🧗 Rockies Guides Sound the Alarm

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Heads up if you’re heading into the parks today: the Canada Strong Pass is over, which means you’ll need to stop at the gates again. Just remember, anyone with an annual pass gets an automatic three-month extension added to their expiry date. Most locals won’t miss the free parks plan, unless fighting for a parking spot was your idea of outdoor adventure.

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

THE RISE OF SCRAMBLE CULTURE (AND WHY IT HAS GUIDES WORRIED)

What’s Happening? We sat down with Canmore alpine guide Sebastian Taborszky, who is sounding the alarm on “scramble culture.” He says more and more hikers are tackling technical peaks in the Rockies without ropes, harnesses, or training.

The Warning Signs. Taborszky of Arise Guiding describes watching climbers walk unroped across Assiniboine’s snow-covered ridge, where “a slip means death.” What used to be rare has become routine.

Scramble vs. Solo. In Rockies lingo, “scramble” suggests a hands-on hike. But Taborszky says many so-called scrambles are really unroped climbs, thousands of consecutive moves with no margin for error. Peaks like Assiniboine, Smuts, and even Ha Ling’s NE ridge now see frequent unroped attempts.

Why Now? He points to impatience, Instagram bravado, and misplaced confidence. Fit gym climbers or runners often mistake strength for skill, ignoring “stacked red flags” like icy slabs, loose gullies, and hidden crevasses.

A Culture Shift Needed. Taborszky believes the Rockies are near a tipping point, comparing it to a time before seatbelts were the norm. He is calling for:

• Education: Skills learned the long way, through manuals, practice, and courses.

• Transparency: Parks Canada publishing weekly rescue case studies, similar to avalanche bulletins.

• Cultural Change: Recognizing that “scrambles” are often solos, with consequences hidden by language.

Bottom Line. “The mountain does not care if you live or die,” Taborszky told us. Without more humility and education, he warns that close calls will eventually add up to more tragedies.

Read more in our full article and share it if you want others to understand the risks.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO SELL THE CABIN TO GET THE GOLD

A Bow Valley treasure map for unlocking home equity, without moving a muscle.

Legend has it, there’s a fortune buried beneath your roof. Not in gold bars or old coins. Just good old-fashioned home equity.

And here’s the plot twist: you don’t have to sell, downsize, or pack a single moving box to access it.

Whether you’re dreaming of a reno, funding a second property, helping your kids buy their first home, or finally building that art studio in the backyard, your home might be the key.

Michael & Cari Hossmann are the local guides you want for this kind of treasure hunt. 

They’ll help you safely unlock your equity using smart tools like HELOCs, refinances, or equity takeouts. Or, if you’re 55 or better, a reverse mortgage that feels more like a golden ticket than a loan. No pressure, no bank-speak, no buried clauses.

Because the only thing worse than sitting on a goldmine… is never digging.

👉 Book a free call with Michael & Cari

And find out how to access what’s already yours, without giving up the view.

_{*Presented by Dominion Lending Centres Synergy Financial.}

THE DIGEST

• 📉 Jasper Tourism Feels the Burn. Jasper is down 16 to 20 percent in visitors this summer after last year’s wildfire wiped out about one-fifth of the town’s hotel rooms and campgrounds. The spots that survived are nearly full, but the squeeze is expected to last into next summer. Visitors who do make it are also spending less in town, adding to the hit for local shops and attractions, while Banff and Lake Louise prepare for heavier spillover.

• 🎨 Alberta Landscapes Come to Canmore. St. Albert artist Samantha Williams-Chapelsky spent a year painting 100 Alberta scenes outdoors, from prairies to mountains. Her exhibition Sky, Stone, and Prairie shows the province through fresh eyes, and locals can see it up close when the collection arrives at Canmore’s Elevation Gallery from October 4 to 23.

• 🔎 Search Resumes at Upper Kananaskis Lake. Crews are back on the water looking for two boaters missing since their canoe capsized last week. Despite rescue efforts that saved two others, a man and woman in their thirties remain unaccounted for. RCMP divers are using sonar and submersibles in hopes of bringing closure to families.

• 🌟 Banff Crowns New Quartet Champions. The Banff International String Quartet Competition has a new winner: Poiesis Quartet from Cincinnati. A string quartet is four musicians on two violins, a viola, and a cello, often seen as the ultimate test of balance and teamwork in classical music. The $500,000 prize helps launch them onto the world stage. And for Banff, it keeps the town firmly on the map as a global hub for classical music.

• 💡 Meet the Alberta Set Decorator Behind Blockbusters. Next time you brag that The Last of Us or Interstellar were shot here, remember Alberta’s own Paul Healy helped bring those worlds to life. With five Emmy nods and almost four decades in the business, he shows how local talent and scenery keep shaping global movies.

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You know the ones. Wedged between the tire sales and supermarket coupons.

Bow Valley Insider lands where 15,000+ locals actually pay attention — their inbox.

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➡️ Let’s get your business in here where it belongs

HIGHWAY 1 CRASH NEAR CANMORE: CHARGES LAID

What’s Happening? We’re learning more about Sunday’s four-vehicle crash that shut down Highway 1 near Canmore and left many Bow Valley locals stuck in traffic. RCMP say an eastbound Ford F-250 crossed the median near the Benchlands Trail exit and slammed into three vehicles. Fourteen people were injured, including two in critical condition.

The Charges. Police allege the driver, 59-year-old Sandy Lee Cardinal of Calgary, was impaired at the time. He now faces 10 counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm and nine counts of dangerous operation causing bodily harm. Cardinal has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in Canmore court on September 10.

Video From the Scene. For those who want a clearer sense of how the crash unfolded, a bystander’s video offers the best vantage point we’ve seen of the aftermath. Watch the clip here.

The Fallout. What began as a frustrating road closure for many locals has now been tied to a serious impaired driving case, underscoring how quickly things can turn from inconvenient to tragic on one of the busiest stretches of highway in the Rockies.

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Banff Farmers Market. Browse fresh produce, artisan foods, and locally made crafts, plus art, jewelry, and coffee from regional vendors. 10:00 AM–6:00 PM. Central Park, Banff. Free.

• Community Scavenger Hunt. Test your wits and local know-how in this self-guided scavenger hunt starting at Banff Town Hall. Complete challenges, collect resources, and race to the finish. Everyone gets a swag bag, but the first back with a full card scores the top prize. 3–4:30 PM. $15.

• Drop-In Drumming Circles.Find your rhythm with African drumming in a fun, welcoming group setting. 7:00–8:30 PM. Scout Hall, 914 8 Street, Canmore. $25.

Thursday

• 4th Annual Supervillain Golf Tournament. This is an 18-hole, 4-player scramble with prizes for skill, style, and creativity. All proceeds support Variety, the Children’s Charity, helping kids with disabilities access the resources they deserve. 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Silvertip Resort, Canmore. Cost varies.

• Canmore Mountain Market. Browse fresh produce, meats, baked goods, coffee, and handmade goods from regional artisans. 10:00 AM–6:00 PM. Elevation Place, 700 Railway Ave, Canmore. Free.

TESTED ON BEN’S DIRT

Meet Zoe. Easily the best cleaning lady in the Bow Valley (we don’t say that lightly). Before we recommended her, she tackled our publisher Ben’s place, which was leaning more “wildlife habitat” than “home.” She crushed it. Now she’s taking on new clients for everything from regular cleans to move-outs to the deep stuff. Book a quick chat to see if she’s the right fit for your space.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🍱 One Last Food Truck Fix. Valbella’s food truck shuts down for the season this Friday, Sept. 5. You’ve got just two lunch windows left: Thursday and Friday, 11:30 AM–2 PM.  Grab a jumbo veal bratwurst, kids’ hot dog, or one of the weekly rotating specials. Sunshine, good vibes, and your final bratwurst of the year await. Check out our food pics here.*

• 💼 Job Fair in Banff. Looking for a winter gig in the Bow Valley? Swing by the 2025 Winter Job Fair and connect with some of the area’s biggest employers. Thursday, Sept 18, 2–4 PM at the Moose Hotel & Suites. Free to attend. Just bring your resume and a good pitch.

• 🤝 BanffLIFE Fall Programs Are Here. BanffLIFE is the go-to program for locals aged 18–30, offering affordable ways to connect and explore the Bow Valley. This fall’s lineup includes a nighttime photography trip, a leadership program, and more adventures designed to build skills, friendships, and community. Follow them on Instagram for upcoming programming announcements.

• 📣 Municipal All-Candidates Forum. There are two all-candidates forums on the Environment in Banff and Canmore. Hear municipal candidates discuss their plans to address climate and environmental issues in the Bow Valley. The Banff forum is October 1, 7–9 PM, and the Canmore forum is October 2, 7–9 PM. Both are free and open to the public.

• 🏃 Introducing Monday Night Trail Runs. This is a weekly Monday night drop-in trail run group for all levels. Each session features trail runs, hill workouts, and light intervals in a fun, welcoming environment. Runs are free of charge. Just show up and join the group. The first run kicks off Monday, September 8. 

• 🔋 Renter-Friendly Energy Savings Workshop. Wondering why your energy bills are so high or how to lower them? Join this interactive workshop to learn how energy is used in your home, read your bills, and discover low-cost, renter-friendly ways to save. Get practical tips for conserving energy, staying comfortable, and asking the right questions of your landlord. Register now.

CIVIC NEWS

• Banff Approves Grants to Preserve Heritage Homes. Banff council has approved the first grants under its new heritage preservation program, awarding $125K to restore two Beaver St. homes owned by the Eleanor Luxton Historical Foundation. With matching funds, over $2M will go toward conserving the Luxton Home (1905) and MacKenzie Residence (1945) while balancing heritage and housing needs.

• Canmore Tightens Rules on Tourist Homes. Council has updated the land use bylaw to clearly define tourist homes after a recent court case exposed grey areas. The changes give enforcement officers more tools to prosecute illegal short-term rentals, especially those advertised online without proper permits or licence numbers. Legal tourist homes can still be listed on sites like Airbnb, but must display a business licence. Fines now run $2,500 for a first offence, $5,000 for a second, and $10,000 for repeat violations.

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025, 9:00 PM: Open Mic. Location: Rose and Crown, Canmore. Free.

• Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025, 10:00 PM: Last Call Leonard. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

• Thursday, September 4th, 2025, 7:30 PM: Leeroy Stagger. Location: artsPlace, Canmore. $$35 / members $29.75 / youth $17.50 *

• Thursday, September 4th, 2025, 10:00 PM: Backwoods Banff Mega-Bash. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. $5

SPORTS

• Canmore Women’s Enduro Shines. Blue skies, wild costumes, and plenty of grit made this year’s race one to remember. The event drew a record 91 first-time riders, including 31 junior racers, showing just how strong the local women’s biking community has become. Organizers called it the “best bike race of the year.”

• Adjustable Wave Coming to Kananaskis River. By late 2026 or early 2027, the Kananaskis River will feature an adjustable wave. It is a concrete and steel structure that changes water flow to create either a smooth surfable wave or a breaking wave for freestyle kayaking. The $800,000 project could host world-class competitions and grow beyond the $32 million already generated by local whitewater tourism.

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Friday, 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.