🦌 Rare Caribou Births in Jasper

Good morning, Bow Valley!

I’m sure this isn’t a shock to anyone, but avalanche danger in Kananaskis hit the highest rating across all elevations yesterday, with forecasters urging people to “AVOID THE BACKCOUNTRY” as up to 50 cm of snow fell. The storm has also forced closures today, with Spray Lakes Road shut between Engadine Lodge and the Grassi Lakes Day Use Area due to avalanche control. The highway is expected to reopen around 2 PM if conditions allow.

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

COURT OF APPEAL SIDES WITH CANMORE’S TAX ON HOMES NOT USED AS FULL-TIME RESIDENCES

What’s Happening? Alberta’s Court of Appeal has upheld Canmore’s Livability Tax Program, confirming the town can charge higher property taxes on homes that are not used as a primary residence.

A Major Legal Win for Canmore. The decision dismisses a challenge brought by several property owners and developers, including Three Sisters Mountain Village Properties Ltd. The court sided with the town, ruling that Alberta’s Municipal Government Act gives municipalities broad authority to divide residential properties into different tax rates if they believe it serves a legitimate local purpose.

“I was confident that the Alberta Court of King’s Bench decision with respect to our Livability Tax Program would withstand further judicial scrutiny,” Mayor Sean Krausert said in a statement. “The Town of Canmore’s Livability Tax Program … has been and continues to be on solid legal ground.”

How the Livability Tax Works. Introduced in 2024, the policy creates a higher tax rate for homes that are not occupied as a primary residence. To qualify for the lower rate, homeowners must either live in the property or rent it out for at least 183 days per year, including a continuous 60-day period.

Town estimates suggest the program could generate about $10.3 million annually for housing initiatives such as land purchases, infrastructure, and the construction of below-market homes (homes sold or rented at prices below the market). For a $1-million property, the added tax is expected to be roughly $4,000 per year.

Courts Say the Policy Is Within Municipal Powers. In its ruling, the Court of Appeal said councils have wide discretion to create tax subclasses and found Canmore’s bylaw was a reasonable response to a legitimate local issue: the shortage of homes for full-time residents.

The Political Plot Twist. Even with the legal fight largely settled, the policy may still evolve. The Alberta government has signalled concerns about taxes targeting second homes, and Canmore is exploring a compromise that would exempt Alberta residents while still applying the higher rate to out-of-province owners.

HOW PRE-CONSTRUCTION HOME BUYING WORKS IN CANMORE

Buying a home in Canmore can be tough. Listings move quickly, competition is intense, and many buyers end up compromising on size, layout, or location just to get into the market.

That’s why some locals are exploring pre-construction options like Alder & Stone, a new community planned for Three Sisters Village.

The project will feature 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom stacked and row townhomes designed for full-time living, with layouts that prioritize storage, livable space, and outdoor access. Many homes include attached garages, walkout lower levels, or rooftop decks, and every unit has a balcony or patio.

The buying process works a bit differently than purchasing an existing home.

First, buyers join the VIP list, which provides early access to floor plans, pricing, and community details as they’re released.

From there, buyers can reserve a place in line with a fully refundable $5,000 deposit, giving them the first opportunity to purchase their preferred unit when sales launch.

Once a unit is selected, buyers sign a purchase agreement and have 10 days to review condo documents and disclosures before the purchase becomes firm.

Pre-construction homes typically require a 10-15% deposit, with no additional payments until possession. Buyers can also choose certain finishes and upgrades during the process.

Construction for Alder & Stone is expected to begin later this year, with estimated possession in early 2028.

For many buyers, the appeal is straightforward: you can secure a home early, lock in today’s price, and continue saving toward your mortgage while the project is being built.

The Alder & Stone VIP list provides early access to floor plans and sales information as it becomes available.

_{*Presented by Mitchell Kocian Real Estate}

THE DIGEST

• 🍞 Le Fournil Bakery Closing After 14 Years in Canmore. A familiar stop for croissants and baguettes on Bow Valley Trail is preparing to close. Le Fournil Bakery announced it will serve its final customers on March 23 after owner Pascale Tétreault decided to wind down the business due to personal circumstances. Opened in 2012, the European-style bakery became a local staple and weathered both the 2013 flood and the pandemic. The news prompted an outpouring of appreciation online, with many customers sharing memories of weekly pastry runs and calling its baguettes among the best in the Bow Valley. Read the full announcement. 

• 🏫 New Francophone School Planned for Bow Valley Families. Alberta’s 2026 budget includes funding to begin planning a new K-12 francophone school complex in Canmore, designed to serve up to 435 students from across the Bow Valley. Demand for French-language education has been rising, with roughly 470 eligible children in Canmore alone and nearly 740 across the region. The only current francophone school, École Notre-Dame des Monts, shares a building and is nearing capacity. FrancoSud is now working with the Town of Canmore to identify a site, though an opening date remains uncertain.

• 🎥 Bow Valley Filming Locations Appear in New Movie. The film Reminders of Him, partly shot in Banff National Park and several southern Alberta towns, hits theatres today. Adapted from the bestselling novel by Colleen Hoover, the romantic drama stars Maika Monroe, Tyriq Withers, Bradley Whitford, and Lauren Graham. The story follows a woman recently released from prison trying to rebuild a relationship with her daughter while facing resistance from her child’s grandparents. Watch the trailer here, or check showtimes at Lux Cinema Banff. Playing through March 19.

• 🌊 Crescent Falls Seeing Temporary Closures During Construction. It’s a bit of a jaunt for Bow Valley locals, especially with current road conditions, but worth noting if you’re heading that way. Some viewing platforms and staircases at Crescent Falls Provincial Recreation Area, about 30 minutes west of Nordegg, will face intermittent closures this month while Alberta Parks completes upgrades to viewing platforms. None of us at Bow Valley Insider have checked out the falls, but by all accounts the two-tiered waterfall, dropping about 30 metres into the Bighorn River Valley, is worth the trip.

• 🐺 Camper Fined After Wolf Gets Into Garbage at Banff Campground. A camper has been fined $350 after a wolf accessed unattended garbage at Two Jack Lakeside Campground last September. The case was heard in Canmore’s Alberta Court of Justice in December after Parks Canada confirmed the animal had gotten into trash left at a campsite. Parks Canada says the Bow Valley wolf pack, estimated at about nine animals, has otherwise stayed mostly out of trouble.

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SEVEN CALVES BORN IN JASPER EFFORT TO SAVE ENDANGERED CARIBOU

What’s Happening: Jasper National Park is reporting early progress in its effort to rebuild endangered southern mountain caribou, with seven calves born through a new conservation breeding program.

A Small but Promising Start. According to Parks Canada’s 2025 annual report, the calves were born last June at the park’s new Caribou Conservation Breeding Centre near Athabasca Falls. The facility currently houses a founding population of 10 caribou relocated from within the park.

Officials called the births an encouraging first step for a program designed to rebuild fragile herds that have been declining for decades.

Why the Program Exists. Southern mountain caribou have disappeared from several historic ranges in the Rockies. The Banff and Maligne herds are already gone, while the final three animals from Jasper’s Brazeau herd were moved to the breeding centre in 2025.

Caribou are considered an indicator species for the health of high-elevation ecosystems. Their decline often reflects broader pressures on forests and wildlife habitat across the Rockies.

A Long Road to Recovery. Calves born at the facility will be released into the wild at around 14 to 16 months old, beginning with the Tonquin herd, which currently has about 43 to 50 animals.

Parks Canada plans to gradually build a breeding population of up to 40 adult females at the centre. The long-term goal is to grow the Tonquin herd to roughly 200 animals and eventually restore 300 to 400 caribou across Jasper’s historic ranges.

Indigenous Collaboration. The recovery effort is being developed with Indigenous Nations connected to the Jasper region, who have helped plan the program, participate in fieldwork and collect lichen used to feed the animals.

Read our full story to learn more about the recovery effort.

THINGS TO DO

Day 1

• Ímar Live: High‑Energy Folk & Roots. Catch Ímar’s explosive, award‑winning folk sound. This Glasgow‑based five‑piece, featuring bodhrán, bouzouki, concertina, uilleann pipes, and fiddle, brings Celtic traditions from Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man together. 7:30 PM. artsPlace, Canmore.  $20-$40.*

• Celebrate Local Talent. Banff Town Hall turns into a community art gallery each spring, and the Homegrown Art Show Gala is your chance to meet Bow Valley artists and see their work up close. The exhibition runs until April 10, so you can also stop by another day if you miss the opening. 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Banff Town Hall. Free.

Day 2

• Meet Author Lyndsay Wasko at Café Books. Drop by to meet author Lyndsay Wasko, creator of the children’s book Whose Nest Is Best? It’s a chance to chat, get your book signed, and support a local storyteller. 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Cafe Books, Canmore. Free. 

• Dodgeball Drop-In at Banff Elementary. If you’re looking to move around a bit and have some fun, this casual dodgeball session is an easy way to do it. Expect a mix of friendly competition and plenty of laughs. Balls and pinnies are provided, so you just need to show up. 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM. Banff Elementary School.

Day 3

• Local Folk at Canmore Brewing. The Three Sisters, Heather Jean Jordan, Irene Poole, and Ji Won Baxter, bring their harmony-driven folk songs to the stage for a night of local music. Kyle Pullan opens with finger-style acoustic guitar. A relaxed evening showcasing Bow Valley talent. 7:00 PM. Canmore Brewing Company. Tickets are $18 in advance or $23 at the door.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🎤 Country Royalty Comes to Canmore. Dolly Parton’s story hits the Carter-Ryan stage in a musical tribute that blends glamour with grit. April Cook and Phill Nugent bring the vocals, charm, and crowd-favourite hits to Canmore’s coziest theatre. With just 51 seats, every note and story lands up close. It is equal parts concert and storytelling, celebrating Dolly’s larger-than-life spirit. Running now until March 29. Dates are limited. Get tickets here. Use code BOWVALLEYINSIDER for 15% off.*

• 🏨 Calling All Creators, Event Organizers & Community Builders. Hosting a film screening, speaker series, poetry night, fundraiser, AGM, workshop, art show, or community gathering? The Canmore Opera House in Spring Creek is a standout space. A log cabin surrounded by mountain views, with all the amenities included: stage, projector and screen, sound system, microphones, tables, chairs, bar, and even a fire pit. It seats up to 120 and sits steps from downtown. Book an event held between now and the end of April and get 40% off your rental rate. Inquire here.*

• 💰 New Microgrants to Spark Your Environmental Ideas. Got an idea that could make the Bow Valley greener? The Biosphere Institute’s new Environmental Community‑Led Microgrants are here to help. Impactful change often starts with everyday community members, and sometimes all you need is a little funding and support. Grants of up to $1,000 are available to help your project grow from seed to reality. Apply by March 30, 2026.*

• 🍝 One Night Only: Handcrafted Pasta Dinner at The Fat Ox. Joe’s Cucina returns to The Fat Ox in Banff on April 30 for a one-night collaboration with Canmore Pasta Co. Expect a multi-course, family-style menu featuring fresh spaghetti in classic cacio e pepe, delicate ravioli, and lobster-filled fazzoletti. Each dish keeps the focus on simple ingredients done exceptionally well. It’s a rare chance to experience these two kitchens together, and seats are limited. Reserve early.*

• 🥾 Trail Update: What’s Open at Spray Lower Springs. Several routes in the Spray Lower Springs area have reopened while wildfire risk reduction and thinning work continues. Sulphur Mountain (west side), Sundance Trail, and the full Marsh Loop are now open. Sundance Canyon Loop remains closed.

CIVIC NEWS

• Canmore Switching Parking Apps Next Week. We’ve been hinting at this for a while, but now it’s actually happening. New parking machines have been popping up around Canmore, and the town will officially switch its paid parking system from Blinkay to PayByPhone on March 18. Because resident free hours can’t yet be activated on the new machines, the town says residents don’t need to start parking sessions or pay for parking until March 17. After that, residents will activate their free parking hours using PayByPhone through the app, website, phone call, or a kiosk at the Civic Centre. Existing resident permit plates will automatically transfer into the new system.

LIVE MUSIC

• Friday, March 12th, 2025, 5:00 PM: Mike Petroff.. Location: Canmore Brewing Company. No Cover.

• Saturday, March 14th, 7:30 PM: Windwind Trio. Location: artsPlace, Canmore. $17.50-$35.

• Sunday, March 15th, 10:00 PM: Danny Michel. Location: artsPlace, Canmore. $20-40.

SPORTS

• Canmore Eagles Clinch South Division Title. The Canmore Eagles have clinched the South Division regular season title for the first time since the 2002-03 season. After a strong campaign, the team finishes first in the division and now turns its focus to the postseason. The road to the championship continues when AJHL playoffs begin March 20.

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Monday, 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.