🥦 New Supermarket + Canmore Rec Makeover!

Stricter Parking, Disc Golf League, More Buses

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Bow Valley Insider
June 18, 2024

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Tomorrow is the summer solstice, aka the longest day of the year. 

In terms of daylight, it will be 8 hours and 40 minutes longer than the winter solstice. 

If you have any unique plans that take advantage of the extra hours, hit reply and let me know. I might share them in Friday’s newsletters. 

In today’s Bow Valley Insider:

  • Canmore Recreation Centre continues to get a makeover

  • A new 22,000-square-foot supermarket is coming to the Bow Valley

  • Parking rules tighten in a popular spot for both visitors and locals

Let’s get to it!

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

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THE GROUNDWORK IS LAID, CANMORE REC CENTRE IS GETTING MORE UPGRADES!

What’s Happening: The Canmore Recreation Centre is getting some upgrades, and it’s all under budget.  Currently, this is Canmore’s largest facility, used by 500,000 people per year. The hub is home to the Canmore Eagles and hosts tournaments, events, and meetings. 

The Numbers: In 2017, the rec centre was granted $12.9 million for upgrades, but today it still has $129,000 left over.

The Redevelopment:  Canmore City Council approved the scope for the remaining funds, which include “core lifecycle maintenance and component replacement.” 

These initiatives include:

  • Urgent repairs and upgrading network capacity to increase energy efficiencies

  • New seating at the Alex Kaleta arena

  • A ventilation system for cooking in the concession space

  • Solar panels on the roof of the building

  • Construction of new modern change rooms for the main spectator rink 

  • A new multi-purpose room overlooking the two arenas

Positive Impact: Public feedback has been great, with added recreation capabilities and revitalized spaces.

THE DIGEST

  • 🥦 IGA is coming to Canmore! The Gateway at Three Sisters will welcome a new 22,000-square-foot supermarket. Expected to open in Summer 2026, pending permit approvals.

  • 🚌 With ongoing capacity issues for public transportation via the Roam routes, the Bow Valley Regional Transportation Commission has approved the purchase of two mini-buses for summer 2024. To give you an idea of how busy the Roam fleet is, on the first day of registration for Route 8X (Banff to Lake Louise), 12,000 reservations were made!

QUARRY LAKE PARKING RULES TIGHTENED

What's Happening: Canmore Council has closed a loophole in Quarry Lake parking fines to ensure compliance with the $10/hour rate.

Details: Previously, paying a $45 fine within seven days was cheaper than paying for six hours of parking. Now, a single fine rate of $90 is in place to prevent this.

Enforcement Push: The Rocky Mountain Heritage Foundation requested stricter enforcement to manage parking more effectively. 

New Overnight Rule: As well, a $100 fine now targets those sleeping in vehicles between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., promoting the Safe Park program.

Safe Park Program: This program offers designated areas for overnight parking at $300 for the season or $100 per month, ensuring safety and amenities for car campers or individuals who reside in their vehicles.

Revenue Insights From Fines: During peak season, non-residents contributed $246,870, while residents paid $20,510. Half of Quarry Lake’s net revenue supports the Rocky Mountain Heritage Foundation.

Community Feedback: The adjustments aim to improve compliance and address illegal camping, ensuring a better-managed and safer community space. 

 Want to visit Quarry Lake without parking? With Roam’s new Grassi Lake route, you can use public transport to reach the Quarry this summer instead of driving.

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

  • On Wednesdays, we eat cheap wings: from 4 pm to 10 pm at The Drake, Canmore. Get 1 pound of wings for just $7.50 every Wednesday.

  • Free yourself, express yourself, and enjoy yourself at Ecstatic Dance, 7.30 pm-9.30 pm at The Yoga Lounge, Canmore. Take two hours out of your day to dance in silence and without technology as a form of meditation, harmony, and being yourself in a safe, nonjudgmental place. 

Thursday (Summer Solstice!)

  • Join a free workshop to learn about Wills, Directives & Power of Attorney: 2pm-4pm, Banff Library. It is better to be prepared for the worst so educate yourself for the inevitable future by joining this free session.

  • Watch some mountain biking short movies: 7 pm-9 pm, Canmore Brewing Company. This free movie night showcases biking short films from the action sports filmmaking powerhouse Anthill Films, and the pub will sell happy hour drinks for the duration.  

  • Practice yoga and meditation on the longest day of the year: 7 pm-8.45 pm, Riverside Park, Canmore. By donation, take a guided yoga class and meditation session followed by connecting with others and light refreshments. 

  • Banff is bringing Disco back: 10 pm-2 am,  Melissa’s Missteak. For $10, attend DISCOTHEQUE with some of the town’s best DJs for a night of grooving and moving.

  • Love to skateboard? Want to learn to skate? Or just fancy meeting new people and hanging out in town? Unltd Board Shop hosts a Skate Meet-Up at the Banff Skate Park every Thursday from 7-9 pm. 

Friday

  • Attend the pow wow at the Stoney Nakoda Recreation Centre: 10:30 am, Elevation Place. There is a free shuttle from Canmore and back to honor the Iyarhe (Stoney) Nakoda Traditional Pow Wow in Mini Thni.

  • Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day at Banff Central Park: 12pm-6pm. The Town of Banff will host performances, food tastings, cultural conversations and more, with the collaboration of the Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity and the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies. 

  • Learn about the importance of active living for Physical Literacy Play Day: 1 pm-3 pm, Elevation Place Outdoor Plaza, Canmore. This free workshop will have physical literacy kits on display outside in the Elevation Place Plaza for the community to explore and families to enjoy. 

  • Swap your summer things for other people’s things at the Full Moon Swap: 5.30 pm-7.30 pm, Canmore Library. To celebrate the Strawberry Moon, take any of your summer clothes, accessories, games, and tools that you don’t want to swap and find some gems that you do want.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

  • 📩 The ACFA (Association Canadienne-Francaise de l’Alberta) would like to hear from Bow Valley residents about thoughts and ideas on potential French-language activities this year. This survey is open to identify cultural, educational, and social events that are needed in the Bow Valley.

  • 🅿️ Safe Park Program Update: The Safe Park program registers vehicles to park overnight (8 pm - 8 am) in allocated spots at the Canmore Recreation Centre parking lot. However, as of June 1st, Safe Park participants can access a temporary library card and may apply for a resident daytime parking permit, too. 

  • ⛳️ Do you and your friends want to golf while raising money for charity? Golf for Hospice Registration is now open to raise money for the Palliative Care Society of the Bow Valley. This annual fundraising event has early bird pricing of $375 per person available until July 7th. Don’t miss this chance.

  • 🥖 The Canmore Food (Rescue) Recovery runs all summer long at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 1205 - 1st Ave, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m.  Bring a reusable bag, and arrive a few minutes early to draw your number!

  • 😎 The Trail Sports Summer Disc Golf league starts in one week and will continue every Tuesday between 12 pm and 7.30 pm at Canmore Nordic Centre. Register here for the chance to win a cash prize. Details for how it works, especially if you’re new, can be found on Facebook here.

  • ❄️ Alberta saw snowfall on Monday evening with people from Banff and Canmore sharing snow videos online. I even overheard someone calling it a POW day.

CIVIC NEWS

  • Caitlin Van Gaal, Canmore's Supervisor of Environment and Sustainability, presented the Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP) to the Committee of the Whole. The plan aims to address climate issues, meet community needs, and align financial planning with goals like reducing emissions and boosting resilience. The committee is expected to approve the CEAP on July 2, 2024. The plan is available by contacting [email protected].

  • The Council of the Whole in Canmore chose a new tax program to encourage people to live full-time in their homes. They listed nine steps, like setting housing rules, updating tax policies, and improving communication and enforcement. The extra tax money will fund affordable housing projects by the Livability Task Force, without raising taxes.

  • Canmore is considering a bylaw amendment to ban election signs on municipal public property, with a public hearing on July 2. The amendment aims to create a fairer campaign environment and reduce clutter, while still allowing signs on private, provincial, and federal land. If approved, signs must be removed within 48 hours post-election, and fines for violations will increase.

LIVE MUSIC

  • Thursday, June 20, 9pm-11.45pm: A free Jam Night with Gary Gonis and a selection of instruments are provided to play. The night is open to all abilities to get up and have some fun at Tavern 1883.

SPORTS

  • An Under 18 skier, Hannah Ascher, will be coming to Canmore to fulfill her dream of skiing in Canada as she won the 2024 Ted Beauchamp Scholarship with Far West Nordic Ski Education Association. This year saw the highest number of applicants in a decade!

That’s all, folks!

  • Have a cool story or event to share? Hit reply. 

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