🚗 Parking For 1000s Coming To Banff?

Good morning, Bow Valley!

You’re waking up to 50-80mm of rain that happened overnight. Don’t let that dampen your long weekend spirits, though.  There will be lots of live music on Saturday, and stay tuned for Monday’s newsletter, as we’ll detail everything going on for Canada Day!

In today’s Bow Valley Insider:

• Banff’s transit transformation

• Bow Valley restaurant nominated for top culinary award

• Serious bike accident in Kananaskis

P.S. Bow Valley Insider is hiring a part-time social media manager.  For details and how to apply, check out the job post.  

Let’s get to it!

— Fortune Whelan, Shireen Ahmed, Lauren H., & Ben S.

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BIG NEWS IN BANFF: RAILWAY LAND REDEVELOPMENT APPROVED

What’s happening: After years of back-and-forth, the town council approved the ambitious Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) on June 24. Now, it heads to Parks Canada for review since they have the final say in all development in the national park.

What’s the plan: The goal is to ease traffic, cut emissions, and preserve nature by creating a transit hub for buses, bikes, and pedestrians, reducing the need for cars.

Who’s behind it: Jan and Adam Waterous, owners of Banff Norquay Ski Resort, are driving this vision. They want the railway lands as a vibrant area with shops, homes, and parking for over 1,000 cars. They also propose a gondola to Mount Norquay and passenger trains from Calgary.

Community and wildlife concerns: Not everyone’s thrilled. Conservation groups are worried about wildlife corridors getting squeezed, especially with more parking planned. There’s been some friction with Parks Canada, too, mainly about the gondola idea.

Next steps: The plan has been adjusted to address Parks Canada's concerns. Now, we wait and see if the changes are accepted.

THE DIGEST

• 🤕STARS air ambulance airlifted a 39-year-old man with trauma injuries to Foothills Medical Centre after a bike accident in Kananaskis Country near Bragg Creek on June 25. There are no updates on his condition yet.  This is the second bike accident in the Bow Valley in less than a week, following a woman in her 60s being seriously injured in Banff. 
  
  

• 🍁Canada Day is approaching, and Banff expects 40,000 visitors! For updates on road closures, parking bans, and weather, visit banff.ca/alerts.  We will also have a Canada Day newsletter on Monday to let you know everything going on.
  
  

• 🍽️Eden at The Rimrock Banff has been nominated again for a top culinary award, ranking among the best fine dining spots in North American hotels. Winners in 2022 and 2023, you can vote for them on the World Culinary Awards site until August 30th.
  
  

• 🥾In 2022, Sunshine Village reopened for Canada Day skiing due to a deep snowpack. This year, less snow and ongoing lift construction prevent it. However, Sunshine Meadows opens today through Sept 22 for summer activities like hiking and sightseeing.
  
  

• 🎓School’s out for summer! Congrats to the 2024 high school grads from Canmore Collegiate, Our Lady of the Snows, Ecole Notre-Dame des Monts, and Banff Community High School!
  
  

• 📢Fairmont Banff Springs introduces Banffchella, a Parisian-inspired summer oasis on their patio. Enjoy floral art, lawn games, cocktails, and weekend live music—a garden party in the Rockies!

CANMORE’S GROWTH SPURT: LUXURY AND LIVING IN THE ROCKIES

Here we grow again (pun intended) – some new developments are coming to Canmore.

What's happening: Development Permits have been issued for land in Spring Creek and in Three Sisters.

Latest in luxury: Spring Creek will be adding 45 units of visitor accommodation and a new luxury spa at 300 Spring Creek Drive.

Residence in the Rockies: They're planning to build 239 new homes in Three Sisters. It's not a massive number, but every bit helps in a place like Canmore where accommodations are hard to find.

Potential pushback: Only 9 of these new residential homes will be allotted to Canmore's Vital Homes program, which seeks to ensure that locals have access to affordable housing.

To note: These applications mostly fit the rules, but they needed a few exceptions:

• They want taller fences than usual.

• They're using steel for the building materials, which is a bit different.

• They're asking for a bit more height than usual.

Big picture: Canmore is ever-changing, but these projects are set to fit right into the community, bringing new options for visitors and locals alike.

THINGS TO DO

Friday

• Roller Disco Drop-In, June 28, 6:30-8 PM. Roll into fun! Skate and helmet rentals are available. 16+. Fenlands Rec Centre, Banff. Free for Banff residents.

Saturday

• Canmore Mining and Geology Tour, June 29, 9:30 AM- 12:30 PM. Mining rocks! Canmore Museum, Canmore. $60.
  
  

• Indigenous Stories Tipi Program, June 29, 12-4 PM. Explore the living culture and traditions of the Îyârhe Nakoda people. Northwest Mounted Police Barracks, Canmore. Free.
  
  

• Meet the Author with D.L. Stephen, June 29, 12-5 PM. Check out this mountaineering tale with the person who wrote it. Cafe Books, Canmore.
  
  

• Mountain Made Market, June 29 and June 30, 10 AM—5 PM. Admire the beautiful goods handmade by local artisans at Canmore Civic Centre, Canmore.
  
  

• Cheer on Canadian soccer, June 29, 6 PM. Watch the Canada Soccer men's team in the Copa América on the big screen. Canmore Brewing, Canmore.
  
  

• Indians in Vacation, the Opera, June 29, 7:30 PM. Featuring faculty member Marion Newman. Jenny Belzberg Theatre, Banff Centre, Banff. Free.

Sunday

• Meditation for Beginners, June 30, 10 AM and 2 PM. Celebrate International Yoga Day with free yoga and meditation from Inner Engineering. Fenlands Rec Centre, Banff. Free.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🛣️The Bow Valley Parkway from Fireside Day-use Area to Johnston Canyon has reopened to cars until September's cycling pilot kicks off.
  
  

• 🚍Work on the roadway part of the Mountain Avenue Express Bus Lane and Shared Trail in Banff has wrapped up.
  
  

• 🎾The tennis and pickleball courts at the rec grounds have reopened several weeks ahead of schedule. Thanks to the hard-working crews!
  
  

• 💰Great news for CYAN– the Canmore Young Adult Network just scored $6,300 from the Banff Canmore Foundation for their mental health programs.
  
  

• 🚴‍♀️Looking for a ride? Pedal4Joy offers free community e-bike rides for adults in Canmore. Call (403)-493-3127 or (403)-346-1716 to book.
  
  

• ☕One Love Caribbean cafe opened last Monday in Canmore, from 8 AM to 4 PM. It's near the Lady Mac trail entrance!
  
  

• 🍳Attention Canmore food entrepreneurs! Check out The Co+Kitchen for a shared platform to create and sell locally-produced food.

CIVIC NEWS

Canmore is hosting a public hearing on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at 9 AM at the Canmore Civic Centre.  

• Proposed Changes:

  • Remove the Political Campaign Sign section from Land Use Bylaw 2018-22.
    
    

  • Introduce a standalone Political Campaign Sign Bylaw for clarity.

• How to Provide Feedback:

  • In Person/Virtual: Register to speak by contacting [email protected] by June 28, 2024.
    
    

  • Written Submissions: Email to [email protected] by June 28, 2024, or drop off/mail to Canmore Civic Centre.

LIVE MUSIC

• Friday, June 28, 8 PM: Indie folk alt-rock with The Trevors and the Bawang Power Trio. Location: Core Values Cider Company, Canmore. Free.
  
  

• Friday, June 28, 9 PM: Check out the Neon Bloom event, featuring body paint sessions, flow jams, and music from the Bunny Hops, Boost the Public Quantum Monastery, and Lethargica. Location: Canmore Hotel, Canmore.
  
  

• Saturday, June 29, 8 pm: Sessions with Medioker at Best & Mari Rosehill. Location: Canmore Hotel, Canmore.
  
  

• Saturday, June 29, 9 PM: Acoustic harmonies and covers with Earl Morgan. Location: Canmore Rose and Crown. Free.
  
  

• Saturday, June 29, 9:30 PM. Prog funk soul jam with Road Waves. Location: Melissa’s Missteak, Banff. Free.
  
  

• Sunday, June 30, 8 PM: Raw indie pop with Devin Foster. Location: Canmore Hotel, Canmore.

SPORTS

• Survivorfest 2024, held at Edmonton’s Strathcona Athletic Park, showcased Canada’s top ultrarunners battling challenging weather. Wayne Gaudet, 67, of Exshaw swept the Canadian men’s 65-70 category and set four records: 100K, 12-hour, 100-mile, and 24-hour pending ACU ratification. Gaudet, once a reluctant runner, has evolved into a record-breaking ultramarathoner with eyes on future achievements.
  
  

• Lukas Baruta from Our Lady of the Snows won gold at the Alberta High School Provincials in the men's 100-meter hurdles! Such a big achievement for this local 10th grader!

That’s all, folks!

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