🚘No Cars At Lake Louise?

Good morning, Bow Valley!

We’re launching something new. Last month, we asked if you wanted Banff & Canmore itineraries that go beyond the basic bucket list. 69% of you said yes—so we’re delivering, with a twist. Roast My Trip is our new series where we (lovingly) roast real travel plans we find online. It’s part local guide, part reality check, and all in good fun. Episode one is now live—check the first link under the Digest.

In today’s Bow Valley Insider:

• Parks Canada tightens rules to protect wildlife and ease congestion

• Banff’s job fair reveals real housing struggles

• Canmore’s median single-family home prices climb again

• Plus: pickleball night, ghost stories, area closures & more!

Let’s get to it!

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

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OVERCROWDED & OVER IT: PARKS CANADA TIGHTENS THE RULES

What’s Happening? Parks Canada is putting the brakes on over-tourism in Banff National Park with a suite of restrictions aimed at protecting wildlife and easing congestion. From vehicle bans to tent crackdowns, Lake Louise and Lake Minnewanka are under the spotlight.

Driving to Be Denied. By 2029, personal vehicles may no longer be allowed at Lake Louise, and Lake Minnewanka could follow suit by 2034. Skyrocketing traffic—up 70% at Louise and 50% at Minnewanka—has pushed Parks Canada to explore transit-first access models, similar to Moraine Lake’s shuttle-only system.

Bears > Campers. Due to increased bear activity, tents, tent trailers, and soft-sided campers are banned from the Lake Louise Trailer Campground for the 2025 season.

Trail Crackdown. Trail biking now has a tighter leash: only designated trails and paved roads are open to cyclists. Off-trail biking? That’ll cost you—up to $25K fines, in fact.

Big Picture. More rules, less freedom? Maybe. But it’s all part of Parks Canada's plan to balance protection with access as Banff’s popularity continues to soar.

WHAT DOES YOUR FLOOR SAY ABOUT YOU?

Your home tells a story—but is your floor telling the right one?

Worn-out carpet? It’s begging for an upgrade.

Dated tile? Your home deserves a modern refresh.

Scratched-up hardwood? Time to reclaim that polished look.

At March’s Flooring & Design, their expert team helps you decode your space and create a home that truly reflects you—with flooring, tile, wallpaper, and design services to pull it all together.

✔ Free design consultation with any flooring or tile purchase

✔ Full-service installation—no stress, just great results

✔ Locally owned and stocked with top Canadian brands

Your home should feel like you. Step into their Canmore showroom or book a free consultation today!

_{*Presented by March’s Flooring.}

THE DIGEST

• 🎒Tourist Itinerary Meets Local Sarcasm. We just launched a new series called Roast My Trip, where we take real Banff and Canmore travel plans found online and give them a cheeky makeover—with local pro tips, better picks, and a few lovingly roasty comments along the way. Check out episode one to see the 500-kilometre day that broke us. (Hit reply and let us know what you think!)

• 📈Canmore’s Luxury Market Stays Hot Despite Rate Cuts. Median single-family home prices rose to $1.68M last year, with condos up to $648K. Buyers here are mostly cash-in-hand, so lower rates haven’t moved the needle. For locals, it’s business as usual—same views, bigger price tags.

• 🛝Banff’s New Playground Is (Finally) Almost Ready. After a long delay, the Adventure and Nature Playground beside the pump track is set to open later this spring. It’s nearly double the size of the old one, with ziplines, slides, and natural play features. Watch the video to see how it looks.

• 🚁Young Skier Airlifted From Nakiska After Crash. A girl was injured on the slopes last Wednesday and flown to Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary. EMS initially reported her condition as serious, but STARS later confirmed she was stable. No further details have been released.

• ⛔Highway 1 Eastbound Shut Down Friday Morning. If you were driving between Banff and Canmore, a jack-knifed semi caused major delays after a two-vehicle crash closed eastbound lanes. The highway reopened just before noon. No injuries, but heavy snow snarled traffic and delayed Roam Transit across the Bow Valley. 

NEED A JOB AND A PLACE TO SLEEP? WELCOME TO BANFF

What’s Happening? Banff’s biggest-ever summer job fair just wrapped, and while résumés were flying, the real buzz was about immigration headaches and the scramble for staff housing.

Hiring Heat Check. With 600 open roles and 32 businesses on deck, employers are trying to get ahead of the seasonal staffing crunch. The fair was held a month earlier than usual so hires can be trained and ready before the tourist surge.

Foreign Worker Fog. Changes to Canada’s Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) program are causing confusion. Employers say they're facing stricter limits and shorter validity windows, making it harder to bring in temporary foreign workers—many of whom still dominate the Bow Valley's seasonal job scene.

Housing or Bust. Applicants aren’t just chasing jobs—they’re chasing rentals. With summer housing costs looming, many are skipping over employers who don’t offer staff accommodations.

Big Picture. A tight labour market, shifting immigration rules, and sky-high housing costs are creating the ultimate pre-summer juggling act.

THINGS TO DO

Monday

• Get a Grant For Your Project or Business. A free, one-hour webinar to learn about available community grant funding. It will cover what funds are available, who is eligible, how the granting process works, and how the Town of Banff can support your application. 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM. Online. Free. 

• 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. 

• Food Rescue. Bring a bag and help keep good food from becoming waste. 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Lower level, Sundance Mall. Free. 

• Pickleball Night in Banff. Drop in for a fun, fast-paced game. All gear is provided, and it’s open to anyone 16+. Come solo or bring a partner—either way, you’ll get a solid workout and a good time. 6:45–8:15 PM. Banff Elementary School. Free.

• Clocktower Club. Banff Public Library is thrilled to host a community Blood on the Clocktower night. The library will transform into a haven for cunning, investigation, and duplicitous fiends. All skill levels are welcome. 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM. Banff Library. Free.

Tuesday

• Meet New Friends. Basecamp is a free drop-in social program for young adults living/working in Banff. It is the best place in Town to connect and meet new friends in a welcoming and inclusive space. 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM. Wild Flour Bakery, Banff. 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. 

• Crib Social. Love to play cribbage? Or maybe you’re still learning. Come out for a few round-robin games with old friends and new ones. All levels are welcome to play. 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM. CanGolf. Free to Play.

• Swim for a Toonie. Public Swim includes access to the leisure pool, lazy river, and space in the lap pool for foam toys. 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Elevation Place. $2.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 👻New Podcast Digs Into Banff Springs Hotel’s Haunted History. From the legendary Ghost Bride to the sealed-off Room 873, this 16-minute episode explores eerie tales and historical truths behind Banff’s most iconic (and allegedly haunted) hotel. 

• 🥌Local Curler Recognized. At 84 years young, Vic is a competitive curler, on the ice at least three days a week at the Canmore Golf & Curling Club and the Banff Curling Club. Check out his spotlight in Curling Alberta’s latest newsletter.

• 📸A First For Sunshine Village. More snow is rarely news in the Bow Valley. But the sign at Sunshine Village, nearly buried in it, seems to be. Everyone was taking the same photo this week, and apparently, it was a first. See it here. 

• 🚷Restricted Activities in the National Park. There are several current restrictions in Banff National Park, from restricted activities to area closures, involving wildfire mitigation.  Stay on top of all restrictions on the Parks Canada bulletin. 

• 💨Avalanche Control Today In Field, BC. Both Mt. Bosworth and Mt. Stephen areas will be closed for safety. Mt. Bosworth closures extend around the summit on both sides, while ice climbs on Mt. Stephen will be off-limits. Check the exact boundaries here.

• 🚧Canmore Community Fireguard. Alberta Parks has issued construction closures within the Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park between Stoneworks Creek and Meander Trail and Meader Trail and the Banff National Park boundary.

• 🦅Time to Put Away the Birdfeeders. The Town of Canmore Community Standards Bylaw allows bird feeders from Dec.1 to March 31. Failure to remove bird feeders or secure other wildlife attractants can result in steep fines. Help keep all wildlife safe.

• 🗳️Federal Election Information. Banff residents looking for information about the upcoming federal election, including voter registration, click here. 

• 👕Upcoming Spring Swap-O-Rama. The biggest clothing swap in the Bow Valley is back. Drop off donations of gently used clothing between April 5th and the 10th and shop until you drop from April 11-13th. 

• 💻Canmore Community Housing Waitlist is Going Digital. Canmore Community Housing administration is looking forward to launching their Arcori online portal for those on their waitlists to renew eligibility this month, beginning with those that are due to renew this month to roll out the software slowly.

CIVIC NEWS

• Canmore Council Advances $7.2M in Capital Projects with Debt Financing. Canmore Council gave first reading to bylaws funding a new fire truck, snow management facility, and chlorine gas upgrade, with $3.9M in debt financing. Despite debt limits, Canmore remains below its threshold. Final readings are set for Tuesday.

• New Canmore Dog Park. The proposed Marmot Crescent dog park in Banff was scrapped, but the Palliser Dog Park in Canmore is getting a new home… behind the Blakiston Building. A new dog park and affordable housing is a win-win. 

LIVE MUSIC

• Monday, March 31st, 2025,  10:00 PM: Brent Lee. Location: Rose and Crown Banff. No Cover. 

• Tuesday, April 1, 2025,  10:00 PM: Michael Charles. Location: Rose and Crown Banff. No Cover. 

• Tuesday, April 1, 2025,  10:00 PM: Banff Punk Night Vol. IV. Location: Pump & Tap Tavern, Banff. No Cover. 

SPORTS

• Canmore Skier Takes On 220km Ultra-Race For Parkinson’s. Andy Buchholtz is racing Sweden’s grueling Nordenskiöldsloppet in honour of his late grandfathers, both of whom had Parkinson’s. He’s aiming to finish in under 20 hours—and raise awareness and funds along the way. 

• Game 7 Is Coming To Canmore. The Eagles pulled off a clutch win in Game 6 to stay alive—and now it all comes down to Tuesday night on home ice. Tickets drop today at 8 AM on the team website. Don’t sleep on it—this one’s gonna be loud. 

That’s all, folks!

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