🚓 New Traffic Penalties Start

Good morning, Bow Valley!

We’re launching our next Bow Valley Insider event. On March 24, we’re hosting a Try Biathlon experience at the Canmore Nordic Centre with athletes from the Biathlon Alberta Training Centre. You’ll learn the basics, shoot the same practice rifles used by biathletes (or try a real .22 biathlon rifle if you want), and we’ll wrap things up with a fun mini-relay challenge. It’s just $10 and a great way to spend a weekday evening after work doing something you definitely don’t get to try every day. Details and sign up here.

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

GIANT FACES PAINTED ON ABRAHAM LAKE

What’s Happening? About a week ago, we shared the viral Instagram video of giant portraits painted directly onto Abraham Lake’s ice. Now, we’ve sat down with the artist behind them to understand how they were made and why they will soon disappear.

From Studio to Frozen Reservoir. The works were created by Finland-based environmental portrait artist David Popa, who spent nearly two weeks in Nordegg producing four large-scale portraits across Abraham Lake and inside Cline River Canyon. The project was completed in collaboration with Travel Alberta.

Popa calls himself a portrait artist whose “canvas is the world.” Instead of traditional paint, he uses chalk, charcoal, and water. No binders. No solvents. Nothing that leaves residue behind.

His largest piece on Abraham Lake stretched 24 metres long.

Why Abraham Lake? Abraham Lake was selected for its deep blue ice and the methane bubbles trapped beneath the surface. The bubbles form when organic matter decomposes on the lakebed and gas freezes in layered stacks as it rises.

“The bubbles are like a cosmic texture,” Popa told us.

He designed the portrait, titled New Beginning, to feel embedded in the ice rather than sitting on top of it.

Built to Disappear. Popa grids his designs at scale, checks proportions using a drone, and adjusts constantly to wind, frost, and shifting temperatures. “I plan like a filmmaker and improvise like a painter,” he said.

As spring temperatures rise, the portraits will fade completely. That is intentional.

“Impermanence is the point,” Popa said. “Nature gets the final brushstroke.”

Check out our full interview and see more photos of the artwork.

ACUTE INJURY CLINIC IN CANMORE AIMS TO SPEED UP CARE FOR NEW INJURIES (AT NO COST)

What’s Happening? Banff Sport Medicine operates an Acute Injury Clinic (AIC) in Canmore that allows patients with new injuries to be assessed quickly, without first seeing a family doctor or visiting the emergency room.

The Problem It’s Solving. In the Bow Valley, a fresh knee tweak, ankle sprain, or shoulder injury often means waiting days for a referral or spending hours in the ER for a non-emergency. The AIC was designed to cut out that delay.

How This Is Different. Patients can self-refer if the injury occurred within the last 10 days and is new, not a flare-up of an old issue. No referral required. Once booked, patients are seen in a single visit by both a sport medicine physician and a physiotherapist. That team approach means assessment, diagnosis, and next steps happen in one place, often in under an hour.

Why It Beats The Usual Referral Route. Family doctor visits often lead to referrals and more waiting. ERs focus on urgent, life-threatening cases. The AIC is built specifically for musculoskeletal injuries and staffed by clinicians who assess them every day. If imaging is needed, it can be arranged immediately down the hallway. Referrals to physiotherapy, bracing, orthopaedics, or other specialists can also be made on the spot.

What It Does (And Doesn’t) Treat. The clinic treats acute joint and muscle injuries such as sprains, strains, and some dislocations. It does not assess fractures, concussions, or spine, neck, or back injuries.

Cost And Access. There is no cost with valid Alberta Health coverage. Learn more here.

_{*Presented by Banff Sports Medicine.}

THE DIGEST

• 🚓 Alberta Traffic Fines Jump Up to 50%. If you drive Highway 1 more than your own driveway, this one’s for you. Alberta is hiking fines for select traffic offences effective March 13, with high-risk violations like racing, stunting, and excessive speeding jumping by 50%. Distracted driving and common paperwork offences are also climbing roughly 30%. See all the new fines here. The move lands just as the province prepares to test 120 km/h speed limits on select rural divided highways in 2026. Faster roads may be coming, but so are steeper consequences.

• 🤍 Another Avalanche Death as Western Snowpack Remains Volatile. A 23-year-old snowmobiler was killed Saturday in an avalanche near Kootenay Pass in B.C.’s Selkirk Mountains. Avalanche Canada says two riders triggered a slide on a slope beneath a transmission line. Both were buried. One did not survive. Forecasters describe B.C.’s Interior snowpack as “unusually complex,” warning that dangerous avalanche conditions persist at all elevations. The tragedy comes one day after 15-year-old Calgary ski racer Emilio Hrazdira died in an avalanche at Nakiska Ski Area in Kananaskis.

• 🐶 Massive Private Dog Parks Open Just Outside Cochrane. If your dog treats the off-leash like the Indy 500, this might be worth the short drive. The Cochrane & Area Humane Society has opened two new private, bookable dog parks north of town. Owners reserve the entire fenced park for themselves, a model that’s proven popular with reactive dogs or those working on recall. One-hour bookings run $30, with a smaller 2.5-acre option starting at $12 for 30 minutes. All revenue goes back to shelter operations.

• 🔥 Wildfire Mitigation Work Expands at Lake Louise. Parks Canada has begun new wildfire mitigation work just north of the Lake Louise village, in the forest between the Trans-Canada Highway and the railway. For most Bow Valley residents, that mainly means you may notice crews hauling timber through the main Lake Louise traffic circle if you’re heading to the lakeshore over the next few weeks. You might also see occasional smoke from debris pile burning.

Local Ads That Actually Work

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NEW BURGER BAR OPENS IN CANMORE

What’s Happening? A new burger restaurant has opened in the Shops of Canmore, with its owners betting that Alberta beef, game burgers, and a casual vibe will resonate with locals.

A New Tenant at the Shops. Patty Shack Burger Bar has opened at 113-302 Old Canmore Rd., the former home of Drunkin Lobster Oyster Bar, which closed in December. 

The spot is owned by Alex Johnston, who also goes by “Harvie,” and Seongwoo Kwon, the same local couple behind First Call Tavern in the same complex. Kwon says the goal is straightforward: more casual, family-friendly dining in a town where dinner out can often feel like an occasion.

“We are locals to the area; my husband actually grew up in Canmore,” Kwon said. They describe the restaurant as Canmore’s “only burger bar,” aimed at carving out a niche in the town’s dining scene.

Alberta Beef and Game on the Menu. The menu leans heavily into Alberta ingredients. All patties are hand-formed and gluten-friendly.

Options include a 7 oz Alberta beef signature cheeseburger, plus elk and wild boar burgers. There is also a quinoa and black bean veggie burger, blackened chicken, Shopsy’s jumbo hot dogs, wings, poutine, and milkshakes.

For first-timers, Kwon recommends the Patty Shack Signature Cheeseburger.

Opening in a Tough Climate. The launch comes during a period many Bow Valley restaurant owners describe as challenging, with higher food costs and slower shoulder seasons.

“We are definitely seeing high costs as a new operator,” Kwon said. Still, she says early local turnout has been encouraging.

“The locals are coming,” she said. “I am not worried about the slow seasons because of our local support.” For now, the message is simple: come hungry.

Read our full interview with the owners and take a closer look inside the new space.

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Fat Bike Ride. Trade the couch for studded tires and a winter trail. Led by local riders, the ride is geared toward intermediate to advanced riders looking to stretch their legs, discover new trails, and maybe meet a new riding buddy along the way. Snow, bikes, and post-ride beers. 6:00 PM. Canmore Brewing Company. Free.*

Thursday

• Electric Vehicle Test Drive. Curious about EVs but don’t want a sales pitch? This free event pairs you with a knowledgeable local EV ambassador for a test drive and honest conversation about charging, range, and cold-weather performance. Vehicles available include the Cadillac Optiq, Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid, and Chevrolet Silverado EV. 5:00 PM. Book a test drive here.*

• Drop-In Volleyball. Brush up on your volleyball skills before beach season hits. Nets and balls are provided. Bring your energy and maybe a few friends. 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM. Banff Elementary School. Free for Banff residents with a Pauw Pass.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🎤 Dolly Takes Over Canmore’s Main Street. Rhinestones, big hair, and powerhouse vocals are landing at Carter-Ryan Theatre from March 3 to 29. Dolly: Here She Comes Again traces Dolly Parton’s rise from the Smoky Mountains to global icon status, led by April Cook’s knockout vocals and storytelling, alongside Phill Nugent. Expect the hits like “9 to 5,” “Jolene,” and “I Will Always Love You” in an intimate 51-seat setting that feels more Nashville porch than arena tour. Get tickets. Use BOWVALLEYINSIDER for 15% off.*

• ✨ One Thing Worth Doing Together This Winter. If you’re going to plan one proper night this winter, this might be it. The Emerald Sky Dome at Emerald Lake Lodge is a heated, clear dining dome where a six-course chef’s tasting unfolds at a relaxed pace, with optional wine and cocktail pairings. Spend the day around Field, walk the lakeshore, or ski, then settle in for dinner under the night sky. It’s private, quiet, and more about sitting down for a proper meal that actually takes a few hours.  Which honestly doesn’t happen very often anymore. More details and bookings.*

• 🎭 Comedy Night at the Banff Rose and Crown. If your abs need a workout that does not involve a gym, mark March 20. Austin-based comedian Danny Martinello brings his fast-paced, no-holds-barred stand-up to Banff for one night. A winner of the Seattle International Comedy Competition, he’s performed at the Melbourne Comedy Festival and is a regular at Austin’s Comedy Mothership and LA’s Comedy Store. Expect high-energy delivery and sharp crowd work. Tickets here.*

• 📣 Calling All Yoga Instructors, Coaches, & Wellness Pros. If you run yoga classes, meditation workshops, fitness classes, nutrition seminars, or any type of retreat, the Canmore Opera House will be your new favourite space. It’s a bright log cabin in Spring Creek surrounded by mountain views, with room for 120 guests. You’ll get a stage, sound system, microphones, tables, chairs, and firepit all included. Book an event held between now and the end of April and get 40% off. It’s a standout space, and right now it comes with a standout discount. Inquire here.*

• 🎶 Bow Valley Chorus Is Bringing Mozart to the Castle. Bow Valley Chorus will perform Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Rutter’s Gloria, and Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms on May 16 at the Fairmont Banff Springs and May 17 at St. Stephen’s Church in Calgary. Yes, we know. May is still months away. But we’re flagging this now so no one in the Bow Valley says, “Wait… that was this weekend?” If you’re wondering what a show is like, watch their recent performance on YouTube. Ticket details are coming.*

CIVIC NEWS

• Banff Rejects Basement Suite B&B Conversion. Banff’s Municipal Planning Commission has denied a proposal to convert a Park Avenue basement suite into a commercial bed-and-breakfast. The decision cited a 2025 bylaw change that prohibits B&Bs if they reduce residential dwelling units on a property. Officials said converting the approved suite would effectively remove housing from the market.

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, March 4th, 2026, 8:30 PM: High Dive Wild West Wednesdays with Arn and Honky Tonk Tom. Location: The Dusty Boot, Banff. No Cover.

• Thursday, March 5th, 2026, 7:30 PM: Andrew Collins Trio. Location: artsPlace, Canmore. $17.50-$35.

SPORTS

• Canmore’s Britt Richardson Reflects on Olympic Debut. When we caught up with Canmore skier Britt Richardson after her first Olympic race, she said the moment it felt real was standing in the start gate and looking up at the Olympic rings above her. Richardson finished 26th in the women’s giant slalom at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games with a combined time of 2:16.65. She said mistakes in both runs cost her a stronger result, but added that pushing limits is part of competing at the sport’s highest level. Read our full interview.

• Canmore Biathletes Competing on World Stage. Athletes from the Canmore-based Biathlon Alberta Training Centre are racing around the world this week. Thirteen athletes are competing in Arber, Germany at the World Youth & Junior Championships, while three others are in Lake Placid for the IBU Cup. Early results from the IBU Cup include Moira Green (27th), Ema Chlepkova (32nd), and Liam Tinworth (36th). More races are still ahead, with the rest of the team preparing for the Norwegian Junior National Championships.

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.