🦉 Owl vs 30lb Dog in Banff

Good morning, Bow Valley!

After 23 cm of fresh snow Thursday and Friday, Saturday delivered exactly what you’d expect at Lake Louise Ski Resort on a bluebird day: crowds. Skiers took to Reddit reporting 20 to 30 minute waits on the backside and up to 90 minutes just to get into or out of parking. Calgary photographer Evan Wellington sent us footage of traffic lined up along Highway 1 for the powder-day pilgrimage. Not everyone complained, though. Conditions were reportedly near perfect, and most people left with tired legs and zero regrets. Whatever you did this weekend, we hope you made it a Bow Valley one.

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

1 BISON TAKEN IN BANFF’S SECOND INDIGENOUS-LED HUNT

What’s Happening? One bison was harvested in Banff National Park as part of the park’s second Indigenous-led hunt since bison were reintroduced in 2017.

How the Hunt Was Conducted. The hunt follows a 2024 pilot that saw three bison taken, marking the first such hunt inside the park in nearly 150 years. This time, one animal was harvested by the Kainai Nation, led by Banff’s Indigenous Advisory Circle in collaboration with Parks Canada.

Under the current structure, the eight-member Indigenous Advisory Circle may allocate up to one bison per member, for a maximum of eight animals. Allocation does not guarantee a harvest. The animal is typically captured within the park’s reintroduction zone using a catch-pen method. Bison are guided into a large temporary fenced enclosure, and one animal is separated for transfer to the participating Nation, where the ceremonial harvest is conducted under that Nation’s direction.

From Extinction to 130+. Plains bison once roamed the Bow Valley in large numbers before being driven to near extinction in the late 1800s. When Banff was established in 1885, wild bison had already disappeared from the region.

Reintroduction began on Feb. 1, 2017, when Parks Canada transported 16 plains bison from Elk Island National Park to a fenced pasture in the Panther River Valley. After a soft-release period, they were fully released into the eastern backcountry in 2018.

As of the 2024-2025 season, the herd has grown to more than 130 free-roaming animals.

Why It Matters? For much of national park history, Indigenous hunting within park boundaries was restricted. The indigenous hunt is intended to support the exercise of constitutionally protected rights under Section 35 of the Constitution Act and to restore cultural practices connected to bison.

Parks Canada says collaboration with Indigenous partners will remain central as it develops a long-term bison management plan for Banff.

Read our full story on Banff’s Indigenous-led bison hunt.

THE MOST RELAXING MEDICAL APPOINTMENT YOU’LL EVER HAVE

Most medical appointments don’t come with the word “relaxing.”

Dry eye treatment at Canmore Family Eyecare is the rare exception.

If your eyes feel gritty, irritated, watery, or just constantly tired, this might be the appointment you didn’t know you needed. Their dry eye care focuses on what’s actually causing the problem, not just masking symptoms with more drops.

For many patients, treatment looks more like a spa session for your eyes than a typical clinic visit. Gentle warmth. Calming light therapy. Time set aside to restore how your eyes function, not rush you out the door. The goal is long-term relief by improving the health of your tear film and oil glands.

To make it even easier to get started, Canmore Family Eyecare is offering Bow Valley Insiders 10% off your dry eye consultation and treatment when you fill out this quick form.

Dr. Jo and her team will be in touch to book your appointment and walk you through next steps.

_{*Presented by Canmore Family Eyecare.}

THE DIGEST

• 🦉 Owl Swoops 30-Lb Dog in Banff Backyard. A quiet 7:15 AM bathroom break turned chaotic in the 400 block of Muskrat Street when a great horned owl is believed to have attacked Wilson, a 30-pound Brittany Spaniel. Owner Michael Joseph Geisler heard a yelp, then watched security footage of the owl swooping in. Wilson escaped with a small puncture wound and didn’t require a vet visit. With cat tracks in the snow, Geisler believes the owl may have been stalking the cat and mistakenly targeted Wilson. Officials say attacks are rare but recommend keeping pets supervised.

• 🤍 Teen Killed in Avalanche at Nakiska. A 15-year-old skier, Emilio Hrazdira, died after a Size 2 wind slab avalanche at Nakiska Ski Area on Friday. Avalanche Canada said two skiers were bootpacking a northeast-facing slope when the slide was triggered. His death is one of four avalanche fatalities in Western Canada in just over two weeks. Nakiska has not yet responded to our questions about the exact location of the slide, whether it occurred in-bounds, or what avalanche control work had been conducted prior to the incident. Read what we know so far in our full story.

• 🚧 Bow Valley Parkway Night Closure Returns. The 17km stretch of the Bow Valley Parkway between Johnston Canyon and Fireside Picnic Area (view map) is now under its annual overnight travel restriction until June 25, closed from 8 PM to 8 AM. The seasonal measure protects habitat used by wolves, cougars, and bears during a sensitive time of year. Our publisher Ben would also like everyone to know that years ago he misjudged his timing, got back to his truck after 8 PM, and absolutely got stuck behind the locked gates. Learn from his mistakes.

• 🏫 Hold and Secure at Bow Valley Schools. Multiple Canadian Rockies Public Schools campuses in Canmore and Banff were placed under a hold and secure Friday morning following a report to police. The precautionary measure, which locks exterior doors while classes continue inside, was in effect from roughly 11 AM to 12:10 PM RCMP later confirmed there was no risk to the public. No further details have been released. Parents quickly took to local Facebook groups calling for more information. “I think we should know what happened. It’s our kids,” one parent wrote.

We recently chatted with a local community group.

They were running workshops and needed more people to sign up. It cost $30 per person.

They told us they spent $500 on print ads to promote it.

Only two people signed up because of the ads.

That means they spent $500 to make $60. Tough math.

Print can work sometimes. For this group, it didn’t. The point is this: your marketing should clearly pay for itself.

If you want to talk about marketing with results, fill out this quick form.

ILLEGAL TOURIST HOME INVESTIGATIONS IN CANMORE SURGE OVER 4,000% SINCE 2023

What’s Happening? Illegal tourist home investigations in Canmore have jumped more than 4,000% since 2023, as the Town leans on a $1.1M federal enforcement grant to crack down on unlicensed short-term rentals.

The Spike, Explained. In 2023, Municipal Enforcement opened just two illegal tourist home cases. That climbed to 17 in 2024 and 87 in 2025. Along the way, officers issued nine violation tickets, 12 warnings and 11 stop orders last year alone, with stop orders requiring properties to cease operations immediately.

The surge coincides with Canmore being awarded $1,109,885 through Ottawa’s Short-Term Rental Enforcement Fund, a two-year grant running through March 2027. The funding is available to municipalities that already have enforceable short-term rental rules in place, which Canmore does through zoning limits, licensing requirements and inspection powers.

Where the Grant Is Going. The Town has used the money to hire additional enforcement staff, cover legal costs tied to court proceedings, expand inspections, run public education campaigns, and purchase monitoring software. The AI-based tool scans more than 60 listing platforms to flag properties operating in prohibited zones or without valid licences. It costs about $5,000 per year.

Officials say enforcement follows an education-first approach, with officers typically reminding owners of bylaw requirements before escalating to tickets or stop orders. However, final enforcement decisions are made case-by-case.

Neighbourhood Dynamics. Most confirmed violations and enforcement actions occur in Downtown and South Canmore. Many active files involve unlicensed operations or failure to display a business licence number, a rule introduced in 2024.

The Measurement Problem. Despite the sharp rise in investigations, the Town does not have a baseline count of how many illegal tourist homes were operating before enforcement ramped up. That makes it difficult to determine whether the crackdown is meaningfully returning units to the long-term housing market. 

Investigations are up. Staffing is up. Technology is in place. The housing impact remains an open question. 

Read our full story on Canmore’s illegal tourist home investigations.

THINGS TO DO

Monday

• Creative Workshop: Winter Watercolour Basics. In this beginner-friendly class, you’ll paint simple winter scenes while learning how to use colour, light, and shadow to create mood. The instructor will walk you through easy techniques step by step, then show you how to add fine pen details. You’ll leave with small postcard-sized pieces to share or keep. No experience needed. 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $44-52.*

• Mic’s On at The Drake.  It’s Karaoke night. Grab the mic, pick your anthem, and see if the crowd howls with you. Come hungry, too. Their new menu features house-made pasta and artisan pizza, alongside the burgers and handhelds you already know and love. 10:00 PM. The Drake Screaming Retriever, Canmore. Free to sing.*

Tuesday

• Tuesday Night Netball. A fun, fast-paced team sport where two teams of seven pass, pivot, and shoot on a rectangular court with raised hoops at each end. Expect plenty of movement and a solid sweat. All skill levels welcome. 6:45 PM - 8:15 PM. Banff Elementary School. Free with Pauw Pass.

• Movie Night: Skiing the Unthinkable. Travel from the Himalayas to the Great Trango Towers in a high-altitude double feature celebrating exploration and resilience. Follow The North Face athlete Jim Morrison as he summits the world’s highest peaks and becomes the first to ski Everest’s legendary Hornbein Couloir, plus descents from two of the Himalaya’s highest summits. 7:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $21-$25.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🏞️ Lake Louise Access Feedback: One Week Left. Parks Canada is still collecting input on proposed changes that could reshape how people access Lake Louise, including parking reservations, timed entry, or a seasonal shuttle-only model. The public survey closes March 9. If you care about how locals and visitors reach the lakeshore, now’s the time to weigh in.

• 💼 Bow Valley Summer Job Fairs Announced. Mark your calendars for the Bow Valley Summer Job Fairs hosted by The Job Resource Centre. The Banff Job Fair takes place on March 26 at Banff Park Lodge, and the Canmore Job Fair follows on April 17 at The Malcolm Hotel. These events are great opportunities to meet local employers and explore summer work options.

• 🚌 New Bus Route Launches in Banff. Roam Transit’s new Route 7 began service March 1, connecting the Fenlands Recreation Centre and the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. The seasonal winter and spring route runs daily until May 12, making it easier to get to work, the gym, skating, or local programs without driving. Banff residents ride free with a Banff Resident Pass.

• 🔥 Wildfire Season Begins. Alberta’s wildfire season officially started March 1, marking the return of heightened monitoring across the province. Fire permits are now required for any burning in the Forest Protection Area, which includes much of the Bow Valley, excluding campfires. Permits run through October 31, and ongoing winter burn projects now require one.

• ❄️ Winter Hike Pick: Green Monster. A couple of us from the BVI team checked out Green Monster in Evan Thomas Creek this weekend. We’ve highlighted it before, but it’s worth another nod, especially during elevated avalanche conditions. The creek-bed route avoids serious avalanche terrain if you stay on trail, and the frozen waterfalls make the 11 km out-and-back feel anything but boring. Trip details here.

CIVIC NEWS

• Public Hearing on Wildfire Bylaw. Banff will hold a public hearing March 10 at 2 PM at Town Hall on proposed changes that would make wildfire hazards on private property enforceable. The amendments would prohibit combustible materials within 10 metres of a structure, including firewood, bark mulch, dead trees, and lawns over 10 cm. The changes also introduce new rules around invasive weeds.

LIVE MUSIC

• Monday, March 2nd, 2025, 10:00 PM: Andrew Staygold. Location: Banff Rose and Crown. No Cover.

• Tuesday, March 3rd, 2025, 8:00 PM: Bradley Cole Smith. Location: Drake, Canmore. No Cover.

• Tuesday, March 3rd, 2025, 9:00 PM: Banff Punk Night: Volume XIV. Location: Pump and Tap, Canmore. No Cover.

SPORTS

• Canmore Athletes Head to Junior Worlds in Germany. Three Canmore biathletes are suiting up for the 2026 IBU Youth Junior World Championships in Arber, Germany: Benjamin Brousseau, Luke Hulshof, and Sage Taylor. The trio will compete as part of Biathlon Canada’s 16-athlete youth and junior squad, racing individual, sprint, pursuit, and relay events against the world’s top U21 athletes. We’ll be reporting on their performances over our next few editions. 

• Coach Milne Hits 1,000 Games. The Alberta Junior Hockey League and the Canmore Eagles celebrated Head Coach Andrew Milne’s 1,000th game behind the bench in front of a hometown crowd. Milne received the Silver Stick from AJHL VP Fran Gow and Eagles President Darryl Lockwood, becoming just the fourth coach in league history to reach the milestone.

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Wednesday, 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.