🐻 Two Bears, Four Closures

Good morning, Bow Valley!

We just crossed 15,000 subscribers to Bow Valley Insider this morning.

A few other things that come in 15,000s:

• The number of mosquitoes in Kananaskis on a windless July morning

• Steps it feels like walking up the Ha Ling staircase

• Calories burned avoiding tourists on Banff Ave.

• Photos taken at Moraine Lake every hour.

But in all seriousness…we’re incredibly grateful to bring all 15,000 of you the news, events, and stories that help keep the Bow Valley connected (and maybe a little more entertained, too).

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

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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.

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

THE E-BIKE BOOM IN THE BOW VALLEY (PLUS, A LIST OF LEGAL TRAILS)

What’s Happening? E-bike rides in the Canmore area have surged more than 1,000% since 2020. The Bow Valley is now one of Alberta’s fastest-growing e-biking hubs.

A Data-Driven Climb. Ride data collected from GPS-enabled fitness apps showed the number of e-bike rides jumped from 29,000 in 2020 to over 330,000 in 2024 in Canmore and the surrounding area. Local shops report the same trend: more rentals, more sales, and more everyday people, from seniors to commuters, getting on the saddle.

Where They're Allowed. In Canmore and Banff townsites, pedal-assist e-bikes (which help you pedal, but don’t move on their own) are allowed anywhere regular bikes are. Kananaskis has followed suit, opening all bike-legal provincial park trails to e-bikes. But in Banff National Park, e-bikes are still banned from most trails unless explicitly permitted. Riders caught straying can face fines up to $25,000.

The Balancing Act. Local governments see e-bikes as a way to cut car use and have backed that up with rebate programs in Banff and Canmore to help residents make the switch. Businesses love the new customer base. But conservation groups warn about trail erosion and wildlife impact. Most agree on one thing: the key to keeping e-bikes welcome is better signage, rider education, and sticking to approved routes.

Plan Your Route. We’ve put together a list of all the spots you can legally e-bike in Banff National Park. 

YOUR BANFF SUMMER JUST GOT A NIGHTLIFE UPGRADE.

CLVB ’33 is where summer nights get wild: think cabaret queens, jazz improv, and DJs spinning until the vibe says stop. Most nights are just $20 at the door, but some are free. Cash bar. 18+ only.

Upcoming Highlights:

 • July 19 – Diva Cabaret w/ John Alcorn & Guests – $35
• July 25 – DJ Matty Rage (Banff) – FREE
• July 26 – DJ Rob Faust (Sweet Loretta, Calgary) – FREE
• August 1 – Midnight Channel (Lethbridge)
• Jazz Jams – August 1, 2, 8, 9, 13 & 15

Outdoor Music Returns to the Shaw Stage:

Banff Centre’s AMP Sessions bring live music to the Shaw Amphitheatre. Completely free. Pack a picnic, sip something cold, and watch the sun dip behind the peaks.

• July 24 – Zebra (Canmore)
• July 31 – Ellen Braun (Canmore)

👉 Check out the full Summer Arts Festival lineup

_{*Presented by Banff Centre.}

THE DIGEST

• 🥾 Not Every Hike Needs Crampons and Courage. Some of us just want a peaceful stroll with mountain views, not a scramble up the side of a cliff. If that’s more your pace, we rounded up easy, beautiful Banff-area hikes that require zero experience, but still deliver a dose of nature therapy. Full list here.

• 🚀 Banff Nearly Broke a Canada Day Traffic Record. Sunday of the long weekend saw 33,337 vehicles enter Banff, just shy of the 2017 all-time record of 34,275. Once traffic tops 24,000, you’re guaranteed to feel it no matter where you are in the 4-sq-km townsite. In total, vehicle counts were up 7% compared to last year.

• 🚧 Two Campgrounds Closed After Bear Incidents. A black bear damaged tents at both Takakkaw Falls and Yoho Lake Campgrounds on July 7, prompting Parks Canada to close the sites and nearby trails. Bear traps are now active. Meanwhile, closer to home, Rawson Lake and Sarrail Ridge are closed after a grizzly with cubs bluff charged hikers. The closure began on July 11 and will remain until further notice.

• 🚰 Canmore’s Mandatory Water Restrictions Start Today. Canmore is entering Stage 1 water restrictions as TransAlta lowers water levels in the Rundle Forebay for summer canal maintenance. Outdoor fountains and ponds are off-limits, and sprinklers are only allowed between 7 PM and 9 AM. 

• 🏆 Revy’s Gunning for the Crown (Again). Revelstoke is once again in the running for Canada’s Best Ski Resort, but so are Lake Louise and Banff Sunshine. With voting now open, now’s your chance to show some hometown pride and keep the title close to the Rockies. Cast your vote here.

WHAT WILL BANFF LOOK LIKE IN 2035?

What’s Happening? Today’s the final day for public input on Banff’s next big blueprint. The Town of Banff is wrapping up community feedback for its new 10-year Community Plan. The document that will shape everything from housing and tourism to transit and environmental goals through 2035.

The Big Picture. Banff’s Community Plan isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a legal must. Every Alberta town needs one, but Banff’s comes with extra rules thanks to its location inside a national park. The updated plan must align with federal park policies and reinforce Banff’s identity as a model mountain town that balances resident life with visitor demand.

What Locals Have Said So Far. 1,000+ comments have poured in during public engagement. Top priorities? Affordable housing, traffic reduction, and putting resident wellbeing ahead of tourism. Many residents called for stronger enforcement of the “Need to Reside” rule, fewer empty homes, and better regulation on vacation housing. Many want tourism promotion scaled back and views were split on ideas like the proposed Calgary-to-Banff rail service.

Last Chance to Speak Up. Banff’s public hearing is at 2 PM today (July 14) at Town Hall. This is the final opportunity for in-person feedback before the plan heads to Parks Canada for review.

Meanwhile, in Canmore…Council just approved its own plan, which includes height limit tweaks, protected green space, and no net loss of public parking. Check out all the big ideas coming to Canmore here.  

THINGS TO DO

Monday

• Free Community Meal. This week’s menu is a veggie risotto served with watermelon steak, cookies, and buns from JK Bakery. Every Monday. 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM. St. Michael’s Church, Canmore. Pay What You Can. 

• Slack Jams. Hang out, learn to slackline or highline. No experience needed, just show up. Weather permitting. 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Riverside Park, Canmore · No cost to join.

Tuesday

• Bow Valley Insider Breakfast Special. Ask for the BVI special to get it, and by it we mean: a Back bacon or Spinach Benedict, a fully loaded pancake, a choice of side salad or potato, and a side fruit, all for $22. 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Bankhead, Canmore.*

• Wing Night at Evergreen. Dive into some of the best chicken wings in Banff for only $13 for 1 lb. The perfect après adventure treat or just a really solid reason to leave the house. 3:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Evergreen Lounge, Banff.*

• Slavic Dub-Punk Show. Montreal’s Dumai Dunai bring their explosive Slavic dub-punk sound to Canmore. Blending dub grooves, punk energy, Balkan brass, and Ukrainian village polyphony, this seven-piece has wowed global audiences since 2022. 7:30 PM, artsPlace, Canmore. $37 / members $31.45 / youth $18.50.*

LIVE IN THE BOW VALLEY? YOU’RE BASICALLY WASTING SUNSHINE.

Not to be dramatic, but if your roof isn’t pulling its weight, you’re leaving money (and photons) on the table.

Infinity Solar is helping homeowners across Canmore and Banff turn all that mountain sunshine into lower electricity bills, higher home values, and a cleaner footprint. With custom solar installs and smart financing options, they make it easy to switch.

Thanks to the Clean Energy Improvement Program in Canmore and Banff, you can finance your system through your property taxes, which means low monthly payments and no big upfront cost.

Plus, with net metering, any extra energy your panels generate can earn you credits toward future bills. Oh, and homes with solar often sell for more, up to 4.1% per kilowatt installed.

It all starts with a free, custom estimate. Delivered in 2 days.

_{*Presented by Infinity Solar.}

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🍨Pair This Gelato With Dessert. We just learned that Wild Flour’s got a summer treat lineup that’s hard to beat: creamy gelato paired with either a tangy lemon tart (Tarte au Citron), rich burnt-top cheesecake (Basque-style), or a scoop drowned in hot espresso (that’s what the French call affogato). No dress code, no reservations, just show up and snack.*

• 🎤 All-Day Metal & Punk Show. Canmore’s Alternative, Metal, and Punk music festival returns to artsPlace Sunday, July 20th, with something for all heavy music fans. This is a fully licensed all-ages event, featuring local talents from Banff and Canmore as well as bands from Calgary and Edmonton. Get your tickets here. Don’t wait, tickets will go fast for this one.*

• 🥏 Disc Golf in Canmore. Watch as we played 18 holes at the Nordic Centre, surrounded by forest trails and mountain views, and yes, you can too. It’s free, dog-friendly, and open to all skill levels. You’ll just need to bring your own discs. 

• 🗳️ Are You Registered to Vote? Albertans will have to register to cast ballots in the upcoming municipal elections in Banff and Canmore. The deadline is August 15 to register in advance on the voterlink website. Check your status here.

• 🐾 Rescue Pup Gets Second Chance. After two years of living with an injured hip, Jade, a current resident of the Bow Valley SPCA, underwent a leg amputation. The SPCA has raised $2,735 so far, but needs to hit $6500 to cover the full cost. Learn more here if you’d like to help. 

• 🥁 Missed the Banff Canada Day Parade? If you love parades but not the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, you’re in luck. The full parade is now on YouTube, so you can catch every float, flag, and marching band moment from the comfort of your couch.

• 🙋 Volunteer Opportunity. The Canmore Highland Games needs two volunteers to help schedule performances, coordinate with judges, and oversee the massed band magic. Bagpipe enthusiasm required. More details.

CIVIC NEWS

• Off-Site Levy Bylaw Overturned. A provincial tribunal has tossed out Canmore’s updated development fee bylaw, saying the Town didn’t share enough info about how it calculated the fees. These fees help cover roads, water systems, and rec centres tied to new builds, so the cost doesn’t land on existing residents. The Town has four months to revise it.

• Banff Housing Corporation Expands First-Time Homebuyer Priority. Following the success at The Aster, BHC has extended its first-time homebuyer priority policy across its full portfolio. The policy, effective January 1, 2025, gives first-time buyers better access to below-market homes in Banff. 

LIVE MUSIC

• Monday July 14th,  2025, 8:00 PM: Mister Bird Summer 2025 Tour. Location: Rose and Crown, Canmore. No Cover. 

• Tuesday July 15th,  2025, 6:00 PM: Sunset Festival: Phillip Alexander Nugent. Location: Banff Gondola. 

SPORTS

• Beginner Golfer Aces Her First Par-3 at Kananaskis. Emma Strong, a British staffer at the Kananaskis snack shack, picked up a driver on the 99-yard 4th hole (her first-ever par-3) and drained it. First swing, first ace. The odds? 12,500 to 1. If you spot her slinging snacks, give her a well-earned “nice shot.”

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Wedneday, 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.