❄️ Massive Avalanche Hit Rundle

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Yesterday, the long-anticipated IGA opened in Canmore. For anyone living in Three Sisters, that means fewer grocery runs into town. Our team went to check it out after work… and showed up at 8:30 PM, only to find it closes at 8. So yes, groceries just got more convenient in Three Sisters, but for late-night food or drinks, downtown still wins. We’ll give it another shot this weekend and report back.

— Fortune Whelan, Ben S., Madalyn Beach

NEARLY 40,000 BOOK MORAINE LAKE, LAKE LOUISE SHUTTLES ON OPENING DAY

What’s Happening Nearly 40,000 shuttle reservations to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise were snapped up on opening day on Wednesday, as demand surged and tens of thousands flooded the online queue.

Demand Is Climbing. Bookings jumped about 25% compared to last year’s launch, with Parks Canada recording just under 40,000 reservations in a single day. At peak, around 75,000 users were in the queue, with some reports as high as 120,000. Despite that, most people still secured spots within roughly 30 minutes.

“We did see a queue of nearly 120,000, and people were still completing reservations within minutes,” Colin DeBaie, who oversees visitor access for the Lake Louise, Yoho, and Kootenay field unit, told Bow Valley Insider.

Seats Didn’t Last Long. The initial shuttle release included 40% of the season’s capacity, about 167,000 seats. Roughly 75% of those were booked on day one alone, leaving limited availability from the first drop. Mid-morning departures between 9 AM and 12 PM were the first to go. “Most people will probably struggle to find (mid-morning) availability at this stage,” DeBaie said

More Inventory Coming. The remaining 60% of seats will be released on a rolling basis at 8 AM, two days before each travel date. For reference, Moraine Lake Road opens on June 1. 

Access Is Still Controlled. The shuttle remains the main way to reach Moraine Lake, with private vehicles still banned. Visitors must book through Parks Canada, use a private commercial operator, or bike in.

New Accessibility Approach. This year, visitors with accessibility needs no longer have to flag them in advance when booking. Instead, they can request an accessible vehicle on arrival at the Lake Louise Park and Ride. 

Read our full story on the numbers behind this year’s Moraine Lake rush. 

ALTITUDE SHOW HOMES OPEN APRIL 25. THERE’S $500 IN IT FOR YOU.

Altitude is opening up its fully built show homes on April 25, and honestly, they’re actually worth checking out.

Main reason being… this is one of the few chances right now to get into a 2-bed condo in Canmore starting in the low $500Ks.

That’s not something you see often around here.

So if you’ve been half-watching the market this is probably one of the more realistic entry points that’s come up in a while.

You can just walk through the units. No pressure, no awkward sales pitch. Just go in, look around, and see what these places actually feel like.

And here’s a cool offer just for Bow Valley Insiders: If you book a showing anytime between April 25 and May 31, you’ll be entered to win a $500 gift card to Crazyweed Kitchen.

So worst case, you get a clear sense of what’s out there right now.

Best case, you find something that actually works… and dinner’s on them.

To get entered, book your showing here.

And yes, you actually have to show up. Otherwise everyone would just book 1,000 fake showings and call it a day. We’ll draw on June 1, and if you booked a showing, we’ll email

_{*Presented by Logel Homes.}

THE DIGEST

• ❄️ Large Avalanche Sweeps Through Popular Banff Ice Climb. A size 4 avalanche tore down Mount Rundle in late March, running through the well-known Professor Falls ice climb, a route many locals can see from Highway 1. No one was caught, but the slide buried large sections of the climb under debris up to 25m deep. In avalanche terms, size 4 means big enough to destroy buildings. The route sits in a known avalanche path, and while slides here aren’t unusual, events of this size are rare. See the aftermath.

• 🐟 Teen Fisher Lands Bow Valley’s First World Record Catch. A 16-year-old just put Banff on the global fishing map. Ryder Humphries landed two 70 cm bull trout on the Bow River within five days last November, earning two world records from the International Game Fish Association (IGFA). It marks the first IGFA-recognized world record in the region. Officials told Bow Valley Insider pulling off two records back-to-back on the same river is rare and speaks to both preparation and fish quality. For context, Alberta has only one other active IGFA record. See the catch.

• 🏘️ Banff Centre Plans $46.9M Housing Push. Banff Centre is planning an $46.9M staff housing project after ongoing shortages started affecting its ability to hire and retain workers. The proposal includes about 85 new units on campus, with a mix of one- to three-bedroom homes aimed at accommodating staff at different life stages. The project is still in planning, with a tentative 2027-2029 timeline, and hinges on securing funding. It comes as Banff’s vacancy rate sits below 1% and the town faces a broader shortfall of up to 1,000 units.

• ⚖️ Proposed Library Bill Raises Questions in the Bow Valley. A new provincial bill could change how libraries are overseen and how certain materials are accessed. Bill 28 would allow the province to initiate reviews of libraries and introduce rules around restricting access to some materials based on age. Locally, library leaders in Banff and Canmore say the changes risk turning staff into gatekeepers and raise privacy concerns, arguing current systems already handle age-appropriate access. The province says the goal is simply to ensure safeguards for kids, not to ban books.

We recently chatted with a local community group.

They were running workshops and needed more people to sign up. It cost $30 per person.

They told us they spent $500 on print ads to promote it.

Only two people signed up because of the ads.

That means they spent $500 to make $60. Tough math.

Print can work sometimes. For this group, it didn’t. The point is this: your marketing should clearly pay for itself.

If you want to talk about marketing with results, fill out this quick form.

BANFF CITES 600 NEW HOMES IN PIPELINE, ONLY 24 UNITS COMPLETED SO FAR

What’s Happening? Banff has about 600 new housing units in the pipeline, but only 24 have been completed so far, with most projects still stuck in early stages.

Big Pipeline, Slow Delivery. The Town of Banff has received development applications for roughly 600 new homes since early 2024, a number often pointed to as progress under its Housing Action Plan. But the reality on the ground is more measured. Only a small fraction of those homes are built, with the majority still working through the system.

“Since the start of the Housing Accelerator Fund program in January 2024, the Town has received development permit applications for around 600 net new homes,” the Town of Banff’s Planning & Environment department said in a statement.

Where Things Actually Stand. Of those units, 191 are still under review, while 260 have been approved but remain subject to conditions before they can move forward. Another 111 are under construction or ready to begin, and just 17 have reached the building permit stage. So far, only 24 units are complete and occupied.

Why Many Projects Stall. Even with approvals in place, not every project will be built.

“Many housing development applications do not proceed if the timing is not right,” said Darren Enns, Banff’s director of planning and development, citing financing challenges, labour shortages, and additional requirements tied to building within a national park.

“Unfortunately, this means some of the 600+ units in the housing pipeline may not proceed to construction,” he added.

Density Is Doing the Heavy Lifting. With 98.5% of Banff already developed, the town has little room to expand outward. About 70% of proposed units are in apartment-style buildings, with the rest coming from infill projects like secondary suites, duplexes, and fourplexes.

Zooming Out. Federal funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund is tied to permitting activity, not completed homes. That helps explain the disconnect between a growing pipeline and limited units actually delivered.

Read our full story for a deeper look at what’s holding these projects back.

THINGS TO DO

Friday

• Live Music at Canmore Brewing. Ease into the weekend with live music and a busy taproom. Canmore’s Sue Chick Denton brings her expressive voice and reflective songwriting to Community Friday, backed by decades of performing and local music roots. 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Canmore Brewing Company. No cover.*

• Ricky Diamonds Takes Over The Fat Ox. One night, one show. Ricky Diamonds brings his high-energy mix of comedy, crowd work, and a bit of edge to The Fat Ox for an evening that leans more “night out” than “dinner plans.” Expect a lively room and a performance that doesn’t play it safe. 6:00 PM. The Fat Ox, Banff. $20. Get tickets.*

Saturday

• Dirty Bingo Returns to Exshaw Legion. This isn’t your standard bingo night. Last time we shared this, a Bow Valley Insider reader in her 30s told us it was one of the best nights out she’s had in a while. Expect a lively crowd, cheeky prizes, and plenty of laughs. 18+ event, with the kitchen and bar running all evening. 7:00 PM. Exshaw Legion. $10.*

Sunday

• Women’s Clothing Pop-Up at Melissa’s. If your closet is ready for a spring refresh, this one-day pop-up brings a mix of well-known brands and gently used pieces. Browse a range of sizes and labels, including Lululemon, Patagonia, Arc’teryx, and more. 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Melissa's Missteak.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🎭 Support Local Theatre: The Importance of Being Earnest. Pine Tree Players’ spring production is on now, and it’s drawing a crowd for a reason. This is their big show of the season, with some nights already 90% booked. If you’ve been meaning to catch a local production, this is your window. Expect witty chaos, sharp dialogue, and Lady Bracknell’s unforgettable one-liners. Running for the next 10 days with matinee and evening performances at the Canmore Miners’ Union Hall. Get tickets.*

• ✍🏼 Writing Workshop: A Different Way to Approach Journaling. A four-part reflective writing series is returning to Canmore starting April 25. Across four in-person sessions (8 hours total), facilitator Lorraine Widmer-Carson introduces practical techniques like free writing, gratitude reframing, memory, dialogue, and getting unstuck. The approach is straightforward: different days call for different ways of writing, and learning those tools can turn journaling into a more consistent form of self-care. Sessions are kept small, with just 10 spots available. Learn more or register here.*

• 🚗 Support Banff’s STEM Racing Team at Their Season Finale. The Alpine Allies, a Banff-based student team competing internationally in STEM Racing, are wrapping up their season with a community event worth checking out. STEM Racing is a global competition where students design, build, and race miniature CO₂-powered cars. Expect a live car launch, entertainment, and a closer look at the work behind the scenes. It’s being held at Banff Social on April 24 at 5:30 PM. Entry, plus a beer, is $20.*

• 🔥 Lessons from the Jasper Wildfire. A community panel will reflect on the 2024 Jasper wildfire and what it means for preparedness in the Bow Valley. Hear firsthand experiences from Jasper alongside insights from FireSmart experts and local leaders on wildfire prevention and response. The discussion runs Monday, April 20 from 7-9 PM at the Canmore Public Library. Registration required (in person or online).*

• 🎤 Canmore Folk Fest Documentary Premiere. A new local documentary explores the people and stories behind one of Canmore’s longest-running music traditions. Canmore: Its Folk. Its Festival. premieres Sunday, April 26 at 7 PM at Canmore Brewing Company. The film from Rocky Mountain Live features interviews with artists, organizers, and longtime supporters of the Canmore Folk Music Festival, plus live performances during the evening. Tickets are $10.*

• 💼 Connect with Bow Valley Business Owners. A chance to plug into the local business scene without it feeling like a boardroom. The Bow Valley Chamber’s AGM kicks things off with updates on the year ahead, followed by Bevvies & Business networking where the real conversations happen. Come for the insights, stay for the connections. April 29, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM at the Kinnear Centre, Banff Centre. RSVP and full details.*

CIVIC NEWS

• Dead Man’s Flats Bike Park Plans Evolve. Plans for a new bike park are shifting as residents weigh in on design, location, and how the project fits the community. Feedback is pushing the park further east, away from homes, and toward a larger dirt skills-style park rather than a smaller paved pump track. The project is still in the planning stage, with the MD of Bighorn working through community input.

LIVE MUSIC

• Friday, April 17th, 2026, 10:00 PM: Shots Fired. Location: Drake Pub, Canmore. No Cover.

• Saturday, April 18th, 2026, 9:00 PM: Andy Curtis. Location: Tavern 1883, Canmore. No Cover.

• Saturday, April 18th, 2026, 10:00 PM: Dean Lonsdale. Location: Banff Rose and Crown. No Cover.

SPORTS

• Eagles Chase First AJHL Title as Finals Begin Tonight. The Canmore Eagles are heading to their first-ever AJHL championship series, facing the Whitecourt Wolverines in a best-of-seven showdown. Tickets go on sale today at 9 AM. This is the closest the Eagles have ever been to a title. Let’s show our support!

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.