💸 New Park Fees: $100/Person

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Banff National Park turns 140 this week, marking the moment the federal government protected the land around the hot springs and created Canada’s first national park. Happy birthday, Banff! 🎉 

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

$100 PER PERSON: THE NEW PRICE OF AMERICA’S TOP PARKS FOR CANADIANS

What’s Happening? Canada is throwing open the gates to its national parks for free next year… just as the U.S. prepares to tack on one of the biggest fee hikes foreign visitors have ever seen.

The Big Change. Starting January 1, 2026, non-U.S. residents visiting America’s 11 most popular national parks will pay a new $100 per person surcharge on top of the usual $30-$35 vehicle fee. Annual passes are also splitting into two tiers: $80 for U.S. residents, $250 for everyone else. The US Interior Department says the change ensures “U.S. taxpayers continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share.” Translation: a resident-first pricing model wrapped in patriotic branding.

How Much More Canadians Pay. Right now, a family road trip to Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon costs about $30-$35 at the gate. In 2026, that jumps to $430-$435 for a family of four. That new $100-per-person fee applies to: Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion.

Meanwhile in Canada…Ottawa is moving in the opposite direction. The Canada Strong Pass returns for two major travel windows (Dec. 12 - Jan. 15 and June 19 - Sept. 7). It offers free entry to national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas, free or discounted museum access, and discounted VIA Rail fares (with deeper savings for families and young adults), all with no registration, residency requirements, or paperwork.

The Growing Gap. The two countries now have completely different philosophies: the U.S. is raising financial barriers for international visitors, while Canada is lowering them. So in summer 2026, American families heading to Banff or Jasper pay nothing, and Canadian families heading to Yosemite pay more than ten times what they pay today.

Read our full story for the implications.

WHY YOUR EYES HATE WINTER IN THE ROCKIES

Cold mornings. Dry air. Add in the smoke from the prescribed burns and… yeah, your eyes know what time of year it is.

If you’ve been blinking a little too hard lately, here’s the part most people never hear: dry eyes usually aren’t about not making enough tears. They’re about blocked oil glands along your eyelids that stop your tears from staying on your eyes long enough to do their job. Alberta’s climate makes that even worse.

At Canmore Family Eyecare, Dr. Jo uses fancy equipment, such as radiofrequency heat and Intense Pulsed Light, to warm, soften, and clear those glands so your eyes can actually hold moisture again. It’s gentle, non-invasive, and feels more like warmth therapy than a medical treatment.

If you’ve been putting this off, winter is a smart time to get ahead of dryness (plus most benefit plans reset January 1).

Book a free 15-minute chat with Dr. Jo and see if advanced dry eye care is the right next move.

_{*Presented by Canmore Family Eyecare.}

THE DIGEST

• 🛰 Drone Pilot Tagged With $5,000 Fine After Online Footage. Parks Canada tracked down a drone pilot after their own social posts revealed takeoff and landing spots inside Banff and Waterton. The Court handed out $5,000 in fines, a year-long ban from Waterton, $1,000 in program donations, and ordered the footage removed. Wardens say digital evidence is now doing the heavy lifting in enforcement, as earlier fines this year suggest a growing pattern of people “not knowing” drones are banned in all national parks. 

• 👰🏻 Banff Wedding Story Breaks Into the Mainstream. You might remember the winter elopement we covered last week, the couple who hiked through blowing snow to say their vows at Peyto Lake. Well, you heard it here first: People Magazine has now picked up the story and shared it with 14.5 million Instagram followers. Congrats to Melissa and Devon on tying the knot, and to Banff Elopement Photographers for the once-in-a-lifetime shots.

• 🏘️ Canmore Sticks With the Livability Tax and Greenlights $10M for Housing. Council voted down a push to delay the livability tax by a year, keeping it on track for 2026. That means if your Canmore home sits unoccupied, it will be subject to the new tax starting next year. At the same meeting, the Town confirmed it will put $10 million from livability-tax revenues toward the new 330-unit affordable-housing project at the Moustache Lands. Read our full story to see how the dollars and cents add up.

• ✂️ Banff Considers Thinning Forest To Cut Elk Deaths On Tracks. Banff may clear a 0.4-hectare patch of dense forest near the industrial compound to give elk a fighting chance when trains round a blind curve. Parks Canada says 42 elk have been killed here since 2004, and thicker vegetation leaves them boxed in with nowhere to bolt. The proposed $20,000 project would open escape routes and support broader wildlife coexistence work.

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BANFF MOVES TOWARD ENFORCING WILDFIRE RULES ON HOMEOWNERS

What’s Happening? Banff has taken its first formal step toward enforcing wildfire safety rules on private property, introducing a bylaw that would make it illegal to store combustible materials within ten metres of a home.

A New Era of Fire Safety. Council’s proposed rules zero in on one of the most common ignition risks: fuels clustered around houses. Under the bylaw, things like wood pallets, dead trees, yard debris, overgrown grass, bark mulch, or firewood left out in the open could lead to fines if they’re too close to a structure. Fine amounts will be set later.

Why Banff Is Doing This Now. The proposal follows a wave of wildfire reviews across Western Canada after the 2024 Jasper wildfire. Federal researchers found that many homes didn’t burn from direct flames, but because wind-blown embers ignited materials sitting right beside buildings long before the main fire reached the townsite. Banff’s ten-metre rule directly reflects those findings and builds on the Town’s existing FireSmart Home Assessment program, which already evaluates residential ignition zones.

The Bigger Shift. For years, Banff has focused on thinning forests and reducing fuels around the town’s perimeter. This bylaw signals the next phase: shifting attention to private property, where many of the highest-risk ignition points actually sit. If passed, wildfire prevention becomes a responsibility that homeowners can be held accountable for.

Next Step. A public hearing and final council votes will determine whether these rules become law.

Read our full story to see exactly what the new rules would cover. 

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Tommy’s Unplugged Returns. The Bow Valley’s favourite live music showdown is back. This annual event has jump-started local music careers and always draws a crowd. Preliminary rounds run for three weeks, with semis on Dec. 10 and finals on Dec. 17. Prizes: $500, $300, $200. Come support local talent and cheer on the next breakout star. 10:00 PM. Tommy’s Neighborhood Pub. Free.

Thursday

• Kickoff to Backcountry Snowpack Discussions. The Rockies’ backcountry brain trust is gathering for the first snowpack session of the season. Experts will break down what’s happening in the Rockies, Purcells, and Selkirks. It’s the best early-season intel you’ll get. Doors at 6:30 PM, start at 7 PM. Canmore Brewing. Free.*

• The Story of Jim Phillips. This documentary dives into the life of the legendary graphic artist, whose bold surf, skate, and rock-poster designs defined a cultural era. From the1960s in Santa Cruz to becoming art director for Santa Cruz Skateboards, the film traces his rise, the pressures that led to the closure of Phillips Studios, and his creative resurgence. 7:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $12 / youth $6.*

• Comedy Night. Headliner Brian Stollery, a Calgary comedy veteran, is joined by Frank Russo and Scottie Grinton. Hosted by Scott Dumas of Cackling Crow Comedy. Enjoy food, drinks, and hilarious stand-up.18+ event. 8:30 PM - 11:00 PM. Tavern 1883, Canmore. $17.31.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🚁 A Big Night For Heart Mountain Rescue. Many of you have already entered Heart Mountain Rescue’s winter fundraiser raffle with prizes like a two-night Jasper getaway, a heli ride for two, and more. And while you can still enter and donate here, we want to highlight their in-person community night on November 29 at The Gem in Harvie Heights. They’ll announce the raffle winners, plus there’s live music, hors d’oeuvres, drinks, an ice-cream bar, and magic. It’s free to attend (drinks sold separately), with donations welcome at the door to support lifesaving care for dogs.*

• 🛍️ Keep Your Holiday Shopping in the Bow Valley. Alberta’s Own Market in Canmore is fully loaded with 100 percent locally made, giftable goodies. We stopped by and ranked our top five stocking stuffers for this year. Watch our video. If you want unique, affordable gifts that support local makers, this is the spot.*

• 🥪 One-Day Sandwich Takeover. Fat Ox is teaming up with Chef Chris Rivest for a December 5 sandwich pop-up that is going to test the structural limits of a focaccia. The menu has six heavy hitters, including Italian beef with bone marrow aioli, a hot-honey mushroom stack, a Cubano, and a serious fried chicken contender. House-made kettle chips are in the mix too. It runs from 11 to 5 or until sold out. Get there early because these will not last. Or reserve your seat.*

• 💝 Santa’s Anonymous. Warm up at the Banff Legion on Saturday, Nov. 29, for a free community event supporting local seniors. Live music from 4-7 PM, alongside a silent auction from 5-8 PM. All proceeds help Banff and Lake Louise seniors 60+ enjoy the holiday season, with a portion supporting Banff Food and Friends, a weekly community meal that enhances food security. More info here.*

• ✨ Big Changes at Salon 83. Salon 83 has entered a new chapter under fresh ownership. Founder Jennie Forsyth has passed the torch with care to longtime Canmore stylist Britt Smith-Francis. She’s refreshing the space, bringing back favourite products, and preparing for a new brand launch soon.

• 📚 New Rockies-Themed Kids’ Book. Cochrane author Sophia Gould has released Rok’n Crew Snowboards, inspired by her young son and love of snowboarding. Illustrated by Calgary artist Sarah MacDonald, the story features Banff-area scenery and celebrates outdoor adventure. The first in a planned series, it’s available now here.

• ⚕️ Stay Active, Stay Strong (At Any Age). Aging doesn’t have to mean slowing down. Whether it’s stiffness, aches, or old injuries catching up, Osteopathy For All helps restore mobility and prevent future pain by treating the root cause. Book a free assessment and keep moving for years to come.*

CIVIC NEWS

• Lynx Street Closure. Lynx Street is closed from Squirrel Street to Wolf Street to connect water mains for the Wolf Street Housing Project. No vehicle, bike, or pedestrian access is allowed in the work zone. Use Railway Ave or Banff Ave as alternate routes. Detours are signed, and the Hospital and Health Unit remain accessible.

• Canmore Fire-Rescue Welcomes New Chief & Deputy Chief. With nearly 40 years of combined frontline experience, Fire Chief Shawn Polley, formerly of Cochrane and long rooted in Kananaskis emergency services, and Deputy Chief Jacqueline Hutchison, a 16-year Canmore firefighter and wildfire responder, both stepped into their roles on Oct. 6.

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, November 26th, 2025, 10:00 PM: Halle Ponton. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

• Thursday, November 27th, 2025, 10:00 PM: The Blue Mules. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

SPORTS

• Two Eagles Take Flight for Team Canada West. The Canmore Eagles’ Will Lutic and Hudson Landmark have been tapped to represent Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge in Trois-Rivières from December 7 to 13. They will face Canada East, Sweden, and the U.S., with plenty of NCAA and NHL scouts watching. This marks the third straight year the Eagles have players in the tournament. Good luck to Will and Hudson.

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Friday, 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.