📉New Rules Could Crush Banff

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Last Friday, we threw one of our wild ideas your way: organizing a Guinness World Record event right here in the Bow Valley. We asked for your input on what records we could break, with suggestions ranging from “most people wearing plaid” to the “largest cold plunge.” But when the dust settled, only 17 people filled out the survey—WAY lower than our usual response. We’re taking that as a sign that, while a handful of you were fired up (us included), the hype wasn’t quite there to make it happen. No worries, though—on to the next big, slightly ridiculous idea!

In today’s Bow Valley Insider:

• Banff could struggle with staffing shortages very soon

• There’s a raven going viral in Banff

• A local music teacher is up for a cool award 

• Plus, half-priced pasta, run club, ice cream fundraiser, & more!

Let’s get to it!

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

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BANFF BUSINESSES BRACE FOR STAFF SHORTAGES

What’s Happening? Businesses in Banff and Lake Louise are warning that new restrictions on the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program could lead to closures. Under the federal changes, businesses can now only hire up to 10% of their staff through the program (down from 30%), and foreign workers can only stay for one year instead of two.

Labour Shortages Incoming. The hospitality industry in Banff, already struggling with staffing, is bracing for an even tighter squeeze. Employers like Doncath Holdings, which runs nine gift shops, say they’re losing trained, committed workers with no Canadian replacements in sight.

Workers Left in Limbo. Many TFWs use the program as a stepping stone to permanent residency, but the sudden rule changes are dashing those hopes. This means uprooting their lives, abandoning career progress, and leaving behind communities they’ve become deeply connected to.

The Bigger Picture. The government made these changes after concerns over housing shortages, unemployment, and alleged mistreatment in the program. But for Banff businesses, the impact could be devastating.

OWN THE RENTAL, SKIP THE STRESS: ADRIANA’S GOT IT COVERED

Owning a rental property should feel rewarding, not like a second job. 

That’s where Adriana from Valley & Peak steps in. Whether you manage short-term guests or long-term tenants, she takes care of everything—from securing clients and managing bookings or leases to handling maintenance, cleaning, and 24/7 communication.

Adriana’s hands-on approach ensures your property runs smoothly while providing exceptional service to tenants or guests. She handles the details so you don’t have to deal with late-night issues, unexpected repairs, or the endless logistics of rental management.

With properties of her own, Adriana knows what it takes to make ownership stress-free and profitable. She even works to optimize your rental’s income, ensuring you get the most out of your investment.

Contact Adriana today and let her do the heavy lifting while you enjoy the rewards.

_{*Presented by Valley & Peak.}

THE DIGEST

• 🚧Highway 1A Nighttime Closure. From March 1 to June 25, the eastern section of the Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A) is closed nightly from 8 PM to 8 AM to protect wildlife. The closure spans 17 km between Fireside picnic area and Johnston Canyon Campground. 

• 💼We Don’t Normally Cover Jobs, But…Parks Canada is hiring over 3,000 seasonal workers, and they’ve bumped up the pay. Roles range from lifeguarding to marketing, with wages from $16.84 to $38.24 per hour. Apply by May 1—but don’t wait, they’re reviewing applications as they come in.

• 🔥Wildfire Season Off to a Calmer Start. Alberta’s wildfire season has begun, but it’s looking much better than last year—only 10 active fires compared to nearly 60 at this time in 2024. Fireguard projects are underway in the Bow Valley, and the province has invested $160 million in wildfire response. 

• 🐦‍⬛Banff’s Internet-Famous Raven. A rare black-and-white raven is turning heads online. Spotted from Mount Temple to Lake Louise, this “cookies and cream” bird has been making the rounds on Reddit, Alberta Birds, and Overheard in Banff. Have you seen this local celebrity? 

• 🧐Students From SAIT Explore Banff’s “Darker Side.” A new film project by SAIT students sheds light on Banff’s nightlife, party culture, and hidden struggles. Featuring firsthand accounts from locals and workers, Breaking Banff dives into substance use and safety concerns. It has mixed reviews, with some locals saying it has a lot of conjecture. Watch it on YouTube here—just remember, it’s a student-led project.

STONEY NAKODA MUSIC TEACHER HITS A HIGH NOTE WITH JUNO NOMINATION

What’s Happening? Nakoda Elementary School music teacher Drew Van Allen has been nominated for the 2025 MusiCounts Teacher of the Year award. Recognized for blending Îyârhe (Stoney) Nakoda culture into music education, Van Allen is one of five finalists, with the winner announced at the JUNO Awards on March 30.

More Than Just Music. Van Allen’s approach isn’t just about teaching notes and rhythms—it’s about storytelling. His students adapt and record songs, adding their cultural context through music videos shared on YouTube. Their version of Passionfruit by Drake even won them CBC’s Music Class Challenge in 2023, earning $5,000 for a powwow drum.

A Community Effort. With guidance from elders, Van Allen ensures authenticity in the music projects, making the learning experience deeply personal. If he wins, the $10,000 grant could fund more powwow drums, further enriching the school’s unique and inclusive music program.

THINGS TO DO

Monday

• Pasta Mondays. Kick off the week with half-price pasta and a rotating weekly special to keep things exciting. Pair your dish with a $7 build your own Negroni, $6 wine, $5 house lager, or a $2 Italian soda. Gluten-free and kid-friendly options are available.

• Pilates. Pilates is a low-impact, full-body workout anyone can do! Your instructor will lead you through a warm-up and plenty of stretching before moving on to muscle isolating exercise. 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM. Fenlands. Drop-In Fees Apply.

• Free Community Dinner. Today’s menu at Food & Friends includes gluten-free shepherd’s or veggie pie, salad, a dinner roll, and cookies. 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM. St. Michael’s, Canmore. Pay what you can. 

• Run Group. Lace up and meet up with other runners at Lululemon on Banff Ave for the Monday night run club. 6:00 PM. lululemon, banff. Free. 

Tuesday

• Free Soup. Enjoy a bowl of soup for free every Tuesday. 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM. Banff Park Church. Free.

• Writing Group. Join the writers of the roundtable, aka The Canmore Writing Group, for dedicated writing time. 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Malcolm Hotel, Second Floor. Free. 

• Drop-In Social. Meet new friends in a welcoming and inclusive space. Play games and enjoy free drinks and baked goods. 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM. Wild Flour Banff. Free. 

• Cribbage. Drop-in for a round-robin style cribbage tournament and social. All levels are welcome. 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM. CanGolf. Free to play.

• Movie Night. Former Vogue cover model Lee Miller travels to the front lines of World War II as a photojournalist and goes on a mission to expose the hidden truths of Nazi Germany. 7:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $12 / youth $6. 

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🍧Ice Cream Fundraiser. 100% of purchases made at Cows in Banff from March 4-9 will be donated to the Banff YWCA.

• 🏕️Drama Summer Camps. This summer the Canmore Theatre School is offering one-week camps where kids will adapt a play weekly! 

• 📚Alberta-wide borrowing is here!. Libraries lets you join other public libraries across Alberta and borrow their materials using ONE library card. Make the most of your library card and access more items for free! If you’re a Calgarian, you can borrow items from Canmore, or Banff and return them to your library in Calgary and vice versa!

• 📢White Bark Cafe News. Last week, we shared that Banff received a nod from the prestigious New York Times, but one locale wanted to thank everyone for their support!

• 🎉Festival of Colours. Rolling Rolls is hosting a Holi Party at the Canmore Rec Centre this Friday. $10 per person over 13. 

• 🏷️20% Discount for First Responders. For the month of March, Canmore Cave Tours is offering all first responders a discount on all their tours. 

• 🗻Three Sisters Viewpoint. Undoubtedly, the iconic trio can be seen everywhere in Canmore. But if you’re looking for a hike and a view, check out this video.

• 🌟Slaycation Live Audience. Slaycation follows larger-than-life queens from across the international drag race family as they vacation together at a Canadian winter cabin located in the Rocky Mountains. Check out the finale, live.

• ❌No Hunting. The Yaha Tinda is closed until the end of the month for the safety of research personnel.

CIVIC NEWS

• Drop by Banff Town Hall tonight, anytime between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM, to learn about the reconstruction of Caribou Street, between Lynx Street and Banff Avenue, scheduled for 2025.

• Tuesday’s Regular Town Council in Canmore will open with a public hearing on Bylaw 2024-37, which amends Bylaw 2018-22. If passed, the bylaw will allow Canmore Community Housing to build on the Palliser Trail lands without minimum parking requirements and remove the minimum rear yard setback altogether. Livestream the meeting here.

LIVE MUSIC

• Monday, March 3rd, 2025, 9:00 PM: The Free Label. Location: Melissa’s MisSteak, Banff. $14.02. 

• Monday, March 3rd, 2025,  10:00 PM: Brent Lee. Location: Rose and Crown Banff. No Cover. 

• Monday, March 3rd, 2025,  10:00 PM: Karaoke Mondays. Location: The Drake Pub, Canmore. No Cover.  

• Tuesday, March 3rd, 2025,  10:00 PM: The Blue Mules. Location: Rose and Crown Banff. No Cover. 

SPORTS

• Hockey. Canmore’s own Canada vs. USA hockey showdown ended in dramatic fashion, with the Flyers defeating Montana’s Whitefish team in a shootout to win the Smash n’ Bash Tournament. Featuring ex-pros and junior standouts, the Flyers battled fatigue and a tough opponent to bring home the win—bragging rights included.

• Golf. Happy Anniversary, Stewart Creek Golf and Country Club! From Mozart on the Mountain concerts to overcoming floods and a pandemic, the course has remained a local gem.

That’s all, folks!

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