🚗 Parking Costs Double

Good morning, Bow Valley!

We’re hiring another social media video producer. This is a casual role, with a max of 5 hours per week. If you’ve seen our green-screen style videos on Instagram (like this one), that’s exactly what you’d be creating. We assign the story, give you the framework, and you bring it to life on camera. It’s a solid gig to make some extra cash each month, especially if you’re comfortable speaking on video. We’re looking for someone long-term. Apply by March 31 through this form, and if you’re shortlisted, we’ll pay you to do a test video.

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

VISITING JASPER THIS SUMMER? PARKING SET TO DOUBLE AS TOWN EYES YEAR-ROUND FEES

What’s Happening? Jasper is considering year-round paid parking as it prepares to double rates this summer, signalling a broader shift in how mountain towns manage traffic and fund services.

Rates Are Jumping. Starting May 1 (through Oct. 31), Jasper parking prices are set to rise sharply:

• On-street: $4.50 → $7/hour

• Lots: $3.50 → $7/hour

• Full-day: $17 → $28

The increases were approved by council ahead of the summer season, when visitor pressure on streets and parking is at its peak.

Year-Round Parking on the Table. In a separate proposal still in the exploration phase, Jasper council has directed administration to study what a full 12-month paid parking system could look like, including how it would function during slower winter months. A formal report and draft policy are expected at a future meeting.

To support that shift, council has already given early approval to a new bylaw that would create a municipal Parking Authority, centralizing control over operations and revenue under the town.

Not a Done Deal. Council isn’t fully aligned, with some members raising concerns about how parking revenue would ultimately be used. That question is becoming more important as Jasper looks for stable, long-term funding sources while continuing to recover from the 2024 wildfire. 

The Bigger Picture. Jasper’s move mirrors a wider trend. In Banff, council recently approved a 71% increase to peak-season parking rates, raising hourly fees from $7 to $12.

Parking revenue in Banff is legally restricted to things like transit, roadwork, snow clearing, and active transportation, while helping offset local taxes.

In other words, paid parking is increasingly being treated as infrastructure funding, not just a way to manage congestion.

FOR BUSINESSES THAT LOCK UP AND GO HOME

Most commercial break-ins in the Bow Valley don’t happen in the middle of the day. They happen after hours, when the lights are off and no one’s around to notice something is wrong.

That’s where Ten-8 Security comes in.

They provide professional commercial security for Bow Valley businesses that need more than a quick drive-by. Their guards conduct scheduled interior and exterior checks, confirm doors and gates are secure, respond to alarms, and document every visit. Some properties are checked once a night. Others twice. Some only need exterior patrols. It’s all flexible.

Their clients include car dealerships, mechanic shops, construction sites, condos, property managers, and commercial buildings that want to know someone is actually checking their space, not just passing by it.

Mobile patrols run overnight, seven days a week, year-round. And when an alarm goes off, they respond. Because despite what many business owners assume, police usually don’t.

If you lock up and leave at the end of the day, this is how you make sure your building is still secure in the middle of the night.

Request a free security consultation here.     

_{*Presented by Ten8Security.}

THE DIGEST

• ❄️ Historic Avalanche Cycle Leaves Massive Slides Across Rockies. Last week’s extreme avalanche danger warning played out in full. In Kananaskis, forecaster Mike Kopplang described a slide near Mount Murray as the “biggest avalanche” he’s seen in his career, with footage becoming their most viewed post of the season. On the Icefields Parkway, a slide near Mount Hector ran valley bottom, covering the road for 250 metres with debris over 6 metres deep, keeping the highway closed until further notice. On 93S, reports said every slide path had released to valley bottom, except one. Forecasters say lower elevations have stabilized; upper elevations remain reactive.

• 📈 Banff Visitation Hits Record 4.5 Million as New Numbers Released. Banff National Park recorded 4.5 million visitors in the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year, breaking the previous record of 4.28 million set in 2023 to 2024 and marking a sharp rebound from roughly 3 million during the pandemic. Annual visitation has now climbed steadily over the past decade, with totals regularly exceeding 4 million since 2017, while about 70% of visitors are day users, pointing to continued growth driven largely by regional traffic. 

• 🐻 Grizzly Bear Shot Illegally Near Claresholm Last Fall. Not a Bow Valley story, but one worth flagging. Alberta Fish and Wildlife is investigating after a grizzly bear was found shot dead west of Claresholm, with officials estimating the killing occurred between Nov. 8 and Nov. 20. The carcass was discovered in the Porcupine Hills Public Land Use Zone and reported on Nov. 25. Grizzly hunting remains illegal under Alberta’s Wildlife Act, though the province has allowed targeted killing of “problem” bears since 2024. Anyone with information is asked to contact Report a Poacher.

• 🚗 Highway 1 Turns to Ice, Trapping Drivers Near Canmore. We hope you weren’t like our publisher Ben, who was driving westbound near Lac des Arcs on Saturday morning and needed an hour just to get home to Canmore. A stretch of the highway turned to ice, triggering a 10 to 15 kilometre traffic jam, with westbound lanes at a standstill and eastbound traffic moving around 60 km/h. RCMP reported multiple vehicles in the ditch, including jackknifed semis. It marks the second straight weekend of crashes here, after four to five vehicles collided on March 16, and one person was hospitalized.

Local Ads That Actually Work

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CANMORE CHILDCARE CENTRE DRAWS 200-CHILD WAITLIST BEFORE OPENING

What’s Happening? A new Canmore childcare centre hasn’t opened yet, but already has about 200 kids on the waitlist, highlighting a persistent shortage of spaces in the Bow Valley.

Demand Is Outpacing Supply. Flourish Montessori Learning Academy, operated by Spring Creek Mountain Village, is targeting a mid-April opening with 41 full-time spots and nine part-time preschool spaces. That’s roughly 50 total spots… against a waitlist four times that size.

“We knew there was a need, but I don’t think we fully anticipated just how quickly the waitlist would grow,” said director Taylor Dupuis.

A Long-Standing Gap. This isn’t new. A 2022 assessment by the Town of Canmore found only 18% of kids under six had access to licensed childcare in Canmore, dropping to 13% for kids under three.

That’s improved to about 29% in 2024, but still below the 33% benchmark, leaving the town short roughly 49 spaces.

“It really highlights how limited childcare availability currently is in the Bow Valley,” said Dupuis. “There is a strong need not only for more spaces, but for high-quality, consistent care that families can rely on.”

More Than a Family Issue. The waitlist isn’t just Canmore families. Many applicants are parents who work in town but live in neighbouring communities, reflecting broader housing pressures and commuting realities.

Mayor Sean Krausert called childcare “an essential service,” particularly in a region where many households rely on dual incomes to keep up with the cost of living.

A Growing Policy Conversation.  The shortage is also starting to shape local policy. Following the closure of child minding at Elevation Place last year, council launched a broader review of its role in supporting childcare spaces across the community.

That debate made one thing clear: while the town doesn’t directly operate childcare, pressure is mounting to play a bigger role in enabling more spaces.

THINGS TO DO

Monday

• No Cups Allowed Night at the Rose & Crown. A chaos-friendly night where cups are officially off-limits. Show up with anything but a cup, think teapots, trophies, gravy boats, and see what happens. Snap a photo, tag @roseandcrownbanff, and you could win a $50 gift card. Bonus drink towers are on special, so expect things to escalate. All day. Rose & Crown, Banff. No cover.*

• Comedy Night Takes Over Lux Cinema. Skip the usual night out and head to Lux Theatre for Banff Comedy, featuring a stacked lineup including “The Big 3”: Ben Stager, Sam Burns, and Nathan Hare flying in from Toronto. Expect a mix of stand-up, sketch, and a lively crowd for a full night of laughs. 7:00 PM. Lux Theatre, Banff. $30.73.

• Ping Pong Drama Hits the Big Screen at artsPlace. Marty Supreme turns table tennis into a gritty, fast-paced movie experience, following a hustler chasing greatness in the 1950s. Starring Timothée Chalamet, the Oscar-nominated film blends style, intensity, and a bit of chaos for something sharper than your usual movie night. 7:00 PM.artsPlace, Canmore. $6-$12.*

Tuesday

• Steak Night. Tuesday plans, solved. A charbroiled sirloin steak sandwich cooked your way, piled onto garlic toast, with fries, salad, and two golden onion rings on top. It’s hearty, classic, and exactly what you want after a long day. 11:00 AM - Close. Sandtraps at the Canmore Golf and Curling Club. $20.50.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🎤 Bow Valley Songwriters Take the Stage at The Drake. Three Bow Valley musicians will perform at a songwriters’ circle in Canmore on March 29, part of a CBC event leading into a JUNOs watch party. Starting at 4 PM at The Drake Screaming Retriever, Amelie Paterson, Mister Bird, and Nurdjana will share songs and stories from their creative process with Key of A’s Tarik Robinson. After the performances, Calgary Eyeopener’s Mack Meyer will host a JUNOs watch party featuring trivia, prizes, and swag. Admission is free, but space is limited, so make sure you’re on the guest list.*

• 🎶 A Little Bit of Nashville in Canmore. If your playlist includes “Jolene” or “9 to 5,” this one is calling your name. Dolly: Here She Comes Again is wrapping up at the Carter-Ryan Theatre, with its final performances this upcoming weekend. April Cook and Phill Nugent bring powerhouse vocals and sharp storytelling to a high-energy tribute to the “Iron Butterfly,” packed with Dolly’s biggest hits. Inside the 51-seat microtheatre, every harmony lands up close. Grab tickets and use BOWVALLEYINSIDER for 15% off.*

• 🚧 Film Shoot to Disrupt Downtown Parking in Canmore. A film production will temporarily shut down parking in parts of downtown Canmore on Tuesday from 8 AM to 1 PM. No parking will be available on Main Street between 6 and 8 Ave, 7 Ave between 9 St and Beamer’s, and part of 6 Ave near 9 St. Expect increased traffic, pedestrians, and traffic control in the area.

• ✨ Planning an Event? Some Moments Deserve More Than a Living Room. Anniversaries. Retirement parties. Family reunions. Celebration-of-life gatherings. The kinds of events where stories get told and memories get made. The Canmore Opera House is built for connection, a bright log cabin surrounded by mountain views with space for up to 120 guests. Stage, sound system, projector, tables, chairs, bar, and fire pit are all included. Catering options are available. Book an event held between now and the end of April and get 40% off your rental rate. Inquire.*

• 🤝 Staying Connected When the World Feels Overwhelming. A community conversation focused on stress and burnout, hosted by Frankie D’s Donuts, is happening on Thursday. The evening will explore what people are carrying right now, with reflections and practical ways to stay informed, manage stress, and support each other locally. Expect a low-pressure, supportive space to listen or share. Arrive 5:30 PM. 191 Sundance Park Pavilion. Free. Register.*

CIVIC NEWS

• Canmore Property Values Jump 14%. Canmore’s taxable assessment rose from about $13B to $14.5B for 2026, with roughly $1.5B of the $1.8B increase tied to rising market prices rather than new development. Residential values climbed 12.4% overall, including a 15.4% jump for detached homes and 7.3% for condos, while tourism properties surged 27%. The town’s total assessment now rivals much larger Alberta communities like St. Albert and Lethbridge.

LIVE MUSIC

• Monday, March 23th, 2025, 10:00 PM: Brent Lee. Location: Banff Rose and Crown. No Cover.

• Tuesday, March 24th, 2025, 5:00 PM: Mister Bird. Location: The Drake, Canmore. No Cover.

• Tuesday, March 24th, 2025, 7:30 PM: Moneka Arabic Jazz. Location: artsPlace, Canmore. $40 / members $34 / youth $20.

SPORTS

• Eagles Split Opening Weekend, Series Heads to Calgary Tied 1-1. The Canmore Eagles opened playoffs with a rough 5-1 loss to Calgary on Friday, getting outshot 48-28 and allowing 3 power-play goals, before bouncing back with a 3-2 win Saturday in front of 844 fans to even the series. Tavynn Hamilton scored the winner early in the second, while Alex Scheiwiller stopped 31 shots. Game 1’s lone highlight came from Cohen Daoust, who may face review after a check-from-behind penalty. The best-of-seven now shifts to Calgary for Games 3 and 4 on March 24 and 25.

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.