🐻 The Truth About Wildlife Rules

Good morning, Bow Valley!

This week, starting today, we’ll be telling you all the Halloween stuff going on, including some fun Halloween stories unique to the Bow Valley. By the end of the week, you’ll either be sick of Halloween or fully committed to carving one more pumpkin, buying one more bag of candy, and dressing up for at least one local event. 

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

THE SECRET TO SAVING CANMORE’S WILDLIFE? A GUILTY CONSCIENCE

What’s Happening? A new University of Alberta study suggests Canmore’s best wildlife protection tool might not be another sign at the trailhead, it’s guilt.

What the Study Found. Surveying 601 trail users across Canmore, researchers discovered that “personal norms,” or a person’s inner sense of obligation, were the only variable that consistently predicted wildlife-friendly behaviour. Those who said they’d “feel guilty if they stressed wildlife” were far more likely to turn back when spotting a bear, stick to designated trails, and avoid wildlife corridors. That might sound like common sense, but it’s a shift in how managers think about public messaging. 

Guilt Over Groupthink. Social pressure, or the sense that “everyone else is doing the right thing,” became statistically insignificant once personal conscience was factored in. Most awareness campaigns try to influence people through social proof, messages like “most visitors stay on trail.” This study suggests those strategies don’t hold up once someone is alone on the trail and faced with a real choice, such as whether to ride past a closure sign or press on after spotting a bear.

Love of Place Isn’t Enough. Researchers also found that while many people said they loved the overall trail network, attachment to specific places, a favourite trail or familiar drainage, might matter more. In other words, people may be more responsive to messages tied to places they personally know, such as “Protect Cougar Creek at dusk,” than to general appeals like “Protect Canmore’s Trails.” 

Locals vs. Tourists. Interestingly, locals were no more likely than tourists to report wildlife-safe behaviour. Visitors and residents scored almost identically on following trail rules, which challenges the idea that residents automatically behave more responsibly.

Why It Matters? This research could reshape how education campaigns are designed. Messaging that taps into personal accountability, like “Turning around now helps bears feed safely and you’ll feel better about your impact,” may work better.

Read more tidbits from our full study breakdown. 

THE MOST GORGEOUS ROOM IN THE HOUSE? COULD BE YOURS.

Need to zhuzh up a guest bathroom? Or turn an empty patio into a Pinterest board come to life?

Micheline Lambert does both. And everything in between.

She’s the designer behind F2 Floral Fashion, a one-woman studio where every project, big or small, starts the same way: a personal visit, a design tailored to your space, and a transformation that feels effortless (because she’s the one doing all the work).

Think: dramatic entryway pieces, styled shelves, statement mirrors, lifelike florals, vintage décor, custom planters, and outdoor installs that don’t blow away with the first gust of mountain wind.

Whether you’re updating a nook or outfitting a new build, it all starts with a conversation. No pressure. Just a creative mind, a fresh set of eyes, and maybe a few gorgeous feathers or ferns in tow.

Book a free design call.

_{*Presented by F2 Floral Fashion.}

THE DIGEST

• 🚗 Alberta’s License Plate Showdown Hits Round 2. If you haven’t heard, Alberta’s hosting a license plate design competition and we’re now into round two of voting. There were originally eight designs, featuring four Bow Valley landscapes. Now we’re down to four designs, with two local spots still in the mix: the Three Sisters and Moraine Lake. Have your say and help get a little Bow Valley on every bumper in Alberta.

• 🎙️ Joanna Croston Talks 50 Years of Mountain Culture. Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival director Joanna Croston joined the Overheard Podcast to discuss the festival’s 50th anniversary and why storytelling still matters in mountain culture. She also highlighted her new book, Mountaineering Women: Climbing Through History, profiling 20 women climbers worldwide, including two from Canmore, to give future generations mentors in a sport long documented by men. Listen to the Podcast.  

• 🗻 Avalanche Season Starts. Alberta Parks is warning that isolated avalanche problems exist in parts of Kananaskis, while Avalanche Canada just received its first user report of debris near Bow Peak along Highway 93 North. The post described soft wind slabs forming in the alpine and fresh debris in a popular backcountry ski run (Grandaddy Couloir). The message is simple: if you’re heading into the backcountry, pack your beacon, shovel, probe, and brain. 

• 📉 Bow River Flow Drops 32% as Drought Tightens Grip. Drought still rules southern Alberta. Hydrologist John Pomeroy says the Bow River near Banff is running 32 percent below normal, with glaciers and snowpack shrinking fast. The Peyto Glacier could be a “stub of ice” within five years, and the Rae Glacier in Kananaskis is nearly gone. Pomeroy warns that long-term fixes will mean tougher water rules, and fewer lawns to water.

• 🩺 Mobile Mammogram Clinic Returns to Canmore. Alberta Health Services’ mobile mammography trailer is back next month, offering free breast cancer screenings for women ages 45 to 74. It’ll be parked at Canmore General Hospital on Nov. 15 and again from Nov. 17–20. Appointments are required. Call 1-800-667-0604 or visit ScreeningForLife.ca to book.

Step Into the Marketing Ring…

In this corner:
✅ Access to 16,000+ Bow Valley Locals
✅ Scroll-stopping copy written in our voice
✅ Trackable results you can brag about

And in the other:
🛑 Print ads your customers flip past with their morning coffee

Ready to fight smarter?
➡️ Partner with Bow Valley Insider and join the winning team

BANFF’S MOUNT NORQUAY TURNS 100 AND HITS THE BIG SCREEN

What’s Happening? For a century, Mount Norquay has shaped Banff’s ski culture. Now the mountain that started it all is stepping into the spotlight with The Mighty Quay, a 32-minute film by director Patrick Hoffman that celebrates its legacy and the people who built it. Premiering November 2 at the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival, Hoffman calls it “a love letter to the people who built this place.”

How It All Began. Norquay’s slopes were first cut in 1926, making it the oldest ski hill in the Canadian Rockies. What started with kids learning from alpine guides and a rope tow powered by an old car engine grew into a proving ground for Canada’s best. By the 1940s, it hosted national championships and trained Olympians, but the real story has always been the locals who learned, worked, and grew up there.

Behind the Film. “What grabbed me wasn’t just the slopes of Norquay, but the community, the legacy, and the spirit of a mountain that punched above its weight,” Hoffman told Bow Valley Insider. He describes the film as “rooted right here in Banff” and “deeply personal.” The team drew on archives from the Whyte Museum and Banff town records and spoke with long-time locals, including 99-year-old ski legend Eddie Hunter. “Seeing Eddie ski, at the same age as Norquay itself, was something I’ll never forget,” Hoffman said.

A Century in Motion. The Mighty Quay traces Norquay’s evolution from ski-jump camps and the postwar boom to the mid-century “Big Chair” and the resort’s shift toward summer adventure. It also arrives as Norquay unveils its Norquay 100 Vision, a plan to upgrade the North American chair and strengthen year-round access with sustainability at its core.

Read our full interview with Hoffman and learn more about the film.  

THINGS TO DO

Monday

• Pasta at The Prow. Enjoy 50% off house-made pastas at one of our favourite spots, plus a weekly chef’s special and 20% off wine bottles. It’s the perfect après-hike indulgence after your Tunnel Mountain climb, or just because pasta makes everything better. Reservations recommended. 5:00 PM - Close. The Prow, Banff.*

Tuesday

• Taco Tuesdays at The Evergreen. Hands down the best taco deal in Banff and the tastiest too. Choose from Pork Carnitas, Chorizo, or Beef. Three tacos for just $14. Bring your friends, your appetite, and your fiesta vibes. Reserve now.*

• Movie Night: The Life of Chuck. This heartfelt film follows Chuck Krantz through love, loss, and the quiet beauty of being alive. Rated R for language only. A life-affirming, unforgettable journey. 7:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $15 / youth $7.50.*

BORN HERE. CLEANING HERE.

Zoe was born and raised in the Bow Valley, and she’s set on staying by building her dream business one spotless kitchen at a time. From regular residential cleans to move-outs and commercial jobs, she does it all (and does it well). If we want locals to stay local, we’ve got to back the ones putting in the work. She’s taking on new clients now. Reach out and see if it’s a good fit.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🎃 Trick-or-Treat Trail Hits The Shops of Canmore. Looking for a fun Halloween warm-up before the big night? The Shops of Canmore are hosting their first-ever Trick-or-Treat Trail on Friday, Oct. 31 from 3–5 PM. Kids can load up on candy, make crafts, and grab cookies while parents enjoy discounts and bites from local shops. Free, festive, and full of treats. Just look for the bright orange stickers on shop doors to join the fun.

• 👻 Join Us for a Halloween Adventure. Also happening this Friday, we’re hosting a free Halloween-themed Cluesolver adventure in downtown Canmore. It’s part scavenger hunt, part escape room, and part mystery story. All outdoors and self-guided through a mobile app. Form a team, start anytime between 12 PM and 7 PM, and race to solve the clues. The fastest team earns bragging rights and a Bow Valley Insider shout-out. Details and instructions here.*

• 👋 Heart Mountain Rescue’s Winter Gala and Raffle. Mark your calendars for Saturday, Nov. 29, when Heart Mountain Rescue takes over The Gem in Harvie Heights for their 3rd Anniversary Winter Gala. It’s a free, feel-good evening with appetizers, drinks, and music, all to raise funds for local rescue dogs. You can enter their Ultimate Adventure Raffle for prizes like a Jasper getaway, a Bow Valley helicopter ride, or a mountain photo session. Tickets are available now or at the event, and 100% of proceeds help dogs in need.*

• 🦾 Got a Carbon-Cutting Project? Apply for Funding. Graymont’s 2025 Carbon Reduction Fund is open, backing local projects that cut or capture carbon. The Bow Valley has already benefited: Community Cruisers’ Winterization Program, Town of Canmore’s E-Bike Program, and the Canmore Community Gardens expansion. If your idea measurably reduces emissions or stores carbon, apply by November 28, 2025. Click here for details or eligibility. Questions? Email [email protected].*

• 🎃 Halloween Howler at Exshaw Legion. Doors open at 6:00 PM, with free children’s activities from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, including spooky specials, terrific treats, and a costume parade full of freaky fun. At 9:00 PM, the Elektric Squirrels take the stage to keep the party going. $10 per person. More details.*

• 🧟 The Halloween Bus Contest is Back. Spot Roam Transit’s spooky-decorated bus this week, snap a photo of your favorite decoration, and send it to Roam on Facebook or Instagram by November 1 for a chance to win a swag pack. One entry per person, per day. Ride, snap, and get into the Halloween spirit.

• 🎿 Get Ready for the Canmore Nordic Annual Ski Swap. This is your chance to sell old gear or pick up Nordic skis, boots, poles, and clothing at great prices. The swap takes place on Sunday, November 2, at the Bill Warren Training Centre. 

CIVIC NEWS

• Banff Council Sworn In. Watch live on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 2 PM as the 2025–2029 Council is sworn in, marking the start of a new chapter in local leadership.

LIVE MUSIC

• Monday, October 27th, 2025, 9:00 PM: Econoline Crush. Location: Melissa’s MisSteak, Banff. No. $30.

• Tuesday, October 28th, 2025, 10:00 PM: Ten02. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff.  No Cover.

SPORTS

• Ice Climbers Are Already Getting After It. It might seem early, but ice season has officially kicked off in the Bow Valley. Climbers are posting fresh photos and trip reports across the usual Facebook groups, with routes in Storm Creek already seeing early ascents. Ice is also forming on the Stanley Headwall, in the Ghost, Kananaskis, and along the Icefields Parkway. 

• Canmore’s Britt Richardson Cracks Top 20 in World Cup Opener. The Alpine World Cup kicked off in Sölden, Austria, with Canada’s Valérie Grenier finishing 11th in the women’s giant slalom. Canmore’s Britt Richardson landed 20th after two steady runs, marking her 10th career top-20 finish. The World Cup season now heads toward Levi, Finland, next month as athletes gear up for the 2026 Olympic year.

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.