🔎 Unsolved Kananaskis Mystery

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Well, last night was the pre-opening night of the Calgary Stampede, and the videos are already rolling in—especially the line snaking out of the Cowboys tent. Which got us thinking: what’s more packed right now, that line… or the one for the Banff sign? Tough call.

Let’s get to it!

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

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NEW PARKS PLAN COULD PUT KANANASKIS FEES ON THE TABLE

What’s Happening? Alberta just dropped a 10-year draft blueprint to shape the future of its provincial parks—and they want your feedback by July 26. It’s called the Plan for Parks, and it covers everything from conservation and recreation to infrastructure and inclusivity. But one line in particular has people talking: a promise to review park fees to keep them sustainable and accessible.

Fee Pressure. Banff-Kananaskis MLA Sarah Elmeligi says that promise should include revisiting the Kananaskis Conservation Pass. The $15/day or $90/year fee has pulled in around $12M annually since 2021, but critics argue it adds up—especially when combined with rising camping, fuel, and food costs. Elmeligi calls the pass inequitable and hopes it’s officially “in scope” for review.

The Fine Print. The draft plan is broad but ambitious: expanding low-cost camping, investing in access for diverse users, and modernizing park infrastructure. It nods to economic development too, with a focus on local partnerships and sustainable tourism. Think more opportunities for local tour operators, artists, and vendors in parks—and targeted investment in high-use areas to support eco-friendly tourism.

Have Your Say. Albertans can weigh in now through a public survey (10–15 min). If you’ve got strong opinions about fees, trail access, or where new campgrounds should go, now’s your chance. Take the survey before July 26.

MODERN MOUNTAIN LIVING ON THREE SISTERS DRIVE

This brand-new half duplex at 249B Three Sisters Drive isn’t just a pretty face—it’s 2,800+ sq ft of clean lines, vaulted ceilings, and four outdoor spaces you’ll actually use. The kitchen? Outfitted with Fulgor Milano appliances so sleek they might guilt you into finally learning to cook.

Located in Hospital Hill, you’re a short walk to the Bow River, downtown, and all your favourite trails. No rear neighbors, a treed backyard, built-in storage for your gear, and an attached double garage—for whatever else you’re hauling around the mountains.

Want a look inside? Book a private showing and make sure to follow Alex and Lori on Instagram for the latest property updates.

_{*Presented by Mitchell Kocian Real Estate.}

THE DIGEST

• 🔍 A Kananaskis Mystery That Needs Solving. A strange structure was spotted on the trail to Mount Romulus from Tombstone Campground—just off the Little Elbow trail system. No signs, no clues, no idea what it’s for. Got a theory? Take a look at the picture and then let us know in the comments.

• 🧊 Bow Glacier Falls Trail Still Closed After Fatal Slide. Two weeks after a deadly rockfall killed two hikers and injured three more, the Bow Glacier Falls trail remains off-limits. Parks Canada is still conducting a geotechnical assessment and hasn’t set a reopening date. Violators could face fines up to $25K—or arrest if they cross the line. But not everything’s shut—trails around Bow Lake and the route to Bow Hut are still open.

• 🐨 Bear Warning Issued for Grassi Lakes Trails. Black bears have been making regular appearances near Grassi Lakes and Reclaimer Trail, prompting an official bear warning as of July 1. While most locals know the Grassi Lakes trails well, Reclaimer is a lesser-known mountain biking trail near the Rundle Forebay. Both trails remain open for now, but caution is advised. 

• 🗑️ Overflowing Garbage at Quarry Lake Raises Red Flags. A pile of trash at Quarry Lake—right beside a bear warning sign—sparked outrage this week (see pictures here). Locals blamed everyone from lazy tourists to inadequate bins, but one empty container nearby hinted at a bigger issue: effort. Quarry Lake sits just down the road from the Grassi Lakes trails under active bear advisory. So yeah—dumping garbage here is a problem.

• ⚡Power Knocked Out, Restored Within the Hour. At noon yesterday (July 3), a third-party crew hit a power line near Canmore, triggering an outage across Banff, Lake Louise, and Sunshine Village. The Town of Banff quickly posted a warning, but by 12:53 PM, power had already been rerouted and restored. FYI: Bookmark this handy outage tracker for future updates.

CRACKDOWN COMING FOR ILLEGAL TOURIST HOMES IN CANMORE

What’s Happening? A recent court ruling exposed a loophole in Canmore’s bylaws: advertising a short-term rental without a permit wasn’t technically illegal. Now, the Town is looking to fix that by making ads without permits a standalone offence—even if no one actually books the place.

Why Advertise Without a Permit? Some owners list properties just to test the market, boost visibility on booking platforms, or while waiting on permits—but under the proposed rules, those ads alone could trigger enforcement.

Wait, What’s a Tourist Home? In Canmore, a Tourist Home is a residential unit with a special development permit allowing short- or long-term rentals. They’re taxed at about three times the residential rate and require a separate business license—with license numbers now mandatory in all marketing. As of 2025, owners can no longer claim “personal use” to lower their tax bill and new Tourist Homes are being phased out in most areas.

Why This Matters? Roughly 15% of Canmore’s housing is tied to short-term rentals, adding pressure to an already tight market. The proposed bylaw would remove leniency for first and second offences and impose a $10,000 fine for repeat violators. And with $1.1M in new federal funding, Canmore is ramping up enforcement with software, inspections, and legal action.

Next Steps. Council will vote on the proposed changes after a public hearing on July 8.

THINGS TO DO

Friday

• Free Family Movie. Cool off at the library’s space-themed “galaxy cinema.” First up: Lightyear, the animated Buzz Lightyear origin story. Snacks provided—bring your own water. 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Canmore Library. Free.

• Live Music at Table Food + Drink. Enjoy dinner and drinks with live music by Riley Ruby, bringing soulful vocals and acoustic flair. Music starts at 7 PM. Outdoor seating and evening specials make this the perfect start to your weekend. Reservations recommended. 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Table Food + Drink, Canmore.*

• Roller Disco Party. Show off your best dance moves every Friday night in Banff. Skate and helmet rentals are available. 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Fenlands, Banff. Drop-in Fees Apply. 

• A Night of Opera at the Pub. Opera meets pub night as Banff Centre artists bring bold arias and ensembles to the Legion. This event is a casual introduction to opera for newcomers and a fun, bold twist on opera for fans–offered with a pint. 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Banff Legion. Free.*

Saturday

• Mountain Made Market. Shop 40+ local vendors, enjoy live music, tasty eats, and great coffee. 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Canmore Civic Centre. Free to attend.

• Dog Day Open House. On the first Saturday of the month, drop-in to meet dogs available for adoption. Pet, play, and (hopefully) take home a new four-legged friend. 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM. Bow Valley SPCA, Canmore. Free.  

• Canmore’s Laid-Back Music Spot. Swing by Canmore Brewing Co every Saturday afternoon from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM for artisan nachos, a pint or can of your favorite Canmore Brew. No need to dress fancy, come by after a hike.*

Sunday

• Happy Hour on the Patio or Inside—Your Call. $6 drafts, $7 wines & sangria, $8 signature cocktails, and $15 pizzas. Other light bites, such as Fried Brussels Sprouts and Alberta Lamb Meatballs, if you’re feeling snacky (and who isn’t?). 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM. Murrieta’s, Canmore.*

• Free Group Fitness Class. Sweat45 is a 45-min cardio and core intensive workout combining cardio equipment, kettlebells, dumbbells, and body weight movements. 6:00 PM - 6:45 PM. Summit Lifestyle & Performance, Banff. Free, but sign-up is required.

• Free Women’s Only Jiu-Jitsu Class. These classes focus on technique and leverage—designed to help smaller individuals overcome larger opponents. Learn to defend yourself confidently. 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Dark Horse Martial Arts, Canmore. Donations welcome and go to Heart Mountain Rescue and Bow Valley SPCA.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🥏 Disc Golf in the Rockies. Watch as we played 18 holes at the Canmore 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 need to bring your own discs and own a Kananaskis Pass to park. 

• 🚧 Oesa Arts is In-Between Spaces. Oesa Café has closed its current location (inside St. George-in-the-Pines) due to building limitations—but they’re not going far. While the café space is down, their catering, events, and pop-ups will continue. Follow along at Oesa Arts for updates on their next chapter.

• 🙋 Volunteer Actors Needed for The Handmaid’s Tale. Banff Centre is seeking volunteers (ages 20–60) to portray The Eyes.  These are silent, on-stage enforcers in The Handmaid’s Tale. These roles require a strong physical presence and comfort with mature themes. July 17–26. Contact: [email protected]. 

• ✍🏼 Artist Call. The Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce is seeking design submissions from Alberta-based artists for its upcoming Business Excellence Awards.Check out their design guidelines and submission requirements. 

• 🎨 Art Trail Walks Now Open. Discover over 65 art pieces by Bow Valley artists along a scenic self-guided trail in Banff. Start at the Banff Park Museum, follow the Bow River Trail to Bow Falls, and return via the Nancy Pauw Bridge. Free and open to all. We highly recommend that everyone do this at least once—it’s awesome! 

• 🙋🏻‍♀️ Volunteer at the Canmore Enduro. Be part of the action at the Canmore Enduro mountain bike race. Help with course marshaling, timing support, aid stations, and more. You’ll get snacks and swag. Sign up today.

• 📖 Canmore Library’s Summer Reading Adventure (Ages 5–12). Kids become “Star Seekers” in this space-themed reading game, helping recover lost stories across the galaxy. Read books, complete challenges, and earn prizes along the way. Pick up a logbook at the library to join the mission. Ongoing through summer. Canmore Library. Free.

• 🎭 Trail Use Notice: Canmore Nordic Centre. This Sunday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, a guided trail running group (approx. 50 participants) will be on FYI, EKG, Orchid, Sponge Bog, Georgetown, and the Legacy Trail. Runners will be moving clockwise—please use caution and share the trails.

CIVIC NEWS

• Have Your Say on How You’ll Have Your Say. Banff residents are invited to weigh in on a draft Public Input Policy that outlines how and when the Town will seek community feedback on key decisions—like big-budget projects, strategic plans, and initiatives that affect most residents. There is a drop-in session Tuesday July 15th 

LIVE MUSIC

• Friday, July 4th, 2025, 9:00 PM: The Ramblin' Hey Ho Ha's. Location: Tavern 1883, Canmore. Free. 

• Friday, July 4th, 2025, 10:00 PM: Black Tie Flannel. Location: Melissa’s MisSteak, Banff, Free. 

• Saturday, July 5th, 2025, 2:00 PM. Andrew Staygold.. Location: Lake Louise Ski Resort. Free. 

• Saturday, July 5th, 2025, 3:00 PM. Carly MacKerras. Location: Canmore Brewing Company.  No Cover.

• Saturday, July 5th, 2025, 7:00 PM. Watoto Children’s Choir.. Location: Banff Park Church. Free. 

• Sunday, July 6th, 2025, 7:00  PM. Devin Cuddy Band,. Location: Canmore Brewing Company. $38.61

SPORTS

• Cheer on Holly in Her Canada Debut. Canmore’s own Holly Phillips has been named to Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team roster and could make her international debut this Saturday, July 5, against South Africa. The match kicks off at 7:30 AM ET (TSN3/TSN+). Holly, who plays for the Bristol Bears, is one of the finishers coming off the bench. Let’s show her some Bow Valley pride!

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.