🏞️Moraine Madness Is Here

Good morning, Bow Valley!

This edition’s Digest is a bit of a time warp. Instead of our usual rapid-fire news, we’re taking a moment to dig into some of the stories that shaped Canmore and Banff. Let us know what you think!

In today’s Bow Valley Insider:

• Book your Parks Canada shuttle today (or else)

• A quick dive into some wild Bow Valley history 

• Measles hits Canmore & Banff (yikes!)

• Plus: after-work hikes, disc golf, community theatre & more!

Let’s get to it!

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

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MORAINE MAYHEM STARTS TODAY AT 8 AM

What’s Happening? Parks Canada’s Moraine Lake shuttle reservations go live today at 8 AM sharp—so if your friend from Toronto is visiting this summer and insists on seeing those famous turquoise waters, now’s the time to lock it in.

Get Your Browser Tabs Ready. Starting April 16, Parks Canada will release 40% of its shuttle seats for the entire season. The rest? Dropped 48 hours before travel, Hunger Games-style. Book through the Parks Canada Reservation System.

Why It Matters? Moraine Lake is car-free year-round, and Lake Louise parking is more elusive than a Banff patio table in July. The shuttle is your golden ticket—and yes, one ticket covers both lakes in a day via the Lake Connector.

Pro Tips:

• Create an account right now, which is hopefully before 8 AM

• Shuttles to Lake Louise start May 16; Moraine Lake starts June 1

• Can’t get a ticket? Options include Roam Transit or private companies (like Moraine Lake Bus Co, which includes sunrise rides).

The Bottom Line. Book today—or prepare to explain to your friend why your “Moraine Lake” pic is actually Two Jack.

THE MOST FUN YOU’LL HAVE WITH A HAT

Want to host Easter in serious style?

Join Alpenflora’s Easter Bonnet Workshop — where you'll sip mimosas, snack on Le Fournil pastries, and create your own fresh floral hat or hairpiece. Whether you're a crafting pro or someone who once glued their fingers together, you're welcome here.

In just two hours, you’ll design a showstopping accessory using beautiful, fresh blooms — no prior skills (or Pinterest boards) required. Bring your own felt, cowboy, or festival hat, and it’ll transform into the ultimate Easter statement piece. Bonus: you’ll get some fun photos once you’re done.

It’s not just for the ladies either — bring your best friend, your partner, your cool uncle — everyone’s invited to get their brunch-and-blooms on.

• Sunday, April 20, from 11 AM–1 PM

• Spots are limited — grab your ticket now

Registration includes all supplies except hats.

_{*Presented by Alpenflora}

THE DIGEST

• 🕵️ Banff’s Spy Secrets. Long before tourists filled the halls of Banff Springs, a quiet Canadian helped shape the outcome of WWII—possibly from a lounge chair by the fireplace. Our latest story uncovers how the Rockies became a backdrop for real-life spycraft. 

• 🏛️ Wait… There Was a North Canmore? Turns out “South Canmore” wasn’t always the only directional name in town. The OG North Canmore was actually the first townsite—and it’s not even where you’d think. From fires to football matches, it’s a fascinating look at how Canmore’s early neighbourhoods took shape. 

• 📜 From Coal Dust to Clean Pages. Canmore’s coal-stained logbooks just got the spa treatment—HEPA vacuums, smoke sponges, the works. After decades buried in dust, these fragile records are now preserved and ready for researchers to dig into—minus the black lung risk.

• 🍬 The True Story of the Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe. When the bank said no, Kevin sold his house and built Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe in Canmore from the ground up—literally. Nearly three decades later, it’s still a Main Street favourite, filled with rare sweets, retro finds, and a whole lot of heart.

• ⛷️ Banff’s Ski History. Starting with ski jumping festivals lit by 100 lamps, followed by a cabin at Norquay where $25 got you a lifetime membership, and eventually the first chairlift built for summer tourists that changed winter forever. This timeline unpacks the wild evolution of skiing in the Rockies.

MEASLES HITS CANMORE & BANFF

What’s Happening? One confirmed measles case has Alberta Health Services (AHS) sounding the alarm across Canmore and Banff. 

The Measles Tour: If you hit any of these spots, you might have scored more than just groceries or a movie ticket:

• Save-On-Foods Canmore – April 6: 5 AM–3 PM
  

• Lux Cinema Banff – April 11: 4 PM–7:45 PM
  

• Banff Springs Bowl Valley – April 11: 6:30 PM–11 PM.

Check Yourself. If you were born after 1970 and didn’t get both measles shots, AHS says it’s time to dig up your vaccine records and keep an eye out for symptoms.

Symptoms to Watch For: Fever, cough, red eyes, and a rash that starts behind your ears and works its way down—cute, right? Nope.

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• New Cafe Opened. This new non-profit community cafe is now open. It offers a lively, sober alternative to the Banff nightlife scene with board games, live music, community classes, and workshops. Tuesday to Saturday. 2:00 PM - Midnight. 100 Beaver Street.

• National Canadian Film Day. Join Canadians all across the country in watching Cree filmmaker Tasha Hubbard’s feature-length Singing Back the Buffalo. 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Canmore Library. Free.  

• Community Theatre Comedy. Opening night for Drinking Habits. Two wine-making nuns try to save their convent while undercover reporters and mistaken identities stir up chaos. It’s a classic farce with plenty of laughs—and a few spilled secrets. 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Canmore Miners’ Union Hall. Tonight only is pay what you can.  Tickets still available.

• Trivia Night. Show off your pub trivia knowledge for cash prizes. 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM. Tavern 1883, Canmore. $2.

Thursday

• Free Family Movie. In Elemental, opposites attract—literally. Ember, a sharp-edged fire resident, strikes up an unlikely friendship with Wade, a laid-back water guy. Their connection forces them to rethink what it means to fit in, belong, and blend. 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. Free.

• Taxes 101. Whether you're a longtime local or here on a visa and filing taxes for the first time, this session is for you. It’s beginner-friendly and great if you’ve got a simple setup (like just a T4). 6:00 PM–7:30 PM. Canmore Brewing Company. By donation.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🎵 Did You Know About This Secret Microtheatre? Behind the bold art of Carter-Ryan Gallery is Canmore’s best-kept secret: a microtheatre where Hazy Shade of Winter is now playing. Cozy up with the songs of Simon & Garfunkel and see why locals, including us, are loving it! Get your tickets now through April 27. Only a few seats left.

• 🍕 Grab & Go April Deals From Valbella. Too tired to cook but too proud for cereal? Valbella’s got your back.  Pizza Night (feeds 2 with Caesar salad) was $24, now $18. Perogie Night (feeds 2–3 with all the fixings) is also $18. Easy, tasty, and cheaper than takeout. See all the deals here. 

• 🥞 Easter Brunch at Juniper. The Easter Brunch Experience at the Juniper means morning mimosas, fresh flavours, valley views, and firepit s’mores. Juniper has some of the best views in town—perfect for a laid-back, memorable morning. $55 Adults / $25 Kids (6-12). Reserve now. Spaces limited.  

• 🥾 Looking For an After Work Hike? We tackled the 7.4km winter route to the Mount Kidd Fire Lookout—expect snow, bushwhacking, and zero trail markers. Route-finding skills (and a sense of humour) are essential. But the summit? Unreal views and the summit to ourselves. Watch the adventure on Instagram.

• ❄️ Learn How the Weather Works in the Mountains. This program goes over fronts, clouds, weather charts, satellite photos, information available on the Internet, same-day in-the-field forecasting, and long-term forecasting. April 26th. $50 through the Alpine Club of Canada. Register here.

• 📺 The Last of Us Returns. Season two premiered last Sunday, and while Canmore had more screen time in season one, these new behind-the-scenes shots still feature our Bow Valley in the background—rugged, moody, and unmistakably cinematic.

• 🥏 Disc Golf Competition in Canmore.  The 25th Annual Big Bear Disc Golf Classic lands in Canmore this June with three rounds and $750 in added cash. Registration is now open, with spots filling fast. Lower fees this year and all-Canadian player packs sweeten the deal.

• 🎒 Borrow-a-Bag. Drop off your gently used reusable bags to Banff Town Hall to be distributed at various borrowing stations around town. 

• ⛔ Kananaskis Area Closure. The Yamnuska Day Use Area, Yamnuska Trail, and Bouldering and Climbing  Areas are closed until further notice due to blasting in the area. 

• ⛔ Annual National Park Area Closure. The Spray River Valley—from Canyon Dam to its junction with Goat Creek—is closed until November to protect wildlife activity. Entering the area could land you a fine of up to $25,000 under the Canada National Parks Act. Check the area map here.

SPOTLIGHT: BANFF FOOD & FRIENDS

Community Food and Friend Dinners create a welcoming space every Monday evening where people from all walks of life can gather to share a free, nourishing meal. More than just food, it’s about building connections, strengthening community bonds, and supporting one another. Drop By St. Georges in the Pines for a hot meal or to help serve a meal.

CIVIC NEWS

• Banff Policing Committee. Banff’s new provincially-mandated police advisory committee will be open to the public and help shape local policing priorities—but won’t direct RCMP operations. The committee will increase community input into safety planning, while meeting Alberta’s updated police governance legislation.  

• MD of Bighorn’s April Council Round-Up: FireSmart work is expanding. A new regional trail initiative is underway. Plus, Alberta’s top economist briefs the council on what the provincial budget means locally. Get the full Recap.

• 25 Years of Canmore Community Housing. Canmore Community Housing is marking 25 years of making life here more livable. Since 2000, CCH has helped residents access below-market housing, laying the groundwork for a more inclusive Bow Valley. As housing challenges grow, the milestone doubles as a reminder: this work is far from done.

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, April 16th, 2025, 9:00 PM: CALLING ALL CAPTAINS w/ Gutter King , Idiofame + JRATS. Location: Melissa’s MisSteak, Canmore.$15 Presale $20 at the Door.

• Wednesday, April 16th, 2025, 9:00 PM: Last Trax. Location: Dancing Sasquatch, Banff. $11.98. 

• Wednesday, April 16th, 2025, 10:00 PM: DJ Nazo. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover. 

• Thursday, April 17th, 2025, 10:00 PM: Cornstarr. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

SPORTS

• Muay Thai at Stoney Nakoda. The first-ever Muay Thai World Cup fight night hit Stoney Nakoda Casino, headlined by Calgary’s Deval Garvey in a high-stakes rematch for the Canadian middleweight title. With 19 bouts and a near sell-out crowd, organizers are already eyeing more fight nights in the Bow Valley.

• Canmore Hits Reality TV. Canada’s Ultimate Challenge wraps up Wednesday, and Canmore local Mark Manysiak is still in the running. His team is competing for first place in the season finale—tune in to see if they bring it home.

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Friday, same time, same place!