⛑️ Icefield Fatality Report Released

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Hiking this weekend? Our team was in Kananaskis on Tuesday and along the Icefields Parkway on Thursday, and conditions couldn’t have been more different. Above treeline in Kananaskis looked like winter, while our Parkway hike was bone dry. It’ll vary by trail, so check conditions before heading out and pack for four seasons.

-Ben S., Cassandra Stefanic, Fortune Whelan, Brendan Nogue, Alexia Chambers, Keith Fernandes

FATAL COLUMBIA ICEFIELD CRASH INQUIRY FINDS BRAKE FAILURES AND GAPS IN MAINTENANCE

What’s Happening? Brake failure, maintenance concerns, and travelling downhill in neutral were among the factors that contributed to the deadly 2020 Columbia Icefield tour bus rollover, according to a newly released fatality inquiry. The crash killed three people and left several others seriously injured.

Inside The Inquiry's Findings. On July 18, 2020, an Ice Explorer carrying 24 people lost control on a steep descent near the Athabasca Glacier. Investigators found the vehicle was in neutral at or near the top of the hill, preventing the driver from using the engine to control its speed.

The bus reached approximately 49 km/h, more than three times the maximum speed possible in fourth gear. Worn braking components prevented the vehicle from stopping before it rolled down a rocky embankment.

What Do Maintenance Records Reveal? Five days before the crash, the driver reported brake problems and requested an inspection of the slack adjusters, components that help control how the brakes engage. The inquiry found no credible evidence those concerns were addressed.

The report also found that mechanics working on site were relatively inexperienced, while incomplete inspection records made it difficult to establish whether the braking system had been properly checked.

The inquiry also identified the absence of passenger seatbelts as a contributing factor in the fatalities and severity of injuries. At the time, Ice Explorers were not required to have them.

What's Changed Since? Brewster's parent company, Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality, says it has spent $2.7 million installing seatbelts across its Ice Explorer fleet. It has also introduced automatic braking systems, expanded driver training, improved maintenance tracking and a maximum road grade of 36%.

Pursuit accepted all four recommendations from the inquiry, which focus on inspections, maintenance procedures and mechanic training. The company says three have already been addressed, while a new mechanic training and competency program remains in development.

Now What Happens? Alberta has requested responses from provincial workplace safety and transportation authorities on the inquiry's recommendations. Organizations that haven't responded by Feb. 5, 2027, will be publicly identified.

The inquiry does not determine legal responsibility. Its purpose is to establish what contributed to the crash and recommend measures to prevent similar tragedies.

Read our full story

A YOGA RETREAT FOR PEOPLE WHO DON’T WANT TO DO YOGA ALL WEEKEND 

If spending an entire weekend moving between yoga mats sounds like a little too much yoga, Camp Chief Hector has a different idea.

Their Mountain Yoga Retreat, which runs Nov. 20-22, combines instructor-led yoga sessions with a weekend of choose-your-own-adventure in Kananaskis.

You can head out for a guided hike, try archery, tackle the high ropes course, build a fire and make s’mores, or skip the activities altogether and find somewhere quiet with a coffee and a book.

And yes, there’s plenty of yoga too.

Sessions are offered throughout the weekend and are suitable for different experience levels, so you don’t need to be the person casually folding themselves in half at the front of the studio.

Your registration also includes two nights of shared accommodation, all your meals and weekend activities, which means most of the planning is already done for you.

Arrive Friday evening. Everything runs through Sunday afternoon.

Bring your yoga mat, sleeping bag and whatever you need for a weekend in the mountains. Camp Chief Hector takes care of most of the rest.

More details and to register (only 7 spots left)

_{*Presented by YMCA Camp Chief Hector.}

THE DIGEST

• 🐻 Could The Bow Valley Have Its Own Fat Bear Week? Every fall, Alaska’s Katmai National Park holds a public vote to crown its fattest bear before hibernation. This year’s winner: Bear 89, nicknamed Backpack. Could our grizzlies, like The Boss, get their own contest? Wildsmart Director Nick de Ruyter told Bow Valley Insider it could encourage people to approach bears or leave food out to fatten up their favourite. Unlike Alaska’s salmon-fed giants, local grizzlies rely heavily on plants and berries. A poorer berry crop this year has coincided with more bears feeding on fruit trees in town.

• ⛷️ Backcountry Skiers, It’s Time To Sort Your Rogers Pass Permit. Parks Canada uses artillery to deliberately trigger avalanches in Rogers Pass before they threaten the highway and railway. The permit system keeps skiers away while that work happens. Annual permit applications opened yesterday (Oct. 15), and applicants must complete an online quiz. Our advice: apply early. Processing can take a week or more. This winter, daily updates on which ski areas are open move to 7:30 AM because Glacier National Park is no longer turning its clocks back. Here’s what else is changing.

• 🍺 Your Local’s Guide To The Banff Craft Beer Festival. Never been? There’s more happening inside Cave and Basin than the name suggests: nine restaurants, four DJs, live music, craft cocktails, and non-alcoholic beer. Our guide breaks down the Oct. 22-24 event, from how food and drink tokens work to catching the included downtown shuttle. Thursday’s opening night celebrates Bow Valley locals, with admission $10 cheaper than the weekend. Been before? We’ve gathered insider tips on beating lineups, finding tucked-away vendors and making your $40 in tokens count. Read our guide.

• 🦌 Bull Elk Rams SUV Outside Banff Hospital. Video has surfaced from a Sept. 19 incident showing a bull striking an occupied vehicle with its antlers near Banff’s Mineral Springs Hospital before the driver slowly backs away. It’s a reminder that September and October bring the fall mating season, when bull elk can be especially unpredictable. Wildlife experts recommend staying at least 100 metres away during mating season and never walking or parking between a bull and the females it’s guarding. See our map of local spots where you should be especially alert for elk. 

We Sold A $1M+ Canmore Townhouse

Here’s something our team is pretty proud of.

This summer, we partnered with Altitude in Three Sisters to showcase their new homes, from $500K+ condos to $1M+ townhouses.

Over a few months, we featured the project in our digital publication and created a couple of social media videos to give people a closer look.

The result? One purchaser of a $1M+ townhouse already, with 46 more locals currently touring the properties and getting more information.

We’re happy to help people find their dream home in Canmore and help our partners grow their business along the way.

Run a Bow Valley business? Let’s talk about what we can do for you.

CONSERVATION GROUP WARNS SILVERTIP GONDOLA DECISION COULD SET A PRECEDENT FOR ALBERTA PARKS

What’s Happening? A conservation group warns Alberta’s decision to remove 14 hectares from Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park for the proposed Silvertip Gondola could set a precedent for future development on protected land. The move allows Stone Creek Resorts to advance its proposal above Canmore, although construction has not been approved.

Why It Matters. In an interview with Bow Valley Insider, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) conservation specialist Emma Hoskins said the decision raises concerns about how protected parkland could be treated under the new legislation.

"This is the first proponent-led area designation that we've seen so far," Hoskins said.

She pointed out that the gondola proposal had previously failed to advance under existing land-use protections. Now, the land's protected status has changed before the project itself has received approval.

The proposed gondola also overlaps the Upper Silvertip Wildlife Corridor, which connects wildlife habitat between Banff National Park and Kananaskis Country.

The Bigger Picture. Silvertip is one of four areas designated under the province's new resort framework. According to CPAWS, those designations have collectively removed approximately 3,000 acres from Alberta's protected areas system.

The organization wants the province to stop removing protected land for private developments until broader land-use planning is completed.

What Does Alberta Say? The province maintains that tourism and conservation can coexist.

In a statement to Bow Valley Insider, the Ministry of Tourism and Sport said Alberta has expanded its parks system by more than 300,000 hectares since 2019. It added that land redesignated for resorts represents less than 0.03% of provincial protected areas.

What's Next? Stone Creek Resorts still needs to submit a Master Development Plan, including environmental assessments and traffic studies.

"We really believe in the project and we have done the studies, we have the science," Stone Creek Resorts president Shauna Dudding told Bow Valley Insider in September.

Hoskins said residents should have another opportunity to weigh in once that plan is released.

There is no confirmed timeline for final approval. 

Read the full story

THINGS TO DO

Friday

• Decorate Your Own Book At A Free Workshop. Bring your own book or pick from a selection of free donated titles, including Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys, at this book bedazzling workshop. Gems, glue, and everything else you need to decorate your book cover are provided. This drop-in activity is for ages 12+, with space for 20. 5:30-7:30 PM. Canmore Library. Free.

Saturday

• Brunch from $10 At Banff’s Rose & Crown. The weekend menu includes a $10 breakfast with two eggs, bacon, breakfast potatoes and sourdough, plus a veggie frittata, brisket hash and cheesy breakfast sandwich. For the table: $30 bottles of Prosecco with orange or grapefruit juice. Browse the brunch menu. 11 AM-2 PM. Rose & Crown, Banff.*

• Cross-Country Skiing Is Back In Canmore. Frozen Thunder brings out snow saved from last winter, with separate loops for competitive and recreational skiers. It’s an early start to the season for those who can’t wait. New this year, you’ll need a pass and bib. 7 AM-5 PM. Canmore Nordic Centre. $20 day pass.

Sunday

• Buy Or Sell Used Ski Gear At Banff’s Sports Swap. Looking to upgrade your winter gear for less? This gear swap lets locals buy and sell used skis, snowboards, boots, winter clothing and more. Sellers can consign gear for $2 per item, while shoppers can take advantage of free admission Sunday. 9 AM-1 PM. Banff Train Station. Free.

• Sunday NFL and $6 Drinks. Catch NFL games with the sound on for RedZone, plus weekly giveaways and prizes. Game-day specials include $6 Jack Daniel’s drinks, $6 Budweiser and Bud Light bottles, and a $15 fried chicken plate with fries and coleslaw. Doors open at 11 AM. Rose & Crown, Banff. No cover.*

WHO IS THIS FRIENDLY-LOOKING GUY?

And can he fix that thing you’ve been meaning to fix since April?

This is Justin Marineau. He’s the guy behind Rhineau Construction, a handyman business based in Canmore.

And yes, he’d like to hear about that thing.

The door you have to shoulder-check. The drywall hole strategically hidden behind a picture. The new furniture that’s still enjoying life inside its cardboard box.

Those are his kind of jobs.

Justin came here from Quebec after family ski trips turned into buying a vacation home, which turned into his wife asking, “Why don’t we just move here?”

This summer, they packed up the daughters, the dogs and their life, and did exactly that.

Before moving west, Justin spent 15 years as a career firefighter and became the person friends and neighbours called when something needed fixing. In 2022, he made renovations his full-time work.

He also has an engineering degree. One client asked him to build a cabinet that hid a television so it wouldn’t interrupt the mountain view. He designed a custom mechanism and made it happen.

Here in Canmore, Justin handles smaller repairs, carpentry, drywall patches, room painting, furniture assembly and deck repairs. He’s licensed and insured, sorts out the materials and cleans up afterward.

Getting started is simple: send a description and a few photos. He’ll follow up with questions and a free estimate.

Show Justin what needs fixing.

“I’ll get to it eventually” has had a pretty good run.

_{Presented by Rhineau Construction.}

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🐻 The World's Most Famous Grizzly Is Getting A Documentary. It’s a little outside the Bow Valley, but we figured this one might interest a few bear watchers here. Grizzly 399 raised 18 cubs and attracted a devoted following in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. When filmmaker Alex Stavrou started filming her, he didn’t know he was capturing her final year. 399 Forever explores her life through the guides, photographers and conservationists who followed her, including the complicated relationship between wild bears and their human admirers. The documentary arrives on Prime Video today. Watch trailer.

• 🚲 Ex-Rental Bikes Are Going For A Lot Less. It’s one of the Bow Valley’s best bike sales of the year. Canmore’s Rebound Cycle is selling its ex-rental bikes, with kids’ bikes, commuters, road, gravel, mountain and e-bikes available in various sizes while inventory lasts. Examples include a Trek FX commuter for $700, down from $1,230, and an Orbea Occam SL mountain bike for $2,100, down from $3,999. Child trailers are $150, down from $600. Stop by, call, or email [email protected] for availability.*

• 🧠 Learn Natural Ways To Support Your Kids When They're Sick. Imagine feeling more confident helping your children through sore throats, earaches, coughs and colds. Caroline Evans, a Master Herbalist and Traditional Naturopath who runs Heaven on Earth Herbals on Canmore's Main Street, is hosting two hands-on workshops for parents. You'll learn about herbs, nutrition, prevention strategies and simple home remedies to support children's health. Choose from Sunday, October 18, or November 22. Register here.*

• 🗳️ Reminder: Advance Voting Is Open Until Tomorrow. Bow Valley residents can vote early on Alberta’s 10 referendum questions at the Canmore Recreation Centre and Banff Centre, from 9 AM-8 PM. Some of our team stopped by the Canmore voting station around 5 PM on both Wednesday and Thursday and found no lines either day. Credit to the local teams keeping things moving. Check Elections Alberta for more details. 

CIVIC NEWS

• Expect Delays On Mountain Avenue In Banff. Paving work began Thursday, Oct. 15, as part of ongoing road improvements near Sulphur Mountain. The project includes new bike lanes, sidewalks, upgraded transit stops and road resurfacing. Drivers should expect single-lane alternating traffic, reduced speed limits, and delays of up to 10 minutes.

LIVE MUSIC

• Friday, October 16th, 2026, 10:00 PM: Northern Quarter. Location: The Drake, Canmore. No cover.

• Saturday, October 17th, 10:00 PM: Styler Nazo. Location: The Drake, Canmore. No cover.

SPORTS

• Ten Canmore High School Runners Qualify For Provincials. Canmore Collegiate’s cross-country team usually sends four or five athletes to the Alberta championships. This year, 10 will compete in Edmonton on Saturday, following one of the school’s strongest team performances in years. Younger runners also delivered: Grade 9 student Makayla Breu won her three-kilometre race against 92 other runners. Ella Molnar-Piché and Ryan Orchard each earned bronze. 

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.