❄️ Insanely Deep Snow: Video

Good morning, Bow Valley!

We thought we’d start Monday morning with a story not from the Bow Valley—but it is about something universal: love (and the long game). Goliath the Galápagos tortoise just became a dad for the first time… at 135. Born before the lightbulb went mainstream, he finally swiped right on Sweet Pea—herself pushing 90—and fathered his first hatchling at the Miami Zoo. Turns out love isn’t dead—it’s just running on tortoise time. Also, fun fact: Goliath is literally a goliath—he weighs nearly 600 lbs, almost as much as a fully grown grizzly in Banff.

Let’s get to it!

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: A SURVIVOR’S STORY FROM BOW GLACIER FALLS

What’s Happening? The death toll from the Bow Glacier Falls rockslide has risen to two, after emergency crews completed a two-day rescue and recovery mission. Parks Canada says the massive collapse was a natural event—neither preventable nor predictable.

A Rare, Random Tragedy. Geologists believe water from Iceberg Lake slowly weakened the mountain from within over decades, until a slab the size of an apartment building broke free. Scientists called it “randomness and chaos,” triggered by internal fractures invisible from the outside. Thirteen people were caught near the slide; two were killed, three seriously injured, and others were treated for minor injuries on-site.

Rescue in Chaos. More than 100 responders, including search dogs, helicopters, and drones, scoured the area. The first victim, Jutta Hinrichs, was a retired University of Alberta educator. The second, still unnamed at the family’s request, was the best friend of Khaled El Gamal—who survived the slide and spoke exclusively with Bow Valley Insider.

A Survivor’s Story. Khaled told us his friend’s final words were: “Run. Run.” The two had been taking photos at the falls when the rocks began to fall. “He was being himself—cracking jokes, offering to take pictures for others.” You can read Khaled’s full, powerful account in our exclusive interview here.

Trail Status. Bow Glacier Falls remains closed while geotechnical assessments continue. Parks Canada urges hikers to minimize time spent below steep slopes—especially as glacial melt accelerates due to warming temperatures. Officials say the slide was extremely rare, but not something anyone could have seen coming.

We’re deeply grateful to Khaled for sharing his story with us, and we wish him strength and healing in the days ahead.

YOU RUN A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS… BUT YOU CAN’T BUY A SHED?

(Because apparently selling 600 sourdough loaves a week isn’t “income.”)

You built a business from scratch. You do your own books. You once fixed a broken espresso machine with a bobby pin and pure willpower.

But when you apply for a mortgage? The bank stares at Line 15000 and says, “Hmm… not sure you’re stable.”

Welcome to the world of self-employed home buying—where you can run a thriving business in the Bow Valley and still get told you “don’t qualify” for a one-bedroom in Dead Man’s Flats.

Michael & Cari Hossmann specialize in mortgages for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and side-hustle warriors. They know how to present your real income (not just your write-off-riddled tax return), and they work with lenders who actually get it.

You’re not a risk—you’re the reason half of Canmore gets their bread, coffee, bikes, or tattoos.

👉 Book a call with Michael & Cari.

And finally get approved like the boss you are.

_{*Presented by Dominion Lending Centres Synergy Financial.}

THE DIGEST

• 🗳️ Province’s Election Rule Change to Cost Canmore $50K. Canmore’s next election will cost triple due to a province-wide ban on electronic vote counters. To speed up manual counting, the town will use the “grass skirt” method—lining up ballots on pre-printed sheets and counting across rows. Still slower and costlier than machines due to added staffing—and results likely won’t land until the next day.

• ⛔ Over-Tourism Abroad... and at Home. Europe’s over-tourism protests just shut down the Louvre in Paris, where staff walked out over “untenable” crowds. Meanwhile in Canada, the new Strong Pass launched Friday, offering free national park entry—and locals worry Banff could face a similar fate. With traffic already up and trails packed, access without infrastructure may test the limits fast.

• 🐻 Bear Rips Tent in Kananaskis, Traps Set. A black bear tore into an empty tent at Boulton Creek Campground, prompting officials to close the loop and set traps. With multiple bears in the area, identifying the culprit won’t be easy—but if caught, it’ll be collared and relocated. To be clear: this is not the same bear we covered last week that raided a picnic site near Mount Coleman. That bear was already captured, GPS-collared, and is now in an aversive conditioning program.

• 🐺 Injured Wolf Euthanized After Garden Visit in Field. A thin, injured young wolf was euthanized after digging for herbs and potatoes in a Field, B.C. backyard. Despite attempts to scare it off, the wolf showed no fear and was later found lying down, barely responsive. Parks Canada made the call for its welfare and public safety. A necropsy is pending.

• 🏗️ Summer Construction to Impact Legacy Trail and Nordic Centre. Starting yesterday, parts of the Legacy Trail near Harvie Heights are affected by fire guard work—watch for machinery, crossing points, and spots where you may need to hop off your bike. Then, on June 30, repairs begin at the Canmore Nordic Centre Day Lodge. The facility remains open, but expect some areas around the lodge to be temporarily fenced off or harder to access through August.

WAS THIS WEEKEND THE FIRST BIG TEST FOR FLOOD DEFENCES?

What’s Happening? Summer hit the reset button as a major storm drenched southern Alberta over the weekend—on the 12th anniversary of the 2013 flood. Some areas saw up to 200 mm of rain, triggering high streamflow advisories and flash flood warnings across the Bow Valley.

Soaked and Snowed. Between 50–100 mm fell in most areas, with heavier totals in the foothills. Higher elevations, including parts of Highway 93, saw up to 20 cm of wet snow. Winds reached up to 80 km/h, downing trees and adding to the storm’s impact.

Bow Valley Impact. In Canmore, creeks like Cougar and Three Sisters surged, and minor flooding was reported in low-lying areas. One local canyoning group warned that a log jam in Heart Creek shifted on Saturday, raising rockfall risks and making canyon travel dangerous. Locals are advised to steer clear of canyons for a few days.

Snowfall Snapshot. And if you’re wondering how much snow hit the peaks—Ha Ling got thigh-deep. Our publisher Ben hiked it Saturday night. You can see what it looked like in this Instagram video.

Stay Prepared. While major damage was avoided, officials are urging residents to sign up for Voyent Alert for real-time local updates.

THINGS TO DO

Monday

• Canmore Food & Friends. This week's menu is Ratatouille served with Herbed Rice. Served with green salad, dinner rolls, and cookies from Save On.  Everyone is welcome to this weekly community dinner. 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM. St. Michael’s Church, Canmore. Pay what you can.

• Banff Food Rescue. Surplus food from local grocers is redistributed three times a week. Today’s pickup starts at 6:00 PM—details will be posted on Facebook. 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM · 215 Banff Ave (Lower Sundance Mall) · Suggested donation: $10.

• Slackline Sessions in the Park. Hang out, learn to slackline or highline, or just enjoy the vibe. No experience needed—just show up. Weather permitting. 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Riverside Park, Canmore · No cost to join.

• Songs to Stage Showcase. Celebrate fresh local talent as emerging musicians perform original songs developed in workshops led by Ellen Braun. Expect heartfelt lyrics, bold creativity, and a lot of community spirit. 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM. artsPlace. Canmore. $5.*

• Outdoor Yoga. Breathe deep, stretch it out, and flow by the river. All levels welcome, by donation. Sign up at Eventbrite. 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Riverside Park, Canmore. Free. 

Tuesday

• Movie Night: Becoming Led Zeppelin. A rare look into the rise of rock legends—featuring interviews with the band, including never-before-seen footage and stories. The only doc the band has ever backed. 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $12 / Youth $6.*

THAT STORM DIDN’T JUST TEST FLOOD DEFENCES—IT TESTED YOUR CONCRETE TOO.

After 100 mm of rain, wet snow, and sudden drops in temperature, your concrete surfaces just went through a stress test. 

Cracks expand. Water seeps in. Freeze-thaw cycles do their worst. And what looks like a “small crack” today could be a total redo by next year.

Whether it’s your driveway, walkway, patio, or steps—Oakley from Pine Peak Paving can help stop the damage from spreading.

All done by the guy in the photo.

Book a quote today. It’s free. It’s fast. And unless you enjoy surprise repairs, it’s a no-brainer.

_{*Presented by Pine Peak Paving.}

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🥞 Fat Ox Brings the Brunch Vibes. From crepes to cocktails, The Fat Ox is quietly building a rep as a go-to for breakfast in Banff. Locals rave about the crispy potatoes, great coffee lineup, and mountain patio. Breakfast runs daily 7–11 AM, with brunch on weekends until 2 PM.*

• 🚸 New Sidewalk on Moose Street. Starting today, June 23, Banff is building a new sidewalk on the north side of Moose Street between Beaver and Muskrat. One east-to-west lane stays open during construction, expected to finish by late August. Follow detour signs.

• 🫔 Sleeping Bag Drive. From now until June 30, you can donate new or gently used sleeping bags to the Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley. Find out how. 

• 🙋 Volunteer Call. Love thrifting, treasure hunting, and giving back? Volunteer at Rundle United Thrift in Banff! Flexible hours, fun tasks, and a great cause. Help sort donations, create displays, or assist shoppers. Email [email protected] to get involved.

• 🙌 Banff Centre Proves It Can Play in the Big Leagues. The Banff Centre hosted over 500 journalists and 200 delegates during the G7, transforming its arts campus into a full-scale media hub. It ran 24/7 operations, added permanent tech upgrades, and still kept its regular programs going—all while reinvesting revenue into arts scholarships.

• 🎶 Two Opera Nights. The Banff Legion is hosting two opera nights. Friday, July 4th, and Saturday, July 19th, 2025. Doors open at 7:00. Free entry.*

CIVIC NEWS

• Banff Town Council. Today, on June 23rd, Banff Town Council will review 2025 Resident Survey results, public washroom planning, and the Environmental Master Plan. In the afternoon: decisions on a 90-unit housing project, expanding daycare zoning, and options for more EV fast-charging stations.

LIVE MUSIC

• Monday June 23rd,  2025, 6:30 PM: Songs to Stage Showcase. Location: artsPlace, Canmore. $5. 

• Monday June 23rd,  2025, 10:00 PM: Brent Lee. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover. 

• Tuesday, June 24th,  2025, 10:00 PM: JT Band. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover. 

SPORTS

• Banff Half Drops Full Marathon, Still Draws 3,100+ Runners. This year’s Banff Half Marathon and 10K ditched the full marathon to reduce community and park impact—still drawing runners from 25 countries. With 3,100 participants, sold-out spots, and minimal road closures, organizers called it a success. Even a 30-minute train delay didn’t faze anyone—just part of the “mountain adventure” vibe.

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Wednesday, 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.