🐻 When Bears Get Too Close

Good morning, Bow Valley!

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— Fortune Whelan, Ben S., Madalyn Beach

HOW ALBERTA AND PARKS CANADA HANDLE BEAR CONFLICTS DIFFERENTLY

What’s Happening Bears are waking up, and so is the annual balancing act between keeping people safe and keeping bears alive. How that plays out depends on whether you’re in a national park or on provincial land.

Two Systems, Same Goal. Both Parks Canada and Alberta Forestry and Parks are trying to reduce human-caused bear deaths. The difference is where and how they operate. Parks Canada manages within protected ecosystems and prioritizes coexistence. The province covers everything from backcountry to farmland and highways, where risk tolerance is lower and responses can escalate faster.

Inside National Parks. Lethal action is rare and typically tied to injury or clear safety risk.
“Both bears were determined to have suffered from unsurvivable injuries,” said Justin Brisbane of the Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay Field Unit, referring to two black bears euthanized in Banff in 2025 after vehicle and train strikes.

Most incidents are handled with prevention first. That includes closing trails, relocating bears, removing attractants, and using deterrents like air horns or cracker shells. Even aggressive encounters such as bluff charges do not automatically lead to euthanasia, which helps explain why management-related deaths remain relatively low in Banff National Park year to year.

Outside the Park Gates. Alberta runs a more structured system led by conservation officers, with backup from a pool of pre-approved local responders called the Wildlife Management Responder Network. Think of it as an on-call network. When a high-risk situation is identified, trained civilians can be contacted to assist officers with rapid response, including tracking or, in some cases, euthanizing a bear involved in a conflict under strict direction.

“Alberta's government continues to focus on public education, monitoring grizzly populations and movements, improving infrastructure to reduce conflicts, and responding quickly when safety is at risk,” said Riley Gough, press secretary for the Ministry of Forestry and Parks.

In practice, outcomes vary by location. Core mountain habitats tend to allow more tolerance, while areas with higher human activity, such as agricultural land or transportation corridors, see quicker escalation.

The Numbers Behind It. Parks Canada reports relatively few bears killed through management actions. Provincially, grizzly mortality remains low overall, but black bear deaths are much higher.

See the exact bear mortality numbers in our full story. 

LIVING IN THE BOW VALLEY? HERE’S WHY YOUR DRY EYES WON’T GO AWAY

If your eyes feel dry, irritated, or constantly tired right now, it’s not just in your head.

Even if it still looks like winter outside, spring allergies are right around the corner… and they tend to make dry eyes worse.

Allergies can inflame your eyes and disrupt your natural tear balance. And the medications people take to deal with them can make things worse. Antihistamines are designed to dry up mucus, but that same effect can reduce tear production too.

So while your allergies improve, your eyes can end up feeling even drier.

Which leads to the usual cycle: eye drops, temporary relief, then right back to irritation.

The issue often isn’t just a lack of moisture. It’s that the system responsible for producing and maintaining healthy tears isn’t working properly.

That’s where dry eye care at Canmore Family Eyecare takes a different approach. They start with detailed screenings to assess tear quality, inflammation, and gland function.

Treatment uses gentle light or heat-based therapies to restore how the system works, not just temporarily soothe symptoms. The goal is long-term improvement, not another short-lived fix.

To get started, fill out this quick form. As a Bow Valley Insider reader, you’ll receive 10% off your dry eye consultation and treatment.

Dr. Jo will be in touch to book your appointment and walk you through next steps.

_{*Presented by Canmore Family Eyecare.}

THE DIGEST

• 🚌 Calgary-to-Banff Weekend Transit Option Pulled for Summer. If you were counting on the On-It bus to get between Calgary, Canmore, and Banff this summer, you’ll need a new plan. The seasonal service has been cancelled after the Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission failed to secure a new operator. The route had been running since 2017, mainly on weekends, and was funded to reduce traffic into the park. Officials say they’re not actively seeking a replacement right now. In the meantime, they’re pointing riders toward other private operators.

• ⛷️ College Ski Championships Turn Into Heat Survival Test. Not Bow Valley specific, but very relatable. A new deep dive from Nordic Insights shows just how fragile winter sport conditions are becoming. At the 2026 NCAA Championships in Utah, athletes raced in near 15°C heat on mostly manmade snow, with one skier collapsing from heat exhaustion. The event had to be relocated last-minute due to lack of snow in Montana, while Utah’s snowpack hit near-record lows. Organizers relied heavily on snowmaking, but even that’s getting harder with warming temps. 

• 💼 Parks Canada Workers Push for Better Benefits. Contract talks between Parks Canada staff and the federal government are back underway, with the union pushing for “parity” with other public service jobs. That includes stronger housing support, travel allowances, and expanded benefits, issues that hit especially close to home in high-cost places like Banff. Training programs and job security are also on the table, with the union looking to make a temporary workplace training program permanent. No deal yet, but both sides are set to resume negotiations at the end of May.

• ⭕ Olympic Rings Installed at Canmore Nordic Centre. A new set of Olympic rings has quietly landed at the Canmore Nordic Centre, marking its role as a key venue during the 1988 Winter Games (see pictures here). The installation comes 38 years later, after a local push to formally recognize the site’s Olympic history. The centre has since hosted 25 World Cups and continues to produce elite athletes, including several who competed at Milano Cortina 2026. 

Traditional Media Called. It Wants Its Budget Back.

We get it. You’ve “always done” print.

But your customers are in their inbox, not your neighbor’s recycling.

We deliver clicks and sales, not column inches.

➡️ Stop funding nostalgia. Start driving results.

WILDLIFE SAFETY TRAINING EXPANDING ACROSS BOW VALLEY TOURISM SECTOR

What’s Happening? Sticking with the bear news from our other top story, not all solutions happen in the field. Some start with education. The Bow Valley-based Biosphere Institute’s WildSmart program, which reaches over 13,000 people annually, is now expanding through a new fee-for-service training model aimed at tourism operators.

From Outreach to Operations. WildSmart has long focused on prevention: wildlife ambassadors, door-to-door outreach, and workshops teaching attractant management, trail safety, and bear spray use. The idea is simple but critical in a wildlife corridor like the Bow Valley. Fewer mistakes from people means fewer dangerous encounters.

Now, the program is scaling. Through a social enterprise model, it’s adding paid training while still operating under its nonprofit mission.

Training the Frontlines The new “Living Wild” program targets staff working directly with visitors, including hotels, guides, and outdoor operators. Training covers wildlife behaviour, prevention strategies, and hands-on bear spray practice, with certification at the end.

The program aims to train 500 staff, deliver 25 sessions and establish 25 business partnerships.

Visitors Are Next. A second program, “Bear Necessities,” is in development. It’s designed as an interactive experience to help visitors understand how to safely coexist with wildlife before issues arise. Bookings are expected to open in May.

The Bigger Play. The long-term goal is financial sustainability, but for now, WildSmart still relies on grants and donations, including $25,000 annually from the province.

Where our other top story focused on how conflicts are handled, this is about reducing how often they happen at all.

Read our full story for a closer look at the new training programs.

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Wednesday Fat Bike Ride. A solid midweek ride for those who want to earn their pint. This intermediate-to-advanced group heads out from Canmore Brewing, hits local trails, and loops back by 8 PM for a beer and some post-ride hangs. 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Canmore Brewing Company. Free to ride.*

Thursday

• Future Leaders Youth Council. A low-key way for Grades 5 to 8 to meet new friends and get into local environmental ideas. Expect a mix of hands-on activities, crafts, and conversations that look at the Bow Valley through different perspectives. Hosted by the Biosphere Institute and runs every second and last Thursday of the month. 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM. Banff Library. Free.*

• Dodgeball Classic Returns. A chaotic night of dodging, diving, and questionable aim as teams of 6 to 10 players face off for prizes. Open to ages 18 to 34, but spectating might be just as entertaining if you’d rather stay out of the line of fire. 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM. Fenlands, Banff. Free to watch.

• Learn to Sew. Bring a piece of clothing that needs some love and learn how to repair it at Brew & Improved, a beginner-friendly mending workshop. Volunteers will teach simple stitching techniques so you can make creative repairs and keep your favourite clothes in circulation. All supplies are provided. 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Canmore Brewing Company. Free to attend.*

• Aysanabee & AHI Live in Canmore. An intimate night of music and storytelling with JUNO-winning Oji-Cree artist Aysanabee and folk favourite AHI. Expect powerful vocals, thoughtful lyrics, and the kind of back-and-forth that makes these “in the round” shows feel special. 7:30 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $20-$40.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🎭 The Importance of Being Earnest Hits Canmore This Month. A sharp, fast-paced comedy playing at the Canmore Miners’ Union Hall. Local theatre company Pine Tree Players brings Oscar Wilde’s classic to life with witty dialogue, chaotic double lives, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments as two bachelors juggle love, lies, and social expectations. It’s the kind of show that’s easy to follow and fun from start to finish. Pay-what-you-can preview April 15, with evening shows at 7:30 PM running through April 25. Tickets here.*

• 🍽️ Family-Style Dinner at The Fat Ox in Banff. Joe’s Cucina (Italian for “kitchen”) returns for a family-style Italian dinner celebrating handcrafted pasta and bold, comforting flavours. This edition features a collaboration with Canmore Pasta Co., with dishes like cacio e pepe, ravioli, and lobster-filled fazzoletti. The dinner takes place on Thursday, April 30 at 6 PM. Tickets are $92 per person, with optional wine pairings. Reservations required and sell out quickly.*

• 🎶 Bow Valley Chorus Performs “Make a Joyful Noise.” A feel-good night of live choral music with the Bow Valley Chorus, bringing high-energy vocals and classic harmonies to the stage. Expect a lively crowd, strong voices, and an easy night out whether you’re a choir fan or just along for something different. Two performances: Saturday, May 16, 8:00 PM at Banff Springs Hotel and Sunday, May 17, 8:00 PM at St. Stephen’s Church, Calgary. Tickets here.*

• 📣 Summer Job Fair returns to Canmore. Looking for summer work or a career change? The Job Resource Centre is hosting its Summer Job Fair in Canmore on April 17, bringing together dozens of local employers including Parks Canada, Basecamp Resorts, Banff Hospitality Collective, and Rocky Mountain Soap Company. Job seekers can connect directly with hiring teams and local service organizations offering support with employment and settlement.

• 🦜 Lost Cockatiel Spotted in Banff. The Town of Banff says a cockatiel has been spotted behind the 600 block of Cougar Street apartments. Since cockatiels aren’t native to the Bow Valley, the bird is likely someone’s missing pet. If you or someone you know is missing a cockatiel, keep an eye out in the area and help reunite the little escape artist with its owner.

CIVIC NEWS

• Banff B&B Appeal Denied. A Banff resident’s bid to convert a newly built basement suite into a commercial bed-and-breakfast has been rejected by the Town of Banff Development Appeal Board. The board upheld a ruling that the change would reduce long-term housing supply under the town’s updated land-use bylaw, which aims to protect residential units amid ongoing housing shortages.

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, April 8th, 2026, 9:00 PM: Brandon (De). Location: Melissa’s MisSteak, Banff. $21.69.

• Thursday, April 9th 2026, 7:00 PM: Mister Bird. Location: The Mount Engadine Lodge, Kananaskis. No Cover.

SPORTS

• Local Biathlete Wins First Senior National Title. Canmore’s Ema Chlepkova claimed her first senior national title at the Canadian Biathlon Championships, winning the 12.5 km individual race on home snow. Racing through slow, heavy conditions, she leaned on consistent shooting and steady pacing to separate from the field. The result comes after a tough stretch on the international circuit and could improve her chances at federal funding and a first World Cup start. For Chlepkova, it’s a strong finish to the season and a sign of what could be next.

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Friday, 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.