🚗 Lake Louise: Car Ban Gets Closer

Good morning, Bow Valley!

The Olympics are here. While plenty of Canadian athletes train in the Bow Valley, only three call Canmore or Banff home: Jeffrey Read (Alpine Skiing), Britt Richardson (Alpine Skiing), and Xavier McKeever (Cross-Country). We’ve been checking in with coaches and doing the time-zone math, and here’s when to tune in:

• Jeffrey Read. Men’s downhill: Saturday at 3:30 AM MST. Watch.

• Britt Richardson. Her team didn’t confirm in time for publication, but based on the women’s downhill schedule, we expect her to race Sunday at 3:30 AM MST. Watch.

• Xavier McKeever. Cross-country start lists are confirmed late. Nordiq Canada says he’s likely to start the skiathlon on Sunday at 4:30 AM MST. Watch. If not that event, he’ll race the sprint on Tuesday at 3:45 AM MST. Watch. 

— Fortune Whelan, Ben S., Sneha Kainth, Madalyn Beach

PARKS CANADA WEIGHS CAR BAN AT LAKE LOUISE

What’s Happening? Parks Canada is weighing major access changes for Lake Louise, including parking reservations, timed entry, or a full seasonal ban on personal vehicles to the lakeshore.

Why This Is On The Table. Visitor pressure has outpaced the current system. Traffic on Lake Louise Drive rose more than 70% between 2010 and 2019, peaking before shuttles and paid parking were introduced. Despite those tools, summer demand keeps climbing. In 2025, roughly 75% of drivers attempting to reach Upper Lake Louise were turned away because the lot was already full.

The Core Problem. The first come, first served model rewards early arrivals and pushes congestion into dawn and dusk hours. Parks Canada says that pattern creates safety risks, blocks emergency access, strains facilities, and disrupts wildlife corridors used by grizzly bears and other species. 

The Four Proposed Scenarios:

• Status Quo Paid Parking: Try your luck and turn around if it is full.

• Parking Reservations: Book a spot in advance or do not enter.

• Timed Reservations: Assigned arrival windows with fixed stays, likely three to five hours.

• Shuttle Only Access: No personal vehicles from May to October, with limited exceptions.

What The Data Adds. In 2025, Upper Lake Louise averaged about 11,000 visitors per day, up from 9,000 in 2023, even as vehicle traffic dropped. Moraine Lake averaged 6,000 daily visitors, with nearly half arriving by Parks Canada shuttle. Shuttles moved 27% of visitors to Lake Louise and 48% to Moraine Lake, and most shuttle riders visited both lakes in a single day. Average stays are relatively short at 2.5 hours at Lake Louise and 1.5 hours at Moraine Lake, which is why timed entry is framed as redistributing crowds rather than reducing visitation.

What Happens Next? Public feedback is open until March 9, 2026. Final decisions are expected later this year, with major changes unlikely before summer 2027.

Our full story breaks down each option and includes links to the surveys.

THE BEST BANFF HOT SPRING ALTERNATIVE

If the idea of lining up at the Banff Upper Hot Springs and sharing a pool with dozens of strangers isn’t your idea of relaxing, Silvertip has quietly built the best alternative in the Bow Valley.

Their private, wood-fired sauna and cold plunge experience is exactly what most people wish the hot springs were. No crowds. No time limits dictated by the person next to you. Just you or your group in your own sauna for a full hour. A private reset. Mountain style.

Here’s how it works:

You arrive at Silvertip, get a private change room code, and step into spacious, spa-level facilities with showers, robes, and all the small comforts done right. Then you head outside to your exclusive sauna, where you control the heat. Some groups keep it mellow. Others crank it nuclear and pour water until the steam hits hard. Your call.

After a day skiing, hiking, or just carrying stress around, the contrast of dry heat, crisp mountain air, and a cold plunge does what mineral pools promise but rarely deliver.

It’s popular with couples and groups of friends, and runs $35–$65 per hour for up to eight people.

Book your private sauna experience here.

_{*Presented by Silvertip.}

THE DIGEST

• ✅ Alberta Bars Get the Green Light for Olympic Overnights. Alberta has approved temporary overnight liquor service for the 2026 Winter Olympics, allowing bars and restaurants to open early for medal-round events airing overnight due to the Italy time difference. The expanded hours run Feb. 6-22 with standard liquor rules still in place. In the Bow Valley, Banff’s Rose & Crown is the only bar that has confirmed to us it will open early for key men’s and women’s hockey medal games. Full details here. 

• 🤔 New Trail Centre Proposal Puts West Bragg Creek at a Crossroads. A proposal to build a trail centre at West Bragg Creek is now open for public feedback. The plan outlines a two-storey, 3,750-square-foot public hub serving the 166-kilometre trail network, with washrooms, warming space, volunteer areas, and education space. Supporters see overdue infrastructure for one of Western Canada’s busiest trail systems. Critics worry about costs, traffic, and creeping development. Learn about the proposal and provide feedback.

• 🎬 Legendary Canmore Climber’s Film Is Now Free to Watch. If you love mountain culture and local lore, this one’s a gift. Spindrift, the award-winning documentary about Canmore alpinist Barry Blanchard, is now available to watch for free on YouTube (it was previously paywalled). The film traces Blanchard’s groundbreaking climbs in the Rockies and Himalayas, and his life after a serious brain injury. Highly recommended viewing for anyone who cares about Canadian climbing history.

• 🔥 Fire Advisory Issued for Bow Valley as Winter Wildfire Risk Rises. Alberta Wildfire has issued a fire advisory after warm temperatures, dry vegetation, and gusty winds pushed wildfire danger to moderate levels. Officials say early snowmelt is exposing ground faster than expected. The wildfire we mentioned on Monday near Ya Ha Tinda has grown from 125 to 275 hectares and remains out of control. 

Traditional Media Called. It Wants Its Budget Back.

We get it. You’ve “always done” print.

But your customers are in their inbox, not your neighbor’s recycling.

We deliver clicks and sales, not column inches.

➡️ Stop funding nostalgia. Start driving results.

BANFF TOURISM BOARD BETS ON WINTER INSTEAD OF SUMMER

What’s Happening? Banff and Lake Louise Tourism has released its 2026 business plan, outlining a shift in strategy that holds summer visitation steady while pushing growth, longer stays, and marketing efforts into the winter months.

The Strategic Shift. The plan draws a clear line. Summer remains the economic backbone, but it is no longer where growth is supposed to happen. Instead of chasing higher visitor numbers, the goal is to protect peak season revenue without adding pressure. Winter, by contrast, is framed as the largest remaining opportunity for expansion.

Summer Becomes About Value, Not Volume. For summer, the focus is on generating more economic return per visitor. Success will be measured through metrics like revenue per available room, occupancy, length of stay, and visitor satisfaction, rather than raw arrival counts. Marketing will narrow toward visitors who plan ahead, stay overnight, and book experiences, paired with stronger messaging around transit use, wildlife respect, and trip planning. The summer events calendar is also being tightened, favoring fewer, higher impact events that support longer stays.

Winter Is The Growth Engine. From November through April, the plan calls for aggressive demand building. Marketing will target specific U.S. states, expand reach in the U.K. and Canada, and test emerging markets like Mexico and France. Campaigns will emphasize overnight stays and bundled experiences rather than day trips.

Events As Demand Drivers. Winter festivals are no longer treated as add-ons. SnowDays has expanded to four weekends to spread visitation and boost overnight stays, while two new events are launching in 2026. Flying Canoë Volant and the AROABORA music festival are designed to add reasons to visit in mid-winter. Together, the strategy aims to shift pressure off summer while making winter a more stable, stay-longer season.

Our full story breaks down the 2026 business plan and what it could mean for Banff’s tourism future.

THINGS TO DO

Friday

• CBC Olympic Watch Party in Banff. Celebrate the start of the Olympics a free Opening Ceremony Watch Party on a big screen in Banff Central Park or inside the library. Enjoy family-friendly winter activities, explore the library’s Olympic collection, and warm up with hot refreshments. Banff Central Park and Banff Library. 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Free.

Saturday

• Lifts of Love is Back. Lifts of Love turns speed dating into a chairlift adventure, where every ride pairs you with someone new for a few minutes of low-pressure conversation and mountain views. Hit it off and keep chatting at the top, or drop back in line for another match. Expect playful icebreakers, bingo, après vibes, prizes, and DJ energy. 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Mt Norquay, Banff. Lift ticket required.

• Adventure Film Collective: February Films. This Saturday, four films exploring life shaped by nature and winter. Find Me Outside follows families discovering the outdoors through children’s eyes. 60 Wheels of Winter captures friendship and aging on snowy days. Last Climb is a love story rooted in climbing. King of Mountains follows skiers building meaning, craft, and community in fragile mountain worlds. 7:00 PM. Canmore Brewing Company. Tickets $10.*

Sunday

• Super Bowl Sunday at Banff Social. Catch every hit, halftime moment, and game-winning play at Banff Social Lounge this Super Bowl Sunday. With big screens and ice-cold drinks, it’s the ultimate place to watch football in Banff. Social Hour pricing starts at 4:00 PM, with kickoff at 4:30 PM. Grab your crew early and settle in for an all-day game-day party. Banff Social. No Cover.*

• Irish Mythen in Concert. Known for a bold, commanding voice, sharp wit, and deeply human storytelling, Irish Mythen’s performances feel less like concerts and more like shared journeys, blending heart, humour, and raw musical intimacy. Expect an unforgettable evening that builds connection, lifts the room, and leaves the audience buzzing. 7:00 PM. Canmore Brewing Company. Tickets are $35.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🥾 A Summer Spent Hiking the Continental Divide for Bow Valley Youth. Camp Chief Hector is launching the Great Divide Hike, a 42-day backpacking program from June 28 to August 21 for 17-year-olds on the Great Divide Trail. Participants will build outdoor leadership, teamwork, and community skills. Learn more here (scroll to page 21). Applications are open until Monday, Feb 16. Submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected].*

• 💎 Curious About Crystals for Grounding and Healing? Healing Mountain Creations now carries a beautiful selection of crystals, gems, stones, and quartz to support your spiritual and healing practices. Visit them at 101B, 1 Industrial Place in Canmore. They are open Monday to Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Learn more or browse the collection online.*

• 🍔 New Canmore Burger Spot Just Opened. You might recall that the Drunken Lobster, a seafood restaurant in the Shops of Canmore, closed toward the end of 2025. Its space has now been taken over by a new burger bar called The Patty Shack. We haven’t made it in yet to test the burgers. But if you beat us, let us know what you think. Just remember, they’re brand new, so they’re still getting their feet under them. We drove by last night, and they didn’t even have a sign. They’re open now daily from 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM.

• 💡 Understand the Costs and Value of Sustainable Building. Join ENBIX and the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley for a practical workshop on how energy-efficient buildings can strengthen a bottom line. Learn about cost-smart construction, balancing upfront and energy costs, valuing upgrades, and buyer expectations. Designed for builders, developers, and real estate professionals, with insights useful for municipal staff and trades. February 11 at Fenlands Recreation Centre.*

• ➡️ Community Food Cupboard Moves Locations for Winter. The Community Food Cupboard has moved from its downtown location to the Bow Valley Food Bank starting this week. Hours will be Mondays and Wednesdays from 1 to 4 PM. The cupboard is free, open to everyone, and is stocked with dry, shelf-stable goods.

CIVIC NEWS

• Banff “Got Lucky” as New Election Rules Drive Up Costs. Banff staff are warning Alberta’s new election rules could cause serious problems in future municipal votes after the town’s 2025 election cost far more than expected. Hand-counted ballots and a new permanent voters list pushed total costs to roughly $47,000 once staff time was included, up from about $28,000 in direct expenses. The town hired roughly 55 election workers instead of the usual 8 to 10. 

LIVE MUSIC

• Friday, February 6th, 2025, 6:30 PM: Battle of the Bands. Location: CCHS Theatre, Canmore.. $10 Cash Cover at the Door.

• Sunday, February 8th, 7:30 PM: Lennie Gallant. Location: artsPlace, Canmore. $37.50 / members $31.88 / youth $18.75.

SPORTS

• Snowboard Crash Casts Shadow Over Canada’s Olympic Start. Canada opened the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics with a mixed doubles curling win, but attention quickly shifted after snowboarder Mark McMorris was stretchered off the big air course during training. His condition was not immediately known, with the Canadian Olympic Committee saying an update would follow.

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.