🐻 Should “The Boss” Be Put Down?

Good morning, Bow Valley!

We're super excited to announce our next Bow Valley Insider get-together! On November 9, from 5-7 PM, we're hosting a Try Biathlon event at the Canmore Nordic Centre. We did one last year, but this time we're adding cross-country skiing! We've teamed up with high-performance athletes and coaches from Canmore's own Biathlon Alberta Training Centre, so we'll be learning from the best. We'll split into two groups, with one learning how to shoot and the other getting skiing tips from a coach, then we'll switch. No experience necessary, and you can bring your own skis or rent equipment. It's just $30 to participate (or bring an extra $25 cash to shoot a real .22-calibre rifle instead of a practice rifle). We're limited to 30 spots. Details here. 

-Ben S., Cassandra Stefanic, Fortune Whelan, Brendan Nogue, Alexia Chambers, Keith Fernandes

PARKS CANADA HAS DISCUSSED KILLING BANFF’S MOST FAMOUS GRIZZLY, INTERNAL EMAILS REVEAL

What’s Happening? Parks Canada staff have discussed the possibility of lethally removing Bear 122, better known as The Boss, over concerns about his age, behaviour and public safety. The discussions were revealed in internal records obtained by Bow Valley Insider, although no decision to remove Banff's famous grizzly has been confirmed.

Where Did Things Get Complicated? In April 2025, Parks Canada staff raised concerns about The Boss's declining physical condition, changing behaviour toward officers and repeated access to human food sources.

In September 2023, The Boss charged toward a wildlife officer while feeding on crabapples in Banff. Staff believed he was defending the food. The tree was removed, but the bear returned that evening.

Why Food Changes Everything. Bears remember where they've found food. When they repeatedly find it around people, they can begin associating developed areas with an easy meal, increasing the risk of dangerous encounters.

And that's where people come into the picture. Wildlife experts say unsecured garbage, fruit trees, grain spills, and crowds getting too close can create risky situations for both bears and humans.

Since the 2023 incident, Banff has removed 29 fruit trees, with another 13 scheduled for removal this fall. CPKC, the railway company, also works with Parks Canada to address grain spills along train tracks.

What Does This Mean For The Boss? For now, his future remains uncertain. Parks Canada hasn't provided further details about its management plans or what circumstances could lead to his removal.

The agency says The Boss is managed like other grizzlies with similar concerns and credits residents and visitors with helping him remain wild for decades.

And He's More Than A Local Celebrity. Parks Canada says The Boss has likely fathered most of the young grizzlies in the Bow Valley. Decades of monitoring him have also helped researchers better understand grizzly behaviour and habitat use.

Read our full story for more details from the internal Parks Canada records we obtained. 

CANMORE’S ALBERTA’S OWN IS CLOSING AFTER NINE YEARS.

After nine years of showcasing Alberta’s creative entrepreneurs, Alberta’s Own Marketplace will close its Canmore storefront on Nov. 15, or earlier if its remaining inventory sells out.

Owner Laura Bodell said the decision follows six difficult months in which all of the shop’s longtime employees were forced to leave Canmore or exit the workforce.

“With the staffing shortage in the Bow Valley, I’ve no hope of replacing five full-time staff before November,” she wrote.

Since opening in 2017, Alberta’s Own has represented nearly 400 Alberta makers. Its current shelves feature pottery, knits, jewelry, artwork, self-care products, home decor, pet items, greeting cards, and other goods from almost 150 artists, artisans and small businesses.

If you’ve been meaning to stop by, now is the time. Please head down to Alberta’s Own while you still can. 

Get your Christmas shopping done early, find something one-of-a-kind or stock up on your favourite locally made essentials. Every purchase supports the Alberta makers and creatives behind the products.

For some of those makers, sales through Alberta’s Own represent more than half of their annual revenue, so showing up during these final weeks will make a real difference.

📍 105-826 8 Street, Canmore (Google Maps)

_{*Presented by Alberta’s Own.}

THE DIGEST

• 🏆 Canmore Climber Wins Prestigious Mountain Award. Sarah Hueniken is being honoured for more than her climbing achievements. The alpine guide, who became the first woman in North America to complete some of the toughest rock-and-ice routes, also co-founded Mountain Muskox after losing a close friend in a mountain accident. The Bow Valley non-profit now supports people affected by mountain trauma across six chapters in Western Canada. Hueniken will receive the Summit of Excellence Award at Banff Centre on Nov. 7. Read our full interview with Hueniken.

• 🏘️ Historic Canmore Inn Hits The Market For $9.9 Million. The family-owned Lady Macdonald Country Inn on Bow Valley Trail is officially for sale. The Victorian-inspired property has 14 individually decorated guest rooms and is being marketed as a fully operating business, with recent upgrades to its rooms, wellness amenities and building systems. But here's the interesting part: a 2026 redevelopment concept suggests the site could accommodate a 34-room boutique hotel, more than doubling its current capacity. Any expansion would require approvals, and there's no indication yet what a future buyer might do with the property.

• 🙅 Canmore Council Unanimously Opposes Alberta Separation. With the Oct. 19 referendum approaching, council voted 7-0 this week to support a united Canada, warning that separation could create economic and legal uncertainty for local businesses, municipal services and residents. Mayor Sean Krausert said the debate risks distracting governments from pressing issues like housing, affordability and staffing. Coun. Tanya Foubert raised concerns about Canmore potentially becoming a border town, arguing its $1-billion tourism economy could suffer. Krausert emphasized the resolution isn't meant to tell Albertans how to vote. The motion doesn't change provincial policy but formally establishes council's position.

• 🚁 B.C. Teen Rescued From Hiking Route Sparks AI Safety Debate. Not a Bow Valley story, but an interesting one for anyone using AI to plan mountain adventures. A 16-year-old Vancouver hiker was helicopter-rescued from Crown Mountain after mistakenly entering a dangerous climbing route. Initial reports suggested AI helped plan his route, but the teen disputes that, saying he primarily used Claude AI for packing advice and relied on hiking apps for navigation. North Shore Rescue warns against blindly trusting AI-generated routes, especially in technical mountain terrain. 

Our Ads Are Supposed To Make You Money.

So far in 2026, we’ve generated $25,313 in business for our cleaning partner, Zoe.

She does residential and commercial cleaning. You’ve probably seen her ads in Bow Valley Insider.

She makes a lot more from those ads than she spends with us.

That’s exactly how advertising should work.

If you’re a local business and want to get in front of the Bow Valley’s largest local audience, let’s talk.

THANKSGIVING SNOW COULD BRING ICY ROADS TO BOW VALLEY

What's Happening? The Bow Valley could be in for a snowy Thanksgiving long weekend, with 10 to 20 centimetres possible in parts of the region between Friday and Sunday, bringing the risk of icy roads just as holiday travel picks up.

Where Will The Most Snow Fall? Kananaskis and areas around Bow Valley Provincial Park could see the heaviest snowfall locally, thanks to something called upslope snowfall. That's when winds push moist air toward the mountains, forcing it upward and causing more snow to fall. 

Banff, Canmore and Lake Louise are also expected to see snow, but totals will vary depending on location and how quickly temperatures drop.

Environment Canada meteorologist Terri Lang told Bow Valley Insider the first snow may melt on contact with the still-warm ground, reducing how much actually accumulates.

Why Drivers Should Pay Attention. The bigger concern might not be how much snow falls, but what happens when temperatures drop.

Lang said temperatures could fall below freezing later Saturday, causing rain or melted snow already on the roads to turn into ice.

"So it won't be freezing rain, it'll be the liquid on the roads that freezes," she explained.

That could mean slippery conditions along the Trans-Canada Highway and other mountain routes during Thanksgiving travel.

How To Prepare. Environment Canada recommends winter tires, an emergency kit and checking road conditions before heading out.

Drivers can check 511 Alberta for highway updates and Environment Canada for the latest forecasts and alerts.

And while the first snow might feel early, Lang says it's actually arriving a little later than usual for the mountain front ranges.

Her advice? Don't assume clear skies at home mean clear roads through the mountains.

Read our full story

THINGS TO DO

Friday

• Sandtraps Is Offering Game-Day Specials For Canmore Eagles Fans. The Eagles host the Calgary Canucks both Friday and Saturday, and Sandtraps at the Canmore Golf & Curling Club is running Eagle Hour. Expect game-day food specials, $8 draft beers (16 oz), and other drink deals. You can also park there for free while attending the game, making it an easy stop for food and drinks before puck drop. 4PM until closing. Sandtraps, Canmore.*

Saturday

• Exshaw Legion Hosts Turkey Dinner And Live Game Show. The Amazing Feud combines Family Feud, Jeopardy and fast-paced trivia into one evening of friendly competition. There's also a full turkey dinner included with your ticket. Dinner is served at 5:30 PM and the game show starts at 7 PM. Exshaw Legion. $30, including dinner.*

• Banff Pride Market Features Local Artists And Makers. Mason Hall will be filled with art, jewelry, clothing, handmade goods and vintage finds from 2SLGBTQ+ makers and small businesses. Our very own Fortune will also be there selling vintage treasures from The Good Hoard. Come browse, support some independent makers and maybe find something you didn't know you needed. 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Mason Hall, Banff. Free.*

Sunday

• Thanksgiving Dinner at The Golf Club. Don't feel like cooking a full Thanksgiving meal? Sandtraps at the Canmore Golf & Curling Club is serving roasted turkey with all the fixings, followed by pumpkin cheesecake. You can eat at the restaurant or pick up dinner to enjoy at home (call ahead). 4:00 PM - Close. Sandtraps, Canmore. $33.95 plus GST and gratuity.*

YOU WOULDN'T BUY SKI BOOTS WITHOUT TRYING THEM ON

You'd never buy ski boots online without getting them fitted.

So why trust your recovery to a brace that might not fit properly?

Whether you're dealing with a sore knee, a rolled ankle, or an aching wrist, the right support can make a real difference. The challenge is knowing which one you actually need.

That's why Banff Sport Medicine opened its new Banff Sport Bracing Shop inside its Canmore clinic. Every visit starts with a conversation about your injury, activity level, and goals, followed by a complimentary professional fitting. Instead of guessing your size or hoping online reviews point you in the right direction, you'll leave with a product that's suited to your body and your recovery.

The shop carries braces and supports for knees, ankles, wrists, shoulders, and backs, along with compression garments, orthotics, mobility aids, and other recovery tools.

Recovery is hard enough. Finding the right support shouldn't be.

📍 213-300 Old Canmore Road, second floor (Shops of Canmore). No appointment needed.

🔗 Visit their website for more details

_{*Presented by Banff Sport Medicine.}

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🏓 Bow Valley Pickleball Registration Is Open. The Bow Valley Pickleball Association is now accepting new members, whether you're picking up a paddle for the first time or already playing competitively. Membership costs $110 and includes outdoor play at Canmore's Veterans Park from mid-May to mid-October, plus some mentored sessions. Winter play moves indoors to the Canmore Recreation Centre and Banff's Sally Borden Centre, with sessions costing $15 each. There's something for every skill level. Register here.*

• 🍾 Banff Restaurant Hosting Four-Course Okanagan Wine Dinner. If you enjoy good food and wine, this could be a fun date night. The Prow at Buffalo Mountain Lodge is hosting a dinner where you'll enjoy four courses paired with five Okanagan wines. A winery representative will be there to explain what you're drinking and answer questions, so you might learn a thing or two along the way. Only 32 seats are available. Guests can also get 20% off a room at the lodge. Saturday, Oct. 24, at 6:30 PM. Reserve here.*

• ✨ Canmore's Newest Drag Performers Take The Stage. After weeks of workshops, a new group of local drag queens, kings, monsters and monarchs will make their stage debut at the Canmore Miners' Union Hall. Organized by Pine Tree Players, the showcase is a chance to enjoy some live entertainment, discover emerging local talent and cheer on performers taking the stage for the first time. Best of all, admission is pay-what-you-can, so you can contribute whatever works for your budget. Friday, Oct. 16. Event details here.*

• 🏃‍♀️ The Grizzly Ultra Brings 50 KM Of Trail Racing To Canmore This Weekend. The sold-out race returns to the Canmore Nordic Centre Oct. 10-11, with solo runners and relay teams tackling 50 kilometres of trails and 1,595 metres of climbing. Spectators are welcome, with stadium viewing, a beer garden and a free kids race at 10 AM. Expect a busy Nordic Centre this weekend, and remember that vehicles parked there need a Kananaskis Conservation Pass. 

CIVIC NEWS

• Harvie Heights Could Get Power Poles Nearly Twice As Tall. AltaLink is planning to replace its aging transmission line between Canmore and Banff, with one option bringing poles up to 35 metres tall through Harvie Heights, compared with the existing 15- to 20-metre structures. Four routes are being considered, including burying the line or moving it outside the community. Residents have raised concerns about wildfire safety, emergency access and tree clearing. A regulatory application is expected by year-end, with construction potentially starting in 2028.

LIVE MUSIC

• Friday, October 9th, 2026, 10:00 PM: Halo.  Location: The Drake, Canmore. No cover.

• Saturday, October 10th, 10:00 PM: Wild T & the Spirit.  Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No cover.

SPORTS

• Australian Newcomer Wins Banff’s Melissa’s Road Race 10K. Hayden Thun moved to Banff just four months ago, and he's already winning local races. The 20-year-old finished first in the Sept. 26 race with a time of 37 minutes, 46 seconds, despite heavy rain and strong winds. Around 4,500 runners participated in this year's event, including 85-year-old Jim Fry, who's competed in every Melissa's Road Race since it began in 1979. 

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.