💓A Chairlift Love Story

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Well, it looks like we’ve made it—the Christmas and New Year rush in the Bow Valley has officially wrapped. Kids are back in school, parents are rediscovering what silence sounds like, and maybe—just maybe—the chairlift lines will finally shrink. Let’s not jinx it, though.

In today’s Bow Valley Insider:

• Parks Canada opens up camping reservations  

• Pursuit finalizes its acquisition of the Jasper SkyTram

• Exshaw spends $1.8M to make sure poop flows smoothly

• A cute love story on the Sunshine chairlift

• Plus, comedy night, learn to paint classes, bread-making classes, & more!

Let’s get to it!

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

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YOUR GUIDE TO 2025 NATIONAL PARK BOOKINGS

What's Happening? Parks Canada has unveiled the 2025 camping reservation schedule, with Alberta’s most sought-after spots opening for bookings throughout January. From Banff to Yoho, it’s time to mark your calendars and dust off those camping plans.

Save the Dates

• Banff National Park: Front-country reservations start Jan. 24, with backcountry sites opening Jan. 27.

• Yoho National Park: Book front-country camping from Jan. 21, backcountry from Jan. 27. Lake O’Hara camping starts Jan. 23, with the coveted day-use shuttle lottery running Mar. 3–24.

• Kootenay National Park: Reservations for front-country sites open Jan. 21, and backcountry camping on Jan. 27.

• Other Parks: Jasper (Jan. 28), Elk Island and Waterton (Jan. 22), and BC parks like Glacier (Jan. 17).

Pro Tip. Spots go fast—think concert tickets but for nature. If Lake O’Hara is on your list, prepare for the random draw system, as only 3,000 day-use visitors are allowed per season to protect this pristine alpine environment.

THE DIGEST

• 🚡On January 2nd, Pursuit finalized its acquisition of the Jasper SkyTram for $23.7M, further expanding its presence in Banff and Jasper. Meanwhile, the Competition Bureau is reviewing the company’s market practices after concerns from other operators about its bundling discounts.

• ⛷️Bow Valley skiers hit the slopes and raised $41K for Jasper’s wildfire recovery fund during SkiBig3 Community Ski Days. Hosted by Sunshine, Norquay, and Lake Louise, the event sent 100% of proceeds to support those impacted by the 2024 fires—deep turns, deeper community impact.

• 🏨Banff’s High Country Inn is rebranding as The Kenrick Hotel, reopening this spring after a top-to-bottom transformation. Think luxury rain showers, customizable pillows, and the Insta-worthy Nora Pool with poolside snacks. They’re keeping the iconic grizzly art, blending old charm with a modern edge. Fat Ox restaurant? Still open!

• 💞A Sunshine chairlift ride turned into a rom-com script as Redditor bseibz launched a quest to reconnect with “Ebony from Perth” and “Victoria from Britain.” He’s not picky—he’s looking for “one or both” (😂).  The internet worked its magic—a friend and a roommate chimed in, reuniting the trio.

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH EXSHAW’S LAGOON?

What's Happening? The MD of Bighorn is flushing out $1.8 million from municipal reserves to plug a shortfall for long-overdue upgrades to the Exshaw lagoon. With aging infrastructure and rising costs, officials are calling this a “reluctantly happy” move to support future growth.

What Is the Exshaw Lagoon? Think of it as the unsung hero of wastewater. This system processes what residents, ahem, flush down the pipes, keeping the environment clean and the community running smoothly. Now, it’s getting a facelift—new treatment cells, a flow meter, and raised berms to improve efficiency.

Why It’s Expensive? The price tag ballooned from $3.77M to $5.25M, thanks to outdated estimates and skyrocketing construction costs. A pending grant could help cover some of the gap, but the bulk is coming from reserves.

Growth on the Horizon. With developments like the Exshaw Mountain Gateway project in the works, the lagoon needs to keep up. Officials are balancing upgrades with avoiding “considerable shock” for residents footing the bill.

THINGS TO DO

Monday

• Floor and Core. An in-person postnatal exercise class to strengthen the pelvic floor and abdominal core safely. Offered by Inspire Physiotherapy. 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM. 101 – 75 Dyrgas Gate, Canmore. $20 per class. 

• The Art of Letting Go. In this class, you will discover practical techniques to let go of negative minds and break free from self-limiting thoughts. 7:30 PM - 8:45 PM. St Michael’s Anglican Church, Canmore. $15. 

• Comedy Night. Doors open at 7:00 PM. The show begins at 8:00 PM. The Lodge at Banff Ave Brewing. 

• Winter Yoga. Join CYAN every Monday for drop-in yoga classes to stretch, breathe, and connect. All are welcome! 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM. The Yoga Lounge, Canmore. By Donation. 

Tuesday

• Learn to Paint. Starting Tuesday, Mindy Johnstone is offering a four-week Beginner Acrylics course through the Town of Banff. Learn to mix colours, refine brush strokes and create a painting from start to finish. 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM. Fenlands. $130+GST. 

• Basecamp is Back. Come for Catan, coffee, treats, and tea. No registration is necessary. Just show up! 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM. Wild Flour Bakery, Banff. Free. 

• Movie Night. Deadpool & Wolverine. 7:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $12 / youth $6.

• Improve Night. Doors open at 8:00 PM. If you head down, let us know how it went! 9:00 PM. The Lodge at Banff Ave Brewing. 

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🏊Pool Re-Opened. As of January 4, 2025, the Sally Borden Fitness Centre, Aquatic Centre, and Climbing Gym are open for regular hours. 

• 🍞Bread Making Class. Why not start 2025  with a bread-making class? Expect simple, easy-to-follow recipes, and hands-on learning in a fun and friendly environment. Limited spots available—reserve yours today by sending an email to [email protected]! 

• 📅Free Park Days. Alberta Parks has released its calendar for free days to visit Kananaskis Country in 2025. 

• 🧀Fondue Fun. This Saturday, January 11, is fondue night at the Exshaw Legion. $20 per person. Call Kim at 403-673-2792 to reserve a spot.

• 🎙Concert Tickets.  Win 2 Tickets To The Chad Brownlee Concert taking place on January 15 at the Canmore Golf & Curling Club to kickoff Hockey Day in Canada. 

• 🔒Food & Friends. Banff Food & Friends is taking a break tonight. They’ll be back next Monday, January 13 at 5:00 PM. 

• 👩🏻‍🍳Chefs and Hobby Cooks. Are you a talented cook or a passionate hobby chef ready to share your skills and cultural heritage through food? The Co+Kitchen’s Co+Create events program seeks individuals like you to bring their culinary creations to life.

• 🎿Ski Demo Days. Head out to Lake Louise on Sunday, January 26th, to test ride a variety of ski and snowboard equipment, which is free! Find the Blizzard skis and Nordica skis tents in the base area, and their team will set you up. A limited number of demos are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

• 🎉Happy Birthday to the King. Dress like Elvis on January 8th and ride for $88+GST at Sunshine Village! 

CIVIC NEWS

• Given the Town of Banff’s heavy dependence on tourism and parking revenue, officials are considering an economic resiliency fund to support the town during emergencies like wildfires, pandemics, or other disasters. A portion of the projected $7.5 million in 2025 parking revenue would be allocated to this fund.

• Canmore Town Council kicks off 2025 with its first regular meeting on Tuesday at 9:00 AM. On the agenda: a recommendation to increase funding for off-site levy bylaw litigation, a report urging the creation of a regional Destination Stewardship Council, and a presentation on a Purpose-Built Rental Incentive Policy.

LIVE MUSIC

• Monday, January 6th, 2025,  10:00 PM: Brent Lee. Location: Rose and Crown Banff. No Cover. 

• Tuesday, January 7th, 2025,  10:00 PM: Banff Punk Night Vol 2 Bring the Storm, The Turnarounds, The Petty Larceneers, Jrats. Location: Pump and Tab, Banff. No Cover. 

• Tuesday, January 7th, 2025,  10:00 PM:The Hi-Tops. Location: Rose and Crown Banff. No Cover.

SPORTS

• Hockey. Canmore Eagles lost their Saturday game in OT. They are back on the road this weekend. 

• More Hockey. Canmore’s Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada Ball Hockey Tournament is breaking barriers with a locally-crafted equity framework to diversify teams. Players of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities are encouraged to team up—think multigenerational families, mixed genders, and cultural variety. Bonus: Catch a free showcase game on Jan. 14 with Sportsnet’s Evanka Osmak at the Canmore Rec Centre!

That’s all, folks!

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