🐻 Two Grizzly Bluff Charges

Good morning, Bow Valley!

It’s that time of year again: Canmore’s Main Street is going car-free. Starting Monday, the stretch between 7 Ave and 8 Ave closes to vehicle traffic through Oct. 16, officially kicking off patio season, downtown strolls, and the annual tradition of wandering Main Street with absolutely nowhere urgent to be. 

- Fortune Whelan, Ben S., Madalyn Beach

CANMORE COULD FACE PROACTIVE POWER SHUTOFFS DURING EXTREME WILDFIRE CONDITIONS

What’s Happening? Canmore residents could face planned power outages during extreme wildfire conditions under a new utility strategy aimed at preventing powerlines from sparking fires. AltaLink and FortisAlberta presented the proposal to Canmore council on May 5, saying proactive shutoffs would only be used as a “last resort” during rare but dangerous weather conditions.

How It Would Work. The policy, called a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), would allow utilities to intentionally cut electricity to parts of the Bow Valley if two conditions happen at the same time: a Fire Weather Index above 60 and wind gusts exceeding 60 km/h.

“It’s not one or the other,” AltaLink municipal and community relations manager Colin Harvey told council. “Those conditions have to come together.”

Harvey added that AltaLink has not seen those conditions align in the Canmore area over the past 10 to 15 years, suggesting outages would likely be uncommon.

Why The Outages Could Last Days. If power is shut off, residents could be without electricity for 72 hours or longer. That’s because utilities would disable systems that normally restore power automatically after outages, requiring crews to physically inspect infrastructure before power can safely return.

Council’s Concerns. Councillors questioned what a prolonged outage could mean for medically vulnerable residents, businesses, communication towers, debit systems, refrigeration, and rooftop wildfire sprinkler systems.

“My concern is that there is a trade-off here in terms of public safety,” Coun. Tanya Foubert said during the discussion.

Town emergency officials said any shutoff would likely require activation of Canmore’s Emergency Coordination Centre.

“It wouldn’t happen without us being notified and without us being able to put our own emergency management plans in place,” said Caitlin Miller, the town’s director of emergency management.

The Bigger Picture. Utilities said the strategy reflects lessons learned from catastrophic U.S. wildfires, including the 2023 Lahaina wildfire in Maui. “We don’t want to become one of those stats,” Harvey said.

Read our full story

WHY BUYERS IN CANMORE ARE CHOOSING NEW BUILDS

There’s something different about owning a new home. It’s not just the look. It’s the ease, efficiency, and thoughtful design that reflect how people want to live today.

With new construction, you’re not inheriting someone else’s choices or future renovations. Instead, you have the opportunity to personalize the details and create a space that truly reflects your style, all backed by the confidence of a new home warranty.

It also offers a more flexible path to ownership, with structured deposit timelines that allow you to secure your home while it’s being built and plan ahead with confidence.

And now, there’s an added advantage for first-time buyers. The federal government has introduced a GST rebate on qualifying new builds, eliminating GST on homes up to $1,000,000, with a phase-out to $1,500,000. This can translate to saving tens of thousands of dollars. Helping reduce upfront costs and making homeownership more attainable.

If you’ve been considering a move, this could be the right time to explore what’s possible. Follow along on Alder & Stone’s Instagram for updates or start exploring your options today.

_{*Presented by Mitchell Kocian Real Estate.}

THE DIGEST

• 🐻 Two Separate Bluff Charges Trigger Bear Warnings. Officials issued multiple notices this week after two separate grizzly bluff charges in Kananaskis. Near Troll Falls, a bear reportedly came within four feet of a hiker during a bluff charge, triggering warnings across several popular trails. A second incident involved a bluff charge toward a pedestrian on Mount Shark Road, prompting a bear warning for the Mount Engadine Lodge area, plus a temporary closure of the Tryst Lake parking area. No injuries were reported, but officials say bear activity is ramping up quickly. Here are the trails affected.

• ⛷️ Summer Skiing Is Back In Banff. Again. Banff Sunshine says it’ll reopen for 16 days between June 20 and July 5 after one of the snowiest seasons in the resort’s 98-year history. The mountain still had nearly eight feet of snowpack this week, prompting only the second summer ski operation there since the early 1990s. Strawberry Express is confirmed to run, with more terrain decisions coming later. One catch: 2026-27 season passes will work for the summer reopening, but if you’re hoping to squeeze a few more laps out of this year’s pass, no such luck.  Here’s everything we know.  

• 🏞️ Banff’s Lakes Just Landed On An Unexpected “Best Of” List. We’re used to seeing Moraine Lake and Lake Louise on dream travel rankings. This time, they landed on a list of “Trips That Are Not So Simple Anymore,” alongside places like Mount Fuji, Hawaii’s Hanauma Bay, and Italy’s Cinque Terre. The piece points to the growing “maze” of shuttle reservations, parking turnaways, and visitor controls now shaping major destinations. Parks Canada says about 75% of drivers trying to access Lake Louise during busy periods last summer were turned away. 

• 🍾 Could Alberta Become The Next Whisky Destination? The Alberta government wants to create an official “Alberta Whisky” designation, and Canmore’s Wild Life Distillery says it could be a major boost for local distillers and tourism. Proposed legislation would create standards around aging, ingredients, and production, while also laying the groundwork for a possible Alberta Whisky Trail. Matt Widmer, co-owner of the distillery, says Alberta hasn’t traditionally been a destination for spirit-focused tourism, but believes the proposed whisky designation and trail could help change that. 

You’re local…

And 20,000+ Bow Valley readers actively want to support businesses like yours.

We just connect the dots.

➡️ Get in front of the people already looking for you

CANMORE WINTER SHELTER SEES 1,100% SURGE IN USE 

What’s Happening? Canmore’s emergency winter shelter is asking the town for a five-year extension to continue operating out of Scout Hall through 2030, as homelessness in the Bow Valley continues climbing alongside housing costs. New figures presented to council show shelter use has surged more than 1,100% over the past five years, with many guests now employed locally but unable to secure housing.

Demand Keeps Climbing. The Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley (HSBV) told council its shelter operated for 151 nights this winter, serving 56 unique individuals while expanding capacity from eight to 10 beds. The shelter reached or exceeded capacity 24 times and provided more than 1,300 hot meals.

The numbers show a sharp increase from just 104 bed nights used in 2020-21 to roughly 1,283 this past winter season. The average number of nightly guests has also climbed steadily, from 2.3 per night in 2022-23 to 8.5 this season.

“Every night we had at least four unique individuals come to access the shelter and at most 14,” HSBV executive director Jessica Klaric told Canmore council.

Not Just Unemployment. One of the more striking details from the presentation: several shelter users were working full-time jobs while staying there.

“Five survey respondents indicated that they were employed on a full-time basis while using the emergency winter shelter,” Klaric said, adding the real number was likely higher because the survey was optional.

The organization said guests worked in tourism, education, and manual labour, but many had recently lost housing or could no longer afford local rents, hotels, or hostels.

“It's not as if I want to be in a shelter,” one longtime Bow Valley resident shared in a statement read to council. “But this is my home, my community. I've lived here for decades and don't want to leave.”

What They’re Asking For. HSBV is requesting continued free overnight access to Scout Hall between Oct. 1 and May 1 each year, along with overnight rental support valued at roughly $36,500 annually. Council has not yet voted on the request.

Read our full story

THINGS TO DO

Friday

• Nature Sketching Workshop Focuses On Flowers. A beginner-friendly sketching workshop where participants will draw real plants while learning techniques around symmetry, structure, and simplifying complex blooms. Materials are included. 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $44.20-$52.*

Saturday

• Camp Chief Hector Opens Its Doors. Thinking about summer camp? Camp Chief Hector YMCA is hosting a free open house where families can tour the grounds, meet staff, ask questions, and try activities like climbing, canoeing, and archery. Lunch is included, and it’s a good excuse to see why generations of Bow Valley kids come home covered in sunscreen, campfire smoke, and confidence. 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Camp Chief Hector YMCA. Free with RSVP.*

• Mom’s Mini Market. A full community day at the Exshaw Legion, with brunch, vendors, crafts, sweets, and a good cause at the centre. Browse the market, grab brunch by donation, and support the Veterans Food Bank through the bake sale. There’s also a meat draw starting at 3:30 PM and adults-only bingo at 6:30 PM. 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Exshaw Legion. Details here.*

• Bow Valley Potters Are Taking Over. A free community day celebrates the Bow Valley’s ceramics scene, from longtime potters to clay-curious newcomers. Expect coffee, an artist talk by Ed Bamiling, peer sharing from local potters, a casual “pottery-luck” lunch, and studio games to close the day. 10:30 AM 3:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. Free with RSVP.*

Sunday

• Mother’s Day Brunch With One Of Banff’s Best Views. Juniper is hosting a Mother’s Day brunch overlooking Mount Rundle and Vermilion Lakes.  The brunch includes a grazing table, coffee or tea, plus your choice of dishes like braised bison short rib bennies, mushroom thyme bennies, or brioche French toast with mascarpone foam and berries. $59 for adults, $25 for kids aged 6-12, and free for kids under 5. 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Juniper Bistro. Reservations required.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 👨🏻‍💼 New Owner at Canmore Climbing Gym. Big local handoff: longtime manager Jona Hackett is officially the new owner of CCG. After helping shape the gym’s community over the past few years, Jona is stepping into ownership with a few upgrades already underway. The founding team says the transition keeps the gym in good hands while continuing its role as a scrappy, welcoming gathering hub for Canmore’s mountain crowd.

• 💐 A Local Mother’s Day Gift Bundle. Alpine Blooms has teamed up with Mainspace and Eclipse Coffee Roasters on a Mother’s Day bundle that includes a fresh bouquet, a stainless steel tumbler, and a coffee gift card. The “Beans & Blooms” package is $74.95 and can be ordered online now for pickup before Mother’s Day. Three gifts, one pickup, and a significantly lower chance of panic-buying flowers Sunday morning.*

• 🎥 Canmore Folk Fest Documentary Is Now Online. If you missed the premiere, our friends at Rocky Mountain Live have now released Canmore: Its Folk. Its Festival. on YouTube. The documentary looks back on nearly 50 years of the Canmore Folk Music Festival through interviews with musicians, volunteers, organizers, and longtime locals. It’s part music documentary, part community time capsule. Worth a watch. 

• 🚧 Lake Minnewanka Sheep Point Closure. A seasonal area closure is now in place near Lake Minnewanka, so check your route before heading out. Access trails from Stewart Canyon to Sheep Point, including the lakeshore and exposed areas, are closed to all traffic and travel from May 1 to June 30. Parks Canada says the closure is for resource management.

CIVIC NEWS

• Canmore Considering $700K Fee Waiver For Affordable Housing Project. Canmore council is considering waiving up to $700,000 in development and permit fees for the YWCA Banff Higher Ground project, a proposed 120-unit affordable housing building in the Palliser area. The broader development could eventually deliver 250 to 350 rental homes. The Town has already committed land and $10 million to the project, with supporters arguing the fee relief would help reduce long-term housing costs. 

LIVE MUSIC

• Friday, May 8th, 2026, 10:00 PM: Reed Alton.  Location: Canmore Rose and Crown. Free.

• Saturday, May 9th, 9:30 PM: Black Tie Flannel. Location: The Drake, Canmore. Free.

• Saturday, May 9th, 10:00 PM: PowerHouze. Location: Melissa’s MisSteak, Banff. Free.

SPORTS

• Canmore Eagles Win First-Ever Centennial Cup Game. The Canmore Eagles opened their first-ever Centennial Cup appearance with a 3-2 overtime win Thursday in Summerside, P.E.I., surviving a late comeback push from the top-ranked Rockland Nationals. The Eagles are making their first trip to Canada’s national junior A championship after capturing their first AJHL title just a couple weeks ago. Watch the highlight reel.

• Canmore Prospect Climbs NHL Draft Rankings. Canmore defenceman Will McLaughlin made a major jump in the NHL Central Scouting rankings this spring, climbing from No. 91 to No. 57 among North American skaters ahead of next month’s NHL Draft. The 18-year-old Portland Winterhawks blueliner finished the season with nine goals and 30 points and helped Team USA win gold at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. The NHL Draft runs June 26-27. 

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.