⚖️Hikers Sent To Court

$300 Burger Fine, Snow at Sunshine, Local Wins CrossFit Bronze

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Bow Valley Insider
September 23, 2024

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Between wildlife run-ins and 911 calls, backcountry officials were busy this past weekend. We got the details below. 

In today’s Bow Valley Insider:

  • Snow on the ski hills

  • Jasper gets more municipal powers

  • Local Crossfit athlete wins bronze

Let’s get to it!

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

BEARS, WOLVES, AND RISKY HIKING

What’s happening? Officials are busy keeping humans out of closed areas, and wolves out of campgrounds. Plus, watch out for those bears if you’re out, too. 

Hiker Incident: On September 10, a group of hikers called 911 while attempting to climb Pyramid Mountain despite clear warnings about closures. Two hikers claimed to be too tired and were airlifted to safety, but all eight in the group now face court charges for violating park regulations.

Food Safety Issues: In another case, a woman was fined $300 for leaving food out at Tunnel Mountain Village campground, including a half-eaten burger. Leaving food unattended is a serious issue in attracting wildlife.

Bear Awareness: As the fall season ramps up, visitors to the Highwood Pass area (for larch season) are reminded to stay bear-aware. Weekends are expected to be particularly crowded, so plan your visit wisely, especially with construction limiting parking.

Wildlife Monitoring: Parks Canada is keeping an eye on local wildlife, including wolves that are generally behaving, but they’ve had some close calls near Johnston Canyon Campground.

WHO IS THIS FRIENDLY-LOOKING GUY?

And why is he getting a front-row seat in Bow Valley Insider? 

This is Oakley.  He just started Bow Valley’s latest business. 

Is it building luxury treehouses?  Is it selling artisanal hotdog buns?  

Nope.  Even cooler…

It’s Pine Peak Paving–Your go-to source for concrete repair and restoration. 

Okay, okay—before you scroll past this (totally awesome) concrete ad, let me hit you with a fun fact:

Own a home? You can increase it’s value by up to 7% with one simple move.

(And in the Bow Valley, that 7% equals a gadzillion dollars in property value).

It’s called concrete sealing. 

Think of it as a spa day for your driveway, patio, and walkways.  It protects your concrete, prevents costly damage, and keeps everything looking fresh.

And the best time to do it? Right now.  

Winter is coming (cue Game of Thrones music), and those freeze-thaw cycles are about to wage war on your surfaces.  

Seal it before the cracks sneak in, and you’ll feel damn good knowing your concrete’s ready for the Bow Valley winter - no dragons required.  

(If you didn’t click, you’re either ready to return to the news or confused by the dragon reference).

*sponsored content

THE DIGEST

  • ❄️ Winter vibes are here early! Banff Sunshine Village is celebrating fresh snow from recent storms. On that note, ski season is near—Mt. Norquay opens on November 1, followed by Lake Louise and Sunshine Village on November 8. Both resorts are seeing snow, so check the webcams here and here!

  • 🔓Edelweiss Village has officially reopened in Golden, B.C.! Once endangered, this historic site now offers a charming experience with restored Swiss guide houses that blend colorful style with modern comforts. Celebrating its role in shaping Canada’s mountain culture, it honors the Swiss guides who pioneered the Rockies.

  • 👉On Friday, Justice D. Reed shot down two applications from Three Sisters Mountain Village that aimed to restrict the Stoney Nakoda First Nation's ability to contest the decision not to mandate an environmental impact assessment for their ongoing projects. This means the First Nations can still challenge the developments as planned.

PARKS CANADA TRANSFERS AUTHORITY TO JASPER

What’s Happening: Parks Canada is gearing up to transfer land use planning and development authority to the Municipality of Jasper, which includes zoning, permit approvals, subdivision of land, enforcement, and more.

This marks a significant shift in local governance: Currently, Banff is the only townsite with these powers, while Jasper has been operating under limited authority since the Agreement for Local Government was signed in 2001. 

Transfer of Powers: The new legislation aims to grant Jasper the same land use planning and development powers that other towns have, removing existing barriers under the Canada National Parks Act.

Formal Request: In July 2022, Jasper’s municipality formally requested this expansion, sparking discussions between Parks Canada and local officials about how to share these responsibilities.

Consultation Process: Public and Indigenous consultations took place in early 2023, with feedback compiled in a report published in October 2023, further supporting the need for this change.

Next Steps: Once the bill receives Royal Assent, Jasper and Parks Canada will work on a new local government agreement, ensuring a smooth transition for land use planning that aligns with community needs.

THINGS TO DO

Monday

Tuesday

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

  • 📝Share your thoughts on the Canmore Pride Festival by filling out this quick survey! Your feedback matters!

  • 🌊Pool update! The leisure pool, steam room, hot tub, and change rooms at Elevation Place are open. Lap pool reopens October 7!

CIVIC NEWS

  • Don't miss the Banff Governance and Finance Committee meeting today at 9 AM! You can stream it live here. Following that, the regular Council Meeting will take place at 2 PM, which you can also watch online.

  • Looking to get involved in your community? Canmore, Banff, and the MD of Bighorn are all seeking volunteers for their boards and committees! Canmore's application period for 2024-2025 is open until September 23, 2024, with Banff applications due by October 14. MD of Bighorn needs residents to submit applications by September 27.

LIVE MUSIC

  • Tuesday, September 24, 10 PM: Karaoke with Andrew Staygold. Location: Melissa’s Missteak.

SPORTS

That’s all, folks!

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

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

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