, Canmore. $35 / members, $29.75 / youth, $ 17.50.

• Thursday, October 16th, 2025, 10:00 PM: Rumble in the Jungle. Location: Melissa’s MisSteak, Banff. No Cover.

SPORTS

• Grizzly Ultra Solo Results. On Saturday, Canmore’s Oliver Murray placed 3rd overall and Jared Strand finished 12th. On Sunday, during the snowstorm, Banff’s Jack Tebb was the Bow Valley’s only top-30 finisher. Congrats to everyone who braved the brutal conditions. Full results.

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Friday, 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.