👎Voters Reject Banff Pedestrian Zone

Good morning, Bow Valley!

There was a record voter turnout for the Banff Pedestrian Zone. Ultimately, voters rejected it. More details on what to expect next are below. 

In today’s Bow Valley Insider:

• Body of 25-year-old missing hiker found in K-Country

• Future of Eklof Park causes uproar in the community

• Canmore Minor Hockey Association wins award

Let’s get to it!

— Fortune Whelan, Shireen Ahmed, Lauren H., & Ben S.

EXCLUSIVE EVENT FOR ALTITUDE AT THREE SISTERS MOUNTAIN VILLAGE

What’s happening? Starting August 22nd, for 30 days, Bow Valley residents have an exclusive opportunity to secure their dream home at Altitude! Featuring 239 stunning condos and townhomes available, including 24 townhomes and 215 condos, this is your chance to live in one of the most coveted locations in the region.

Unique location and amenities: Located adjacent to the Gateway retail area, Altitude at Three Sisters Mountain Village offers unparalleled convenience and access to many exciting amenities. Whether you enjoy walking, biking, or hiking, you'll find the perfect trail right outside your doorstep.

RSVP: Be sure to register for our exclusive launch event for our 1st building at Elevation Place in Canmore on August 22nd from 4-7pm, August 24th from 4-7pm, and August 25th from 12-5pm.

First in line: Be among the first to explore our beautiful properties and envision your future at Altitude. Don't miss out on this 30-day sales window designed just for Bow Valley residents. RSVP here.

_{*Presented By Altitude Developments}

BANFF RESIDENTS VOTE NO FOR SUMMER PEDESTRIAN ZONE

What’s happening: In the final vote on August 12th, the residents of Banff decided against having a downtown pedestrian zone on Banff Avenue every summer from May Long Weekend to Thanksgiving Long Weekend.

The results: There were 2,523 votes, 1,194 yes votes, 1,328 no votes, and 1 spoiled ballot. Voters had to be Canadian citizens, Banff residents, and at least 18 years old.

What does this mean: The Council must now pass a bylaw to reverse their decision to have an annual summer pedestrian zone. The next Council meeting that they can pass a bylaw is Monday, August 26th. 

What to expect after August 26th: The pedestrian zone will be dismantled in the days immediately after the bylaw is passed. This includes removing restaurant patios, retail displays, extra public seating, bicycle parking, and flower planters. The traffic light signal timing will change at Wolf and Buffalo Street, and the gates for Roam Transit to enter the pedestrian zone will be removed. The road will be reopened to all vehicles.

THE DIGEST

• ⚠️Jasper will have the minimum services required for residents to return home safely by Friday, August 16th. The part of the wildfire that presents a risk to the townsite is now 99% contained or controlled. The Jasper Facebook page is posting daily answers to re-entry questions.

• 🏞️Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston recently visited the Bow Valley and took to Instagram to call Banff ‘stupidly gorgeous, endorsing Chateau Lake Louise as a ‘must-stay,’ and shaking his head at Banff’s ‘pure beauty’. We agree!

• 👊Speaking of celebrity sightings in the Bow Valley, UFC legend Georges St-Pierre also made an appearance in Kananaskis for AutoCanada’s Elevation Conference. The event gathered 120 industry professionals for panels, networking, and keynotes focused on the future of automotive collision.

• ⚒Banff’s The North Face unveiled their redesign for the store’s 15th Anniversary. They have brand new furniture, wheelchair accessibility, bigger changing rooms and new signage. 

• 🤔The community is debating the Eklof Park plan from Canmore's Area Redevelopment Plan, with support for affordable housing and concerns from Save This Park about losing green spaces. Meanwhile, mailboxes at Eklof Park have been temporarily relocated to 8 Ave for better winter snow clearing, unrelated to the repurpose plan, according to the Town of Canmore.

MISSING 25-YEAR-OLD HIKER FOUND DECEASED

What’s happening: Zachary Coates, a 25-year-old man from Calgary who had been missing since his solo hike on Mount Smuts in Kananaskis on Sunday, August 11th, was tragically found deceased in the area by helicopter search teams.

The timeline: Zachary’s family posted to Facebook that he was missing and were looking for anyone with information on his whereabouts. The post was updated that a body had been found and a verification process was underway.

After receiving the missing-person report, RCMP alerted Kananaskis Emergency Services who, after locating Zachary’s vehicle, approved a helicopter to begin an aerial search. 

Unfortunately, RCMP confirmed that the missing hiker’s body was found on the west-facing slope of Mount Smuts with fatal injuries consistent with a fall from the mountain. 

Mount Smuts’ deadly history: The mountain is classified as a low 5th class climb.  Sadly, Zachary is not the first hiker to have a fatal fall on Mount Smuts. On Aug 13, 2018, Catlin Hannah fell to his death, and in 2005, Gregg Van Belliveau met the same fate. 

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Sign up to volunteer for Trail Day! Friends of Kananaskis is hosting a trail maintenance day at Prairie Creek to help with general maintenance and drainage repairs, 9am-3pm. Meeting location will be confirmed after sign-up.

• Caregivers and children 3-5 are invited to Storytime: Help kids build a longer attention span and love stories at Preschool Storytime Summer for free between 10:30am and 11am, Canmore Library. It will also be available via Zoom.

• Prove your resourcefulness: The Town of Banff is hosting a Community Scavenger Hunt where you can do fun challenges and learn about community resources before racing to the finish line for the winning prize. Entry is $15 and starts at Banff Town Hall, 1pm-2:30pm. 

• Jasper Evacuee Meet Up: Sheepdog Brewing are hosting a family-friendly Jasper evacuee meet-up between 4pm and 7pm. There’ll be information about the donation center, light snacks provided, and local craft beer for purchase. 

• Art in the Park: Creativity for Self-Care is a $10 workshop led by Registered Social Worker and Art Therapist Kristin Slagorsky. Learn self-expression and overcome creative barriers on August 19th from 6-8pm at Riverside Park, Canmore.

• Are you any good at frisbee golf? Even if you’re not, join this free Frisbee Golf Tournament at Riva Park, Canmore between 6:30pm and 8pm!

Thursday

• Want half-priced bowling? How about half-priced bowling and half-priced pizza? You can get both at Perfect Split on Thursdays, all day and night at High Rollers! 

• Calling Filipinos over 55 in Bow Valley! Filipino Seniors’ Lunch & Social is a gathering event to meet others, learn about the community, play games and a free lunch. 11am-12:30pm at Pavillion, Banff Rec Grounds. Free but registration is required here. 

• Do you like board games and speaking both English and French? Then Bilingual Board Game Night / Soirée Jeux De Société Bilingue is for you! Join them for a free board game night, free snacks and drinks, 5pm-7pm at ACFA Office, 201B-820 8 St, Canmore. Reserve your spot in advance.

• Are you new to Stand Up Paddle Boarding? Try-It Stand Up Paddleboarding is $45 a session with a certified instructor to learn the basics on the water, 6pm-8pm. 

• Practice your poker face: Join Drop-In Poker at the Canmore Legion from 7pm.

• Want the chance to win $1000? Attend weekly bingo night at The Banff Legion, 7pm-10pm with cash prizes available plus the potential prize of $1000. 

• Love to skate? The Banff Weekly Skate Meetup is 7pm-9pm at Banff Skate Park and welcomes beginners, benchwarmers and hype crews! 

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 💡Is there an entrepreneur or business that you believe deserves recognition? You have from now until September 15th to nominate them for the Bow Valley Business Excellence Awards. Maybe you want to nominate Bow Valley Insider (smirk)!

• 👩‍🦽Canmore Pride is calling for Panel Members who identify as living with a disability and 2SLGBTQIA+ to share their experiences with the public at the Canmore Pride Festival. 

• 🎨The Canmore Sculpture project features multiple artists over 10 weeks, each adding their unique style to steel petals and leaves for a sculpture of a local Indigenous wildflower. Watch the art unfold every Saturday on Canmore's Main Street.

• 🍳Have you tried Canmore’s newest restaurant, Bro’kin Yolk? It’s a Filipino-inspired, brunch place owned by two brothers. Plus, they’re offering a 15% discount to locals. 

• 🍽️Happy Hour Alert! Three Bears Banff offers $6.75 Pints and Food Specials from 3 pm to 5 pm every day.

• 🎬The annual Bow Valley Film Tour has already sold out two nights in Canmore! The film tour includes 10 films about mountain life, culture, and outdoor themes. Tickets are available here for Cochrane on August 31st and Banff on September 7th. 

• ▶️Would you love the opportunity to submit a play and direct a production for Pine Tree Players in the 2025 season? They are looking for budding directors and new ideas from you! Tomorrow is the deadline to submit your application!

• 🎭Or would you prefer to be on stage? Pine Tree Players are holding auditions for their production of Seminar by Theresa Rebeck and directed by Lauren Hawkeye. You must deliver a 2-minute monologue of your choosing and may be asked to read from Seminar.

• ✏️Crossway Community Thrift Store's Back to School program offers Bow Valley families in need access to school supplies. To qualify, families must have a current 'Banff Access' or 'Canmore Affordability' card. Applications are due by August 15th.

CIVIC NEWS

• Banff’s Municipal Planning Commission meets today at 9am in-person at Town Hall and via Zoom. The agenda includes a proposed AC unit at 132B Kootenay Avenue. Watch live or catch the recording later.

• The Town of Canmore’s next Regular Council Meeting is at 9am on Tuesday, August 20th. The meeting’s agenda will be posted to their Facebook page tomorrow. Note: Agenda packages are always posted on the Thursday before the meeting.

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, August 14th, 6pm-9pm: Live Music with Steph O’dette. Location: Farm & Fire, Banff. No cover.

• Wednesday, August 14th, 10pm: The Blue Mules. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No cover. 

• Wednesday, August 14th, 10pm: Vibe with local legend DJ Bunny Hops. Location: High Rollers, Banff with $10 small beers and $15 big beers. No cover.

• Thursday, August 15th, 9pm-12am: Jam Night. Location: Tavern 1883, Canmore. No cover. 

• Thursday, August 15th, 10pm: Garrett Barbuto and The Hot Pursuit. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No cover 

• Thursday, August 15th, 10pm: Bass-Ment Night with DJ BUSX and DJ Mike Webb. Location: High Rollers. $10 fishbowls, $6.50 select pints, and $3 shafts. No cover 

SPORTS

• It’s been a big year for hockey in Canmore after local Noah Philip signed with Edmonton Oilers, his brother Luke Philip signed with Washington Capitals as well as the announcement that Canmore is hosting the Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada in January 2025! And now, Canmore Minor Hockey Association has won Minor Hockey Association of the Year at the Hockey Albert 2024 Awards in Red Deer and was recognized for providing a fun and positive environment for children.

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Friday, same time, same place!