💦Water Crisis Hits Banff

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Quick shoutout to Wild Flour Bakery in Banff—because fresh sourdough and a cozy café just hit different on a cold morning. If you haven’t tried their $6 Community Chili Night yet, you’re missing out.

In today’s Bow Valley Insider:

• Bow Valley’s biggest music festival returns

• Banff records its second driest January in 136 years

• Toronto Maple Leafs stars spotted in the Rockies

• A rare planetary parade is lighting up Alberta’s night sky

Let’s get to it!

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

Want to advertise to Bow Valley locals? Learn more.

BOW VALLEY’S BIGGEST MUSIC FESTIVAL RETURNS

What’s Happening? The 15th annual Bow Valley Music Festival returns to Canmore from March 20-23, bringing together musicians from the Bow Valley, Îyârhe Nakoda, Cochrane, and Bragg Creek. Online registration is open until Feb. 14, and organizers are also seeking volunteers.

A Stage for All Musicians. The festival welcomes beginner to advanced musicians, offering opportunities for students in private lessons, school bands, and choral programs to perform and learn.

Showcase & Provincials. The non-competitive showcase concert takes place at artsPlace on March 23, while select students will advance to the Edmonton Provincials from May 26-29. Last year, several Bow Valley musicians placed in top categories.

Calling All Volunteers. The festival relies on volunteers to help things run smoothly. Those interested can email [email protected].

Sign Up Before It’s Too Late. Musicians have until Feb. 14 to register for this year’s festival!

READY TO ENJOY THE MOUNTAINS WORRY-FREE?

Before you head off on that next alpine adventure (or crack open a local craft brew to celebrate retirement), make sure the future you’ve worked for is totally secure. 

Our friends at Stringam know that planning your will or estate shouldn’t feel like navigating a maze in a blizzard. 

They’re lawyers who’ll help you cover every detail—so you can keep exploring those Bow Valley trails with total peace of mind. 

From drafting wills to setting up trusts, they’ll take the guesswork out of “what happens next?” 

Trust us, you’ll breathe a whole lot easier knowing your loved ones (and your nest egg) are in good hands. 

Ready to check one more thing off life’s to-do list and enjoy these Rockies stress-free?

Reach out to Stringam.

_{*Presented by Stringam Law}

THE DIGEST

• 🚱Water Main Fixed on Deer Street. After two days without water, 35 Banff homes saw service restored as of 5 PM yesterday. Crews battled frigid temps to fix the break on Deer Street. The town provided bottled water and free showers at Fenlands Rec Centre. 

• 🚨Teen Skier Crashes at Lake Louise. A teenage skier was flown to Calgary in serious condition after an "uncontrolled landing" in the Lake Louise terrain park on Jan. 26. Ski patrol responded first before STARS air ambulance transported him. 

• 🎚Banff Logs Second Driest January in 136 Years. With only 2.3 mm of precipitation, Banff just recorded its second driest January since 1889. Snowpack levels across the Rockies are also below normal, continuing last year’s dry trend. 

• ⚠️No Precip = Rough Trails. Cross-country skiers in Banff are facing tough conditions, with many trails either ungroomed or in poor shape due to thin snow cover. Affected trails include Tunnel Mountain, Spray River East, and Sundance. Some sections remain skiable, but unless you're into rock dodging, best to wait and avoid.

• 💫Skiing Sucks, But The Stargazing Is Awesome. Alberta stargazers can catch a rare planetary parade this month, with all visible planets lining up in the night sky. The best views are in the evening, with Jupiter, Mars, and Venus shining brightest. Mercury joins the show in mid-February—here’s when to look up. 

BRINGING STONEY NAKODA STORIES TO THE SCREEN

What’s Happening? Stories We Have Earned explores Stoney Nakoda’s deep but often overlooked history in film and entertainment. Directed by Stoney Nakoda filmmaker Cody Lefthand and produced by Calgary’s Gary Burns, the documentary shares firsthand stories from Elders in the Stoney language.

A Star-Studded Yet Complex Legacy. The Stoney Nakoda have been involved in film since the silent era, appearing in productions featuring Marilyn Monroe and Dustin Hoffman. While these experiences created opportunities, the film also highlights the exploitation Indigenous performers faced.

Beyond Entertainment. Events like Banff Indian Days and the Calgary Stampede allowed Stoney Nakoda families to reunite but often forced them to perform for tourists rather than share their culture authentically. Today, that’s changing—Elbow River Camp now focuses on education, not spectacle.

Where to Watch? Following festival screenings, Stories We Have Earned hits Calgary’s Globe Theatre from Feb. 27–March 2, with more screenings in the works.

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Public Engagement Sessions. The Alberta government is hosting public engagement sessions in Canmore and Banff about the future of the healthcare system. 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM at the Banff Park Lodge and 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM at the Canmore Miners’ Hall. Free to attend. Registration required.

• Chili Night. Every Wednesday is Community Chili Night. Enjoy your chili served with sourdough, cheese, and sour cream. 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Wild Flour, Banff. $6 per bowl. 

• Movie Night. An unapologetic and fiercely loyal mother kidnaps her son from the foster care system in the movie A Thousand and One. 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Canmore Library. Free. 

• Monthly Snowpack Discussion. Kevin Hjertaas is back and stoked to talk about snow. Share your observations of the start of the season and learn more about the skiing and avalanche conditions. Online or in-person. Canmore Brewing Company. 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Free to Attend.

• Trivia with Awale. Grab a friend and show off your trivia knowledge. Prizes after every round. 8:30 PM - 11:00 PM. Tavern 1883, Canmore. $2 per person.

Thursday

• Sutta Contemplation. Join the Canmore Theravada Buddhist Community each week to contemplate a sutta (a discourse of Buddha) using prompting questions in an interactive format to cultivate inspiration. 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM. Online. Free or By Donation.

• Poker Night. Come play Thursday night poker at the Canmore Legion with a fun group of regulars. Enjoy great eats from Avi's Kitchen and refreshing beverages. New players are welcome. 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Canmore Legion.

• Toastmaster’s Meeting. Join the Mountain Mumblers for the opportunity to refine your public speaking and leaders

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• ⛷Fun or Competitive Cross Country Ski Race. New this year—Team of 2! Grab a friend and tag team the 13KM course at the Lake Louise Loppet. Share the challenge, double the fun, and cross the finish line together! Sign up now. More details or sign up.

• 🤜🤛A New Way to Meet New People. Join CYAN for a fun and relaxed evening of speedfriending! Whether you're looking to expand your circle, make new friends, or just enjoy a lively evening of good company, this event is for you. Tickets on sale now.

• 🐕Hawk Avenue Dog Park Closed. The dog park on Hawk Avenue has been closed due to the glass debris and the lack of snow. Debris will be removed, but the park will remain closed. The dog park in Sundance Park is open. 

• 🥂Happy Hour Prices All Month! The lounge at the Canmore Legion has expanded their hours with a new opening of 11 AM to 10 PM close, six days a week from Tuesday to Sunday. To celebrate, the Legion will be offering Happy Hour prices for all patrons for the entire month of February!

• 🧘🏻‍♀️PHIIT Teacher Training. Canmore Hot Yoga is offering a transformative 20-hour training designed to empower with the skills and knowledge to teach PHIIT classes with confidence and purpose.

• 📩Early Bird Registration Open. The 21st annual Canmore Hospital Foundation Charity Golf Tournament is officially open for registration. Register early for only $950 per team or $250 per player. 

• 🔌Home Energy Evaluation Kit in Action. Watch this video to see how using an infrared camera can identify and fix heat-loss trouble areas behind electrical outlets. 

• 🎸Folk Fest Warm Up. Shake off the frost at The Warm Up, Canmore’s mid-winter, multi-genre music festival brought to you by the Canmore Folk Music Festival in partnership with the Town of Canmore and Howl. 

• 🚶‍♀️Walking Fundraiser. The Homeless Society of the Bow Valley is excited to announce the third annual Coldest Night of the Year family-friendly walk, taking place on February 22, 2025. This event is not just a walk; it's a heartfelt journey to raise funds for individuals facing hurt, hunger, and housing insecurity in our community. 

• 🎨Show Off Your Wearable Art. If you missed out on heARTburn tickets this year, come and participate in this year’s after-party. Want to strut your stuff? Apply here.

CHARITY SPOTLIGHT: YWCA BANFF

For more than a century, YWCA Banff has been the leading resource for women and their families fleeing domestic violence and for providing safe, affordable housing for Bow Valley community members. The organization thrives thanks to the generosity of its community friends and partners. Learn how to get involved.

CIVIC NEWS

• Banff Town Council directed the development of a dog park on Marmot Crescent following an environmental review with Parks Canada. Take the online survey here or drop by for an information setting on February 11th from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM. 

• The Town of Canmore recently completed construction of the public works or structures listed here. Section 534 of the Municipal Government Act provides that an owner of land that abuts land on which a public work or structure is situated may be entitled to compensation from a municipality for “injurious affection” to the owner’s land. See if you are eligible for compensation. 

• A new regional emergency management coordinator position, split between Banff and Canmore, is nearing final approval. Canmore council will vote on its share ($60K) on Feb. 11. The role aims to improve wildfire and disaster response, with both towns working together on evacuation planning and fire mitigation efforts.

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, February 5th, 2025, 10:00 PM: Puttin' on the Foil Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover. 

• Thursday, February 6th, 2025, 7:30 PM: A Night of Fingerstyle Guitar. Location: artsPlace, Canmore. Regular $30 / members $25.50 / youth $15

• Thursday, February 6th, 10:00 PM: Puttin' on the Foil. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover. 

SPORTS

• Hockey. Toronto Maple Leafs’ William Nylander and Max Domi swapped the ice for some R&R in the Rockies, spotted unwinding at an Alberta Nordic spa. The steam room must have helped their game, as the Leafs won 6-3 over the Flames last night in Calgary.  

• More Hockey. The Canmore Eagles are back at Fenlands Arena on Feb. 11 for their second Banff game of the season. Their last visit packed in 800+ fans. We wonder whether or not we could get that number to 1000 if the Canmore Eagles let Bow Valley Insider be their official Media Partner—guess we’ll never know😉).

That’s all, folks!

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