⛑️ Search Suspended at Johnston

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Lake Louise Ski Resort shut it down yesterday, leaving Banff Sunshine as the final holdout until May 18. If you’re ready to swap skis, Bow Valley golf courses are starting to open this week. Details below.

- Fortune Whelan, Ben S., Madalyn Beach

HIGHWAY 40 CLEANUP HIGHLIGHTS SCALE OF LITTER, INCLUDING MATTRESS AND WASHING MACHINE

What’s Happening? On the weekend, volunteers from Friends of Kananaskis Country cleaned a 50 km stretch of Highway 40. Among the roadside litter: a mattress and a washing machine, highlighting ongoing issues in the region. 

Cleanup By The Numbers. The May 2 event brought together 107 volunteers and seven staff, logging 463 hours of work. Crews removed 136 bags of garbage and 875 recyclable containers between the Trans-Canada Highway and Highwood Gate.

 “All of these figures are similar to previous years,” said Trevor Julian, executive director of Friends of Kananaskis Country. “There was less garbage this year than previous years, which is a good sign.”

What Volunteers Are Finding. While most items were typical roadside waste such as coffee cups, plastic lids, and food packaging, volunteers also encountered larger debris.

 “This year a washing machine and a mattress were found,” Julian said. “Someone found $5 and a cell phone.”

Hubcaps were also commonly found near cattle guards, pointing to a mix of accidental loss and deliberate dumping.

Visitor Pressure On Kananaskis. Organizers say the cleanup reflects the growing pressure from high visitation in Kananaskis Country. Highway 40 is a major access corridor, and much of the waste is believed to come from passing vehicles.

“We hope all visitors, both local and international visitors, take care of Kananaskis so it can be enjoyed for many, many generations to come,” Julian said.

Volunteer Efforts Across The Bow Valley. Similar efforts happened in Canmore. Strides Canmore hosted its ninth annual plogging event on April 26, collecting more than 500 pounds of garbage with over 60 participants. Over nine years, the initiative has removed 6,000 pounds of waste.
“Over 60 people braved the cold to come out and do their part,” said owner Kylie McKendrick. “While not a record year, it was an amazing effort.”

Shift Toward Long-Term Habits. Organizers say the focus is shifting from one-day cleanups to long-term behaviour change.

“It’s becoming not just a one day event, but rather building awareness and habits,” McKendrick said, noting growing participation from local youth, including more than 50 pounds collected by Canmore High School students this year.

Read our full story.

SILVERTIP OPENS MAY 8, WITH SPRING RATES AND TEE TIMES NOW BOOKING

Silvertip is set to open for the 2026 season on Friday, with tee times now available for the season.

If you’ve played it before, you know the deal. Fairways that don’t sit still, elevation changes that shape how you approach each hole, and views that make you pause longer than you probably should.

If you haven’t, we’d recommend getting out there at least once. 

Spring rounds offer a different feel than mid-summer. Cooler air, fewer groups on the sheet, and a quieter pace overall, with snow still visible along the surrounding peaks.

Locals have access to preferred rates across the season, with tee times opening seven days in advance, which means right now.

And if you’re making a full outing of it, Stoney’s, Rustica, and the Silvertip Market are all open for a pre-round coffee or something after you wrap up.

View available tee times for opening week. 

_{*Presented by Silvertip.}

THE DIGEST

• 🤑 Banff ‘Chase the Ace’ Winner Takes Home $32K. A Banff resident is $32,688 richer after pulling the ace of spades at the Legion, ending a 32-week jackpot climb. Each week, players buy tickets for a chance to draw a card from a deck, with the prize growing until the ace is found. This round landed among the bigger local payouts, though past jackpots have pushed closer to $200K. Proceeds go back into community initiatives and Legion operations. Another round is expected to launch soon.

• 🦜 Rare Bird Makes First-Ever Stop in Banff. A Vermilion flycatcher, typically found in the U.S. Southwest and Central America, has been spotted in Banff for the first time ever, marking the species’ first recorded sighting in Alberta. Experts say the visit could be linked to shifting migration patterns and unusual weather, including drought and heat events further south. The sighting adds to a broader trend this spring, with birders reporting earlier-than-usual arrivals and higher species counts across the Bow Valley.

• ⛰️ A Mountaineer Tried Naming a Mountain. It’s Still Not Done. What started as a simple naming proposal has stretched into a two-year process with no finish line. An Alberta mountaineer’s bid to name an unnamed peak near Abraham Lake is still under review, as consultations expanded to include naming considerations involving a nearby creek. The province says timelines vary, especially when it comes to community and indigenous input. While the applicant supports recognizing alternate names, he says the process became far more complex than expected, and the outcome remains uncertain. See the peak here.

• 🐻 Bear Sightings Spike Across Bow Valley. Bear activity is picking up, with multiple sightings reported along Highway 40. Wildlife officials are urging drivers to slow down and avoid stopping when bears are visible roadside. The increase comes as animals emerge and begin feeding on early spring growth. One local photographer reported spotting eight bears in a single day from Nakiska to the Highwood Pass closure gate. With bear activity continuing, keeping distance and avoiding “bear jams” remains key. Read our article on The Cost of the Perfect Bear Photo for a deeper look on roadside bear encounters.

What Happens After Someone Sees Your Ad?

Do they:

A) Click
B) Buy
C) Forget you existed 3 seconds later

Most businesses don’t know.

We do.

We track leads and actual customers.

Because “awareness” doesn’t pay the bills.

➡️ Let’s make your marketing measurable

JOHNSTON CANYON CLOSED AFTER SUSPECTED DROWNING NEAR LOWER FALLS

What’s Happening? Johnston Canyon has been closed after a suspected drowning at the Lower Falls, where an American tourist reportedly jumped into fast-moving rapids and did not resurface.

Incident Details. RCMP say they were called Friday around 6:42 p.m. after reports the individual entered the water roughly 40 feet below and disappeared, according to CityNews. Police said the incident is not believed to be related to mental health.

Search Efforts Suspended. Parks Canada closed the entire Johnston Canyon trail network on May 2 to support the response. Tomi Postma, public relations and communications officer for Banff National Park, told Global News that due to dangerous water conditions, all available search options have been exhausted and recovery operations are currently suspended. The fast-moving current and heavy turbulence in the canyon are making conditions too hazardous for crews to continue. There is no timeline for reopening the falls as of this morning. 

In a Facebook post, the agency said, “Parks Canada extends sincere condolences to the individual’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

Why Conditions Are Especially Dangerous Right Now. The Lower Falls is one of the most visited spots in Johnston Canyon, with narrow catwalks leading to a viewing bridge beside the waterfall. But conditions this time of year are significantly more hazardous. Spring runoff means higher water levels and faster-moving currents than in mid-summer, increasing the risk for anyone entering the water. Surfaces around the falls are also more slippery.

Closure In Effect. Parks Canada is asking visitors to respect barriers and avoid the area while crews manage the situation. Updates will be provided once it is safe to reopen.

THINGS TO DO

Monday

• Arctic Drama: Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband). A TIFF award-winning film from director Zacharias Kunuk, following a couple separated by tragedy and guided by spirit forces in a story rooted in Inuit oral traditions. 7:00 PM, Lux Cinema Banff. $14.

Tuesday

• Addiction Screening + Local Panel. A free screening of Beautiful Boy is followed by a panel with local experts in addiction and recovery. The film tells the true story of a family navigating meth addiction, with discussion grounded in the Bow Valley context. 7:00 PM, artsPlace Canmore. Free. RSVP required.*

YOUR BODY’S CRYSTAL BALL

Ever wish you could predict your next injury before it happens? We cannot read your palm, but we can read data, and that reveals far more than you might expect.

Banff Sport Medicine’s Performance & Physiology Assessments use advanced tools to analyze balance, strength, and endurance. That data helps identify imbalances and weaknesses before they turn into injuries.

Think of it as a personalized snapshot of how your body is actually performing, not just how it feels on a good day.

Instead of waiting for pain to tell you something is wrong, this assessment gives you objective data to train smarter and stay active longer.

These assessments are useful for athletes, but they are just as relevant if you simply love hiking, skiing, trail running, cycling, or any of the many mountain sports common in the Bow Valley. They are designed to help people move with more confidence, efficiency, and awareness. They are also for anyone who worries about getting injured, which, realistically, is most of us.

Book a session here

_{*Presented by Banff Sport Medicine.}

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🍺 Last Call: Got a Grizzly Paw Story? If you’ve got a Grizzly Paw memory sitting in your head, this is your last shot to cash it in. The Grizzly Paw Brewing Company’s 30th anniversary story contest wraps tonight, and they’re looking for locals to share anything from chaotic nights to oddly wholesome moments. Best one wins $2,500, including $1,500 cash. Call it in (just leave a voicemail), email it, or submit online before 11:59 PM. Just for entering, all eligible stories also get a limited-edition glass while supplies last. Details here.*

• 🎶 Choral Concert Hits Banff Next Weekend. Bow Valley Chorus is back with Make A Joyful Noise, a spring concert featuring major classical works from Mozart, Rutter, and Bernstein. The Banff performance lands May 16 at the Fairmont Banff Springs, followed by a Calgary show the next night. Expect a full choral lineup with orchestral backing and soloists, something the group has built a reputation for over more than two decades in the valley. Tickets start around $20.*

• 😣 Canmore Osteopath Tackles Headache Causes. A free local workshop is digging into why headaches and migraines may not start where you think. Hosted by Canmore osteopath Clement Rhein, the session explores how tension headaches, nerve sensitivity, and even issues elsewhere in the body can contribute to pain patterns. The focus is on understanding root causes rather than chasing short-term relief. It runs Saturday, May 9 from 10 AM to noon at Osteopathy For All Clinic, with a breakdown of different headache types and how they’re linked back to broader body systems. RSVP here.*

• 🛒 Spring Market Lands in Exshaw This Weekend. Exshaw’s kicking off market season with Mom’s Mini Market, a full-day community event at the Legion this Saturday. Expect local vendors, crafts, baked goods, and a $10 brunch fundraiser supporting the Veterans Food Bank. The lineup also includes a 3 PM meat draw and an adults-only bingo night with cash prizes to close things out. It runs May 9 from 10 AM to 4 PM, with bingo starting at 6:30 PM.*

• 🍩 Donuts & Conversations Returns for Mental Health Week. Frankie D’s Donuts is hosting a Mental Health Week event on May 8. Local speakers will share personal experiences with things like anxiety, addiction, and grief, followed by small-group discussions where you can join in or just listen. The goal is simple: make these conversations feel normal and a little less isolating. It runs 6:30 to 9 PM above the Banff Library, and it’s free to attend. RSVP here.*

• 🌱 A Simple Way to Support Bow Valley Conservation. The Biosphere Institute is inviting locals to join its Summit Club, a monthly donor program supporting wildlife coexistence, climate action, and environmental education across the region. The idea is steady, ongoing support that helps fund local programs year-round, from reducing human-wildlife conflict to community-led environmental projects. As Earth Month wraps up, the group is aiming to add 30 new members to help expand its impact.*

CIVIC NEWS

• Canmore Scores High on FireSmart But Gaps Remain. Canmore earned an A- for wildfire preparedness, putting it among Alberta’s top communities. But the scorecard also highlights some cracks: long-term planning needs work, and more residents are needed to step up on local mitigation efforts. The town says future updates will focus on stronger coordination and making it easier for the community to get involved.

LIVE MUSIC

• Monday, May 4th, 10:00 PM: Brent Lee. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

• Tuesday, May 5th, 5:00 PM: Cinco De Mayo with Caitlin Connelly. Location: The Drake, Canmore. Free.

SPORTS

• Canmore Skimo Athlete Finishes Season on a High. Canmore’s Emma Cook-Clarke closed out her season with three golds at the North American Championships in Golden, following a narrow miss at qualifying for the 2026 Olympics. She says the setback is fueling a push toward 2030, with plans to keep competing and help grow the sport locally. 

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.