🔥 Fire Near Hwy 1 Contained

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Happy May 1st. Not sure if we should be taking the over or under on another 15 cm of snow this month, but based on how this season’s gone, we’re hammering the over. 

- Fortune Whelan, Ben S., Madalyn Beach

CAR-FREE CYCLING RETURNS TO BOW VALLEY PARKWAY

What’s Happening? A 17-kilometre stretch of the Bow Valley Parkway is now car-free for six weeks, giving cyclists a chance to ride one of the park’s most scenic routes without traffic.

The Setup. From April 30 to June 25, the eastern section between the Trans-Canada Highway and Johnston Canyon is closed to public vehicle traffic during the day (8 AM to 8 PM), opening it up for cycling and walking. Check the Google Map link.

But here’s the key detail: from 8 PM to 8 AM, the road is fully closed to all travel, including bikes and pedestrians, to reduce wildlife disturbance overnight.

This setup started as a COVID-era experiment but has since become an annual fixture, locked in through 2030.

How to Ride It. There are a few ways to access the route. Watch our video below to see where to park and how to access it from different starting points, including the Banff townsite, a shortcut option, and west access via Castle Junction.

The full ride is about 34 km return, with rolling terrain and some steeper sections. It’s generally considered a moderate ride, but there are a few punchy climbs in both directions, especially approaching Johnston Canyon.

How long it takes depends on your pace and stops, but most riders can expect around 3 to 4 hours for a round trip without extended breaks.

Wildlife Is Part of the Deal. You’re riding through active wildlife habitat, and spring is a busy time. Bears, elk, deer, and wolves are commonly seen along this corridor, especially at lower elevations.

If you’re starting from Banff and taking Vermilion Lakes Road to access the parkway, take extra caution. Parks Canada has issued a bear warning for that area, where bears have been feeding on fish carcasses along the shoreline.

Want To Make The Most of It? Read our full guide for tips and planning advice. 

CANMORE’S MOST COMPLETE HEALTH CARE MODEL

For many people, health care still feels fragmented. You see one provider, wait for a referral, then repeat your story somewhere else. Care stops and starts instead of moving forward.

This Canmore clinic works differently.

Care continues beyond a single visit. Doctors collaborate with psychiatry, pediatrics, dietetics, physiotherapy, and other specialists. One patient. One chart. Multiple services working together, without sending people back and forth to Calgary.

That integrated approach means fewer delays, fewer dropped referrals, and fewer things slipping through the cracks. Physicians can consult each other directly, spot patterns earlier, and coordinate next steps while the patient is still in the room.

That model is already in place at Mountain Maternity and Family Practice, which says it is accepting new patients.

Fill out this quick form, and Dr Brendan Flowers and his team will personally follow up.

_{*Presented by Mountain Maternity & Family Practice}

THE DIGEST

• 🏠 That $1,524/Night Banff Rental Sparked Bigger Questions. Our recent story on a Banff vacation rental landing on Vrbo’s “best in the world” list got people talking, mainly about how it’s even allowed. Short answer: Airbnb isn’t banned, but most full-home short-term rentals in residential areas are. The rules are tight, tied to housing pressure and national park regulations. Existing permitted operators can still run if they stay compliant, but new approvals have been harder to get as council tightens rules. Read our full story for a breakdown of how it all works. 

• 🔥 Brush Fire Near Highway 1 Brought Under Control. A brush fire west of the Bow Valley sparked Thursday afternoon just north of Highway 1 in Rocky View County, quickly growing to an estimated 50 acres and drawing a large multi-agency response. Crews worked through the day to contain the spread, with air support and teams from surrounding communities assisting. By evening, officials confirmed the fire is largely under control, though crews remain on site to monitor hot spots. Residents are still being asked to avoid the area while cleanup continues. 

• 🚠 Gondola Debate Mirrors Growth in Other Resort Towns. Canmore’s proposed Mount Lady MacDonald gondola is being pitched as a way to manage tourism, but comparisons to other resort towns suggest it often comes with broader growth. Developer Stone Creek says the project would ease pressure on sensitive areas and generate economic benefits, while residents flagged concerns around wildlife, traffic, and alpine safety. Similar projects in places like Colorado have been tied to major expansion, including housing and hotel growth. Read our latest article to see how similar projects have shaped other mountain towns.  

• 🎰 Another Canmore Lottery Win Has Locals Doing a Double Take. A Canmore man is $123,977 richer after hitting a Lotto 6-49 win, saying he “could not sleep” after realizing the ticket he bought at Dead Man’s Flats had paid off. If this feels familiar, it should. Earlier this month, another local scored $100K in a separate draw. Two six-figure wins in a few weeks isn’t exactly common, and it’s starting to feel like Canmore’s having a bit of a moment. Not saying anything…but your glove box ticket might be worth a second look.  

The local paper has newspaper stands around Canmore and Banff

They’ve been there forever. You’ve seen them.

When a new storefront opens, maybe they add another stand. That’s how they grow.

Our distribution is different. It’s email and social media.

20,000+ locals get Bow Valley Insider in their inbox. And we add another 1,000 every month.

That’s not more “stands.” That’s more people. And we’re not limited by physical distribution.

One video on social media can reach 50,000… 100,000+ people in a matter of days.

No new stands required.

➡️ Want that kind of reach? Let’s talk

CANMORE EARNS A- ON WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS, BUT GAPS REMAIN

What’s Happening? Canmore earned an A- on Alberta’s wildfire preparedness scorecard, but the results are prompting a closer look at planning gaps and how much responsibility is falling on residents.

A Strong Score… With Fine Print. Canmore ranked above the provincial average of B, placing it among the stronger performers in Alberta.

But the scorecard isn’t independently verified and is meant as a planning tool, not a final verdict. And when you dig in, the cracks show:

• The town’s wildfire mitigation strategy hasn’t been fully updated since 2018

• Annual work plans and progress tracking are inconsistent

• Coordination between departments needs tightening

“I think this reflects the important progress… At the same time, there is certainly room for improvement,” said FireSmart co-ordinator Simon Bagshaw.

The Shift to ‘Shared Responsibility.’ A big theme in the findings: wildfire resilience is increasingly being framed as a community effort.

Canmore’s FireSmart neighbourhood program relies on volunteer “champions” to organize local mitigation, from clearing vegetation to educating neighbours. But participation isn’t the issue, leadership is.

“We have a lot of people… happy to be on FireSmart committees. We have few who are happy to lead,” Bagshaw said.

There’s also an awareness gap. Outreach efforts suggest many residents still don’t know the program exists, even as the town looks to scale it.

Where Responsibility Gets Blurry. The public-private divide is becoming a sticking point. Some homeowners have reduced risk on their own properties, only to remain exposed due to town-owned trees nearby.

“We have people who have FireSmarted their properties… and then they’re left with a town tree… presenting the hazard,” Bagshaw said.

Bottom Line. Canmore is ahead of many communities, but the next phase is less about scoring well and more about execution: updating strategy, clarifying roles, and deciding how much wildfire protection should depend on volunteer effort versus municipal action.

Read our full article.

THINGS TO DO

Friday

• Billy Bunny’s Hot Dog Day. Sunshine Village leans into spring chaos with this retro-style ski comp, where “hotdogging” means big tricks, bigger personality, and zero holding back. Expect practice laps, a judged showdown, and an après to wrap it up. 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM. Base of Goat's Eye, Banff Sunshine Village. $20 entry.

• Community Friday Grand Finale. One last call for Friday nights at Canmore Brewery before the season wraps up. After 27 weeks of live music, the finale brings Nurdjana with Six by Four Blues, The Ducks, and The Brews to close things out. Expect a full room, familiar faces, and a proper send-off. Cheers to the season. 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Canmore Brewing Company. No cover.* 

Saturday

• Great Rain Barrel Sale. Want to save water and your garden at the same time? This popular annual sale is back with limited stock. Pick up a subsidized rain barrel for $80. Only 100 barrels are available and they tend to sell out fast, so arriving early is a smart move. 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Canadian Tire Parking Lot, Canmore.*

• Wildfire Preparedness Day. Drop by Peaks of Grassi Park (10:30 AM–1 PM) or Eagle Terrace Park (2–4 PM) to connect with local experts and pick up practical FireSmart tips you can actually use at home. Expect info booths, light refreshments, and a good excuse to meet your neighbours before wildfire season ramps up. Canmore. Free.*

• Fly Fishing Film Tour. The 20th anniversary of this global film tour lands in Canmore, bringing a lineup of fishing stories that mix adventure, conservation, and life on the water. Expect big scenery, bigger fish, and a crowd that knows their way around a river. 7:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $12.50-$25.*

Sunday

• The Ennis Sisters Live. This JUNO Award-winning trio brings their East Coast harmonies and storytelling to Canmore, blending folk, roots, and Newfoundland tradition into one polished, feel-good set. Expect a warm, easygoing night with songs that stick. 7:30 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $40.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🎸 Canmore’s Bold Take on the Beatles. This is not your uncle’s Beatles tribute band. Here Comes The Sun flips the script with genre-bending arrangements, mashups, and emotional curveballs that take “Hey Jude” and friends somewhere entirely new. Running now until May 31 at Carter-Ryan Theatre, this high-energy live show feels more like a creative jam session than a cover show. Bring the friend who loves live music, strong vocals, and a night that surprises you. It is bold, inventive, and super freakin’ fun. Tickets here. Use BOWVALLEYINSIDER for 15% off.*

• 🛝 Banff’s New Slide Has People Doing Double Takes. Banff’s 32-foot stainless steel spiral slide at Sundance Park is officially open, and it’s already blowing up online, with some people genuinely wondering if it’s real or AI-generated. The playground itself is part of the town’s long-running rec grounds overhaul, designed around “nature and adventure play,” but most of the attention is on one question: how hot, and how fast, is this thing? Early reviews are in: kids are lining up, and they’re loving it. See pictures.

• 🐟 Fish Disease Triggers New Lake Rules Across Parks. A growing fish disease in the Rockies is forcing tighter rules on lakes across Banff and beyond, after whirling disease was confirmed in Lake Louise. The parasite can devastate fish populations and spreads easily through gear and watercraft, prompting Parks Canada to roll out stricter zones, including some lakes where boats and waders are now banned entirely. Even unaffected lakes aren’t considered safe, which is driving a broader crackdown. 

• 🐶 Sled Season Ends, Huskies Seek Homes. With dog sledding season wrapped, some of Canmore’s hardest-working pups are ready for a different kind of adventure. Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours’ husky adoption program, offering retired sled dogs free to experienced, committed homes. These are high-energy, intelligent working dogs, best suited to active households with space, time, and a long-term commitment. A cozy couch is welcome, but they’ll still want the outdoors.

• 🎤 Local Band Twonees Drops New Single Ahead of Summer Run. Canmore’s Twonees just released a new single, “Drunk As a Nun,” kicking off a three-part rollout ahead of their upcoming album this June. Led by Kieran Lehan, the four-piece blends alt-country, indie rock, and psych-blues, and already has a busy summer lined up with shows and a Canmore Folk Fest appearance. The track leans witty and a bit chaotic by design, and early crowds seem into it. Check it out here.

CIVIC NEWS

• Banff Seniors Group Pushes for Council Voice. Banff’s Age-Friendly Committee is asking council to appoint a councillor to sit on the group, aiming to better align its work with local decision-making. The committee has been leading efforts tied to the town’s five-year plan for seniors, as the 65+ population jumped more than 50% between 2016 and 2021. Banff earned its official “age-friendly” designation in 2024, and the group says a formal council seat would help carry that momentum through the rest of its plan. 

LIVE MUSIC

• Friday, May 1st, 2026, 10:00 PM: Ferny Turnbull. Location: Banff Rose and Crown. Free.

• Saturday, May 2nd, 2026, 6:00 PM: Steph O'Dette. Location: Sunshine Mountain Lodge. Kananaskis. Free.

• Sunday, May 3rd, 2026, 2:00 PM: Katherine Dowling. Location: St. George in the Pines, Banff. Free. $30.

SPORTS

• Canmore U17 Volleyball Team Wins Provincial Gold. Canmore’s Rocky Mountain Volleyball Club U17 girls are heading to nationals after taking gold at provincials in Calgary. The team battled through a tight three-set semifinal before closing out the final in straight sets, showing composure when it mattered most. A late lineup switch helped turn momentum, and the group didn’t look back. Makyra Hielema earned an All-Star nod, alongside teammate Ayla Roycroft. Next stop: nationals in Calgary, May 15-17. 

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.