📈 Fines Increasing 1200%

Average Salaries In Bow Valley + Mansion For Sale

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Bow Valley Insider
July 02, 2024

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Welcome to our new readers who joined over the long weekend! Here’s where we share the stories, updates, and little joys that make our community so special. Grab your morning beverage of choice, settle in, and let’s dive into another beautiful day in the Bow Valley.

In today’s Bow Valley Insider:

  • Fines are increasing nearly 1200% to protect Alberta’s freshwater

  • A Canmore mansion is now for sale

  • Current stats on the Bow Valley job market

Let’s get to it!

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

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PROTECTING ALBERTA’S FRESHWATER IS A PARKS CANADA PRIORITY

What’s happening: Parks Canada is determined to keep Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) out of Alberta waters. The Fisheries Act (Alberta) has changed legislation, including dramatically increased fines.

Why it’s happening: AIS are non-native plants, animals, and diseases that cause big issues because they rarely have predators, reproduce fast, and out-compete native species. 

What else is being done: In Banff National Park, it is mandatory to clean all water-related gear, drain anything that holds water before leaving, dry any gear for a minimum of 48 hours in Alberta and BC, and obtain an AIS Prevention Permit before entering a waterbody.

Increased fines: As of June 20th, failing to stop with a watercraft at an open inspection station is a $4200 fine (previously $324), and failing to remove a drain plug when transporting a watercraft on a roadway is a $600 fine (previously $180). This is an 1196% and 233% increase, respectively, showing how seriously they are taking the matter. 

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THE DIGEST

  • ⛔ A Canmore resident received a stop order for illegally using their property as a tourist home. Believing it was allowed, the homeowner has asked the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board to permit the remaining eight bookings this summer.

  • 🏘️Selling The Rockies! This almost-$4 million Canmore home is up for sale with all the luxurious details included. This place could have its own real estate Netflix show! 

  • 🏚️In Monday’s BVI newsletter, we noted that the Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley (HSBV) seeks access to Scout Hall for shelter operations. The Town of Canmore debated this in yesterday’s Council Meeting, focusing on whether Scout Hall should be a permanent shelter. The deadline for a permanent solution is May 1, 2026.

  • 🏞Alberta Parks have given serious advisories until further notice for Barrier Lake and the surrounding area because a black bear approached an angler, and the Sawmill Day Use Area after bear activity in the area.

THE BOW VALLEY HAS ENOUGH JOBS AND JOB SEEKERS

What’s happening: The Job Resource Centre (JRC) revealed, in their six month review, that the Bow Valley is well-balanced for people looking for work and work available. 

The numbers between November 2023 and April 2024: 

  • The JRC posted 1307 jobs from 258 employers in the Bow Valley, a 5% increase from last year.

  • 40% of the jobs included staff housing.

  • $22.73 is the average hourly wage according to the JRC job adverts.

  • Food & Beverage posted the most job opportunities via the JRC.

  • Trades & Labour sector was in the most demand.

  • The average rental rate for a one-bedroom in Banff was $1,686, and $2,727 in Canmore.

Funding opportunities: The JRC offers many funding opportunities (up to 90% cost-covered/$2,500 per year) for job seekers, including short courses like first aid and avalanche safety. Employers can also use funding through the JRC, like getting $15,000 to hire and train an unemployed Albertan or $10,000 to train an individual employee through the Canada-Alberta Job Grant.

Your thoughts: Do you feel that there is enough work in the Bow Valley and does your experience reflect the findings in this review? Let us know!

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday, July 3rd

  • Free yourself, express yourself, and enjoy yourself at Ecstatic Dance: 7.30pm-9.30pm 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. Tickets are $20.

  • Play some free darts: 7pm-9.30 pm at The Canmore Legion. Every Wednesday you can join Drop-In Jitney Darts to practice and meet others for some rounds of darts for free.

  • Has the European and Copa AmĂŠrica soccer tournaments inspired you?: Kick a ball around with Pick Up Indoor Soccer, 2pm-4pm at the Fenlands in Banff. Free for Banff residents with a valid membership. Drop-in rates apply for non-residents. 

  • Fancy learning how to create clean air in your home or indoor space?: Join this Build Your Own Indoor Air Filter Workshop, 6pm at Catherine Robb Whyte Building (101 Bear Street) run by the Bow Valley Clean Air Society. Registration is $100 and there are only 20 spaces available so act fast!

  • Flex your general knowledge against others for Trivia nights: 7pm at Trivia Banff Legion or 8pm at Beaver Bar. Free to enter! 

  • Enjoy $6 pints at Beers for Queers: 8pm until late at The Taproom, Banff Ave Brewing Co. 

  • Want to jam, sing or practice spoken word? Join Open Mic night every Wednesday from 10pm at Tommy’s Neighbourhood Pub in Banff.

Thursday, July 4th

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

  • 🎾Pickleball for 50+! Canmore Seniors Association runs its own pickleball group, so you can sign up and join the league! The Fenlands in Banff also run Pickleball drop-in sessions for 50+.

  • 🎒Go back to school without going to school through the Bow Valley Adult Learning Centre. Classes range from second language learning to digital inclusion and skills building. Contact the program coordinator for more information via [email protected]

  • 🎬The Bow Valley Wild will be exhibiting the flora and fauna of the Bow Valley between Thursday, July 4th and Monday July 29th at Canmore Art Guild.

  • 🎨Follow Banff’s Art in Nature Trail along the Bow River all summer for an outdoor art experience. 

  • 🐕The future sled dogs have arrived! Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours welcomed a new litter, all named after The Elements. But their predecessors now need a home, including a retired sled dog, Anna!

  • 📚Can’t get to the library? The library will come to you! The Canmore Library and the Family and Community Support Services have teamed up to bring back the Homebound Reader’s Program to ensure everyone can access the library materials.

  • 🧑‍🤝‍🧑You can find the Friends of Kananaskis on the trails at the Canmore Nordic Centre and Powerface Creek this week to find out about their trail stewardship for Kananaskis Country.

  • 🍟Meetup with the RCMP in McDonalds! If you want to share a coffee, have a chat, have your say and ask questions, join Coffee with a Cop in Banff McDonalds on July 3rd, 10am-11am. 

CIVIC NEWS

  • Check out the MD of Bighorn Council Compensation Committee Meeting on Thursday, July 4 at 3pm. Have a say on the council’s salary increases.  See the full meeting agenda here.

  • On Friday, July 5th at 10am is the MD of Bighorn Municipal Planning Commission meeting. Anyone can watch the live stream of the meeting on the MD of Bighorn Youtube Channel. A few key items for the meeting include (see full meeting agenda here):


    • Development permits that have been issued.

    • Application for Exshaw Mountain Gateway Inc. to create a 44-lot residential subdivision in the Hamlet of Exshaw.

LIVE MUSIC

SPORTS

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!