🚧 Hwy 1 Closed For 6.5 Hours

Good morning, Bow Valley!

History is happening this weekend and you can be part of it. A local documentary is being filmed on the first-ever attempt at the “Bow Valley Cirque”: a 127 km single push with more than 11,000 metres of climbing (the equivalent of summiting Everest three times) as one man runs and ascends every peak visible from Canmore. Our knees creak just thinking about it.

The crew needs locals with 4K-capable cameras. No professional skills required, just a willingness to hike and capture shots.

• Wind Ridge Summit: Sunday 3PM

• Lady Mac Summit: Saturday 7AM

• Upper Grassi Lakes:  Saturday Midnight

This project is aiming for the Banff Film Festival. So if you are up for a hike and want to be part of a pioneering Bow Valley story, this is your chance. Email Philip at: [email protected].

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

WILDLIFE ADVISORIES: BEAR WARNINGS WIDEN + ELK RUT SEASON BEGINS

What’s Happening? Wildlife encounters are ramping up across Alberta. Over the weekend, a man was mauled by a grizzly near Cardston while fishing along the St. Mary’s River. That is well south of the Bow Valley, but a sharp reminder for anglers regardless. He was hospitalized but has since been released and is expected to recover. Officers say it was a defensive attack, as the sow had two older cubs in tow.

Bear Warnings Expand. Kananaskis Country has been under a full bear warning since earlier this month, but now that advisory has been expanded to include the entire Bow Valley as well. An exceptional berry crop is drawing black bears and grizzlies into roadsides, trails, and campgrounds, and they’re less likely to move off quickly when feeding.

Not Just Bears. As if grizzlies weren’t enough, Parks Canada is warning that elk rutting season is underway in Banff National Park until the end of October. Bull elk become aggressively territorial this time of year, charging cars, hikers, and even dogs they mistake for predators. The advice: give elk at least 30 metres of space, keep pets leashed, and don’t wedge your Subaru between a bull and his harem (aka his lady friends) unless you’re in the market for new bodywork.

Why It Matters. Whether you’re fishing, hiking, or just strolling through Banff townsite, wildlife encounters are far from rare right now. Parks staff are asking everyone to treat trails, campgrounds, and even parking lots as “bear and elk country.” Translation: carry spray, stay alert, and maybe leave the earbuds at home.

WELCOME TO CANMORE, POPULATION: YOU

Imagine living here, not just hanging out on weekends.

No scrambling for last-minute hotels or campsites.

No late checkout fees.

Just morning sun on the Three Sisters.

Groceries down the road.

Trails outside your door.

And a home that’s actually yours.

Altitude by Logel Homes is a new development in Three Sisters Mountain Village, featuring 239 condos and townhomes designed for real life, not vacations. Starting from $399,900, these homes come loaded with premium finishes, soundproofing, and thoughtful touches that make living here easy (yes, there’s storage for your skis and your sanity).

Step outside and explore protected reserves, endless pathways, and the future Gateway retail hub. Then come home to the sauna, hot tub, and outdoor fireplace… just for residents.

Phase 1 is nearly sold out.

Click here to connect with Lauren at Altitude and learn more.

_{*Presented by Logel Homes.}

THE DIGEST

• 🏨 Locals Say Banff Hotels Have Gone Too Far. Banff hotel rates have jumped 79% since 2019, with weekend stays topping $500 a night. Hotels are making record revenues with fewer guests, but Calgary locals say they’ve been priced out. In our poll of 609 Bow Valley Insider readers, 91% called high rates “bad” for Albertans, while only 9% saw them as good for jobs and revenue. Weekend getaways? Now more luxury splurge than casual escape.

• 🔍 RCMP Looking for Cyclist After Banff Collision. Banff RCMP are asking for information after a pedestrian was seriously injured in a collision with a young cyclist on August 21 near the Bear Street parkade. The cyclist, believed to be 10–12 years old on a blue or black BMX, was with another boy on a similar bike. Anyone with information is asked to call RCMP at (403) 763-6600.

• 🚧 Highway 1 Crash Blocked Traffic for Hours Yesterday. A jackknifed semi shut down Highway 1 between Revelstoke and Golden yesterday (August 26), clogging traffic for 6.5 hours after cargo spilled inside a snowshed. The scene showed a mangled truck and debris scattered wall to wall. Early reports indicated no serious injuries, though unconfirmed social media posts suggest the outcome may have been more severe. Meanwhile, east of Canmore yesterday, a police incident near Mînî Thnî disrupted traffic for two hours before Highway 1 reopened.

• 🏗 Settler’s Cabin Rebuilt on Main Street. The Settler’s Cabin, once part of Canmore’s mining-era landscape, has been rebuilt on Main Street to keep the town’s early history front and center. Folk artist Linda Evans says the new build “really tells the story of Canmore,” giving a physical reminder of its coal town roots amid a modernized Main Street.

• 🔥 Prescribed Fire Planned West of Field. Parks Canada may ignite a 3,300-hectare prescribed fire in Yoho’s Porcupine Valley if conditions remain favourable. The burn is designed to restore grizzly and whitebark pine habitat, reintroduce the valley’s natural fire cycle, and reduce future wildfire risk. Area closures include Porcupine Valley, Mount Hunter Trail, and Finn Creek Day-use Area. 

Marketing That Slaps (In a Good Way)

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They’re local, loud, and lovingly crafted to convert.

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We write clever mini-stories that make 15,000+ locals engage.

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DEBATE OVER BANFF’S FUTURE FOOTPRINT

What’s Happening? Banff is sticking with its new Community Plan, even as some people worry that zoning changes could make it easier to add more shops or even grow the town past its current size. Town officials say the goal is only to fix long-standing mistakes in the zoning map, which has been locked into federal law since 1998.

The Details. Examples include the Silver Dragon Restaurant and Petro-Canada station, which are run as businesses but sit in zones marked “residential.” Hawk Avenue is marked “commercial” even though it mostly serves public services. The Town says updating these labels would make the map more accurate without adding new commercial space.

The Concern. Environmental groups and some councillors worry that even a small change could later be used to argue for more growth. They say unclear wording might weaken public trust in Banff’s hard limits on size and development.

Growth at a Glance. Banff is already close to its legal cap for commercial space. Since 1998, new space has only been handed out through a lottery. Once projects like the Railway Lands are finished, any new growth can only happen by rebuilding what already exists.

The Bigger Picture. Other national park towns have done something similar. Field moved some of its commercial space without making the footprint bigger, while Jasper allowed small parcel changes to open up more room for housing. Both examples were approved by Parks Canada and signed off federally.

What’s Next? The draft plan will go through more council meetings and public input before it heads to Parks Canada for a final decision.

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Banff Farmers Market. Browse fresh produce, artisan foods, and locally made crafts, plus art, jewelry, and coffee from regional vendors. 10:00 AM–6:00 PM. Central Park, Banff. Free.

• Latin Fiesta at Melissa’s. The last fiesta of the summer brings three DJs, salsa lessons, a limbo contest, and dancing late into the night. August 27, 9:30 PM–2:00 AM. Melissa’s MisSteak, 201 Banff Ave. Cover at door.

Thursday

• Morning Yoga in the Park. For one last time this summer, Lululemon Banff and Flow State lead a free, all-levels yoga session. Beginners and seasoned yogis welcome. 7:00–8:00 AM. Central Park Gazebo, Banff. Free.

• Canmore Mountain Market. Browse fresh produce, meats, baked goods, coffee, and handmade goods from regional artisans. 10:00 AM–6:00 PM. Elevation Place, 700 Railway Ave, Canmore. Free.

• Oceans on Film: Stories of Adventure and Conservation. A cinematic journey through short films highlighting ocean life, human connection, and conservation, featuring Greenland’s waves, Hawaiian humpbacks, Marshallese exile, and Scott Reef’s endangered corals. 7:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $15, members $12.75, youth $7.50.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🎭 Last Call for Laughs. OH, ANNE! wraps up this Sunday (Aug 31). This wild musical twist on Anne of Green Gables packs four actors into dozens of roles with live East Coast tunes. One Bow Valley Insider told us, “We laughed, we cried, we were entranced the entire show.” 15% off with BOWVALLEYINSIDER. Get tickets here.*

• 🍱 Last Call for Valbella’s Food Truck. Valbella’s food truck is closing for the season on Friday, Sept. 5. It runs Thursday and Friday from 11:30 AM – 2 PM. The menu always features a jumbo veal bratwurst with potato salad and a kids’ hotdog with chips, plus two rotating weekly specials. Come for the food, stay for the sunshine. Check out our pics of the food.*

• 🌮 New Happy Hour at The Boss in Banff. Enjoy $5 tacos twice daily, choosing from Chicken, Fried Avocado, or Breaded Prawn, and sip the new “Boss Berry” cocktail starting this Friday, the 29th, featuring WildLife Small Batch Alberta Gin, muddled blueberries, and house-made mint syrup.*

• 🚧 Bow Valley Parkway Closure. Starting tomorrow, Aug 28 through Oct 2, the 17 km eastern section of the parkway will be closed to vehicles daily from 8 AM–8 PM. As a reminder, Parks Canada extended the cycling-only pilot through 2029.  View the exact section on Google Maps.

• 🎬 Casting Call: Survival Film in Kananaskis. A new short film titled Devour is set to shoot in Kananaskis this fall, set in 1955 and centered on love, grief, and survival in the wilderness. The production is seeking unpaid actors for two lead roles. Headshots and resumes can be submitted to [email protected].

• 🛠️ Trail Construction: Widowmaker & Wasootch. Crews began work August 25 on Widowmaker Trail (south of Kananaskis Visitor Info Center) to replace a bridge, and on the lower Wasootch Ridge Trail near Wasootch Day Use Area. Expect workers, equipment, and temporary crossings in both locations until further notice.

• 💪 Free Strength Class for Trail Athletes. Mountain bikers, trail runners, hikers, and peak baggers can join a 1-hour community Strength & Conditioning class in Canmore. Led by a Certified Exercise Physiologist, this free class offers a taste of exercises and coaching designed to boost trail performance, build confidence, and reduce injury risk.

CIVIC NEWS

• Housing Meets Heritage Debate. Plans for a 10-unit apartment at 418 Muskrat St. would require demolishing two heritage-listed buildings: the Ethel Unwin Residence and Darrow Cabins. Banff continues to face a severe housing shortage, with vacancy rates near zero and a shortfall of 700–1,000 units. The Municipal Planning Commission reviewed the proposal August 13, balancing preservation with housing needs.

• Have Your Say on Power Line Rebuild. AltaLink plans to rebuild the 54L transmission line, built in 1941, which supplies power to Canmore, Harvie Heights, and Banff. Because it runs through Banff National Park, impacts on wildlife and views are under review. A public session is happening today, Aug 27, 5–8 PM at Banff Caribou Lodge. Or you can provide written feedback until Sept 30.

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, August 27th, 2025, 7:00 PM: Open Mic with Colin Macdonald. Location: The Yard, Canmore. Free.

• Wednesday, August 27th, 2025, 9:30 PM: Latin Fiesta. Location: Melissa’s MisSteak, Banff. $8.79.

• Thursday, August 28th, 2025, 9:00 PM: Country Night with Honkeytonk Tom and Arn Smit. Location: High Rollers, Banff. No Cover.

SPORTS

• River Surfing in Kananaskis Goes Mainstream. Want to see Bow Valley locals carving river waves in slow motion at the 2025 Mountain Wave Classic? Check out this video. After watching, we’re okay with this sport breaking out of its niche and going mainstream.

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.