🌊Kananaskis River Sparks Buzz

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Just when we thought the 10 cm of snow on the mountains was kissing our summer goodbye, we’re treated to more lake and river days. Welcome to the mountains!

In today’s Bow Valley Insider:

• Banff is viral on TikTok again

• Cute, newly-adopted puppies

• Hollywood loves filming in the Bow Valley

Let’s get to it!

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

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EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT KANANASKIS RIVER

What’s happening: The Kananaskis River made the news three times in August and once in September already. Here’s what has been going on!

• When a dog almost drowned on the river during a stand-up paddle boarding competition last weekend, one Cochrane competitor (and hero), Jackie Stefaniuk, jumped in to safely paddle the dog back to its people. 

• The Bow Valley does have everything - even river surfing! The 17th Annual Mountain Wave Classic held in K-Country is the only river surfing competition in Western Canada and was a success with surfers hitting up the K-waves.

• Whitewater rafting events in Kananaskis, which depend on the dam-controlled river, feared cancellation until a last-minute deal with TransAlta kept the water flowing. This situation has sparked concern, and the Kananaskis River is trending on social media, with users calling on the Alberta government to ensure TransAlta maintains its partnership with the Alberta Whitewater Association.

THE DIGEST

• 🎬A TikTok video of the crowds at Johnston Canyon went viral, and locals shared opinions on better times to visit and how it wasn’t like this fifteen years ago. 

• 🐟Westslope cutthroat trout are making a comeback as 18,000 of their eggs were recently reintroduced to Cascade Creek near Banff, with more to be added over the next two years.

• 🎊Last weekend, Banff Sunshine Village hosted its first Indigenous Days, highlighting Tsuut’ina culture. From Sept 13th to 15th, the focus will shift to Stoney Nakoda culture. Sunshine Village aims to honor its location in Canada’s oldest national park by showcasing the cultural influence of the land's Indigenous peoples.

• 🐶We've seen many human rescues in the mountains this summer, but here's a heartwarming story about a puppy rescue (*cue tears*). Canadian Wings of Rescue proves distance is no barrier to pet adoption—a volunteer pilot recently flew six husky mixes from Saskatchewan to Alberta, with some heading to Exshaw to find new homes.

• 📵School is in, but cell phones are out in the Bow Valley. Future generations might not know what millennials mean when they use ‘gtg’ over social media as schools implement a cell phone, smartwatch, and social media ban during school hours. Studies have shown this will help curb problematic use later in life. 

PARTY ADDED TO FIRST NATIONS LAWSUIT AGAINST CANMORE

What's happening: Three Sisters Mountain Village Properties Limited (TSMVPL) has been added to an ongoing lawsuit by the Stoney Nakoda Nation against the Town of Canmore and provincial ministries over Area Structure Plans.

What is the lawsuit? In 2023, the Stoney Nakoda Nation filed a lawsuit against the Town of Canmore, and the provincial ministries of municipal affairs and Indigenous relations, seeking to void bylaws approving the Three Sisters Village and Smith Creek Area Structure Plans (ASPs). The Nation argues these plans infringe on Treaty rights, limit their use of traditional lands, and threaten historical sites, artifacts, and grave sites.

Why was TSMVPL added? Judge Matthew Park added TSMVPL to the lawsuit due to its direct legal interest in the outcome, as its substantive rights are affected.

The law: Under Section 35 of Canada’s Constitution Act, the Crown must consult First Nations if their rights may be affected. Bill Snow, director of consultation for the Stoney Tribal Administration, stated in his affidavit that this duty has not been fulfilled, as the Nation was never consulted on TSMVPL’s development.

Concerns for wildlife: The Stoney Nakoda Nation considers the grizzly bear sacred, and environmental groups, including Save Grizz Corridor, are concerned the ASPs will harm key habitats and movement corridors for at-risk grizzlies and other species.

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Join a communal picnic! Bow Valley Food Alliance is holding its Preservation Picnic at Banff Central Park Gazebo, 10:30am-6pm. The farmer’s market is also on so you can grab a snack from there to take with you! 

• Play Disc Golf for free! Settlement Services holds a free disc golf session for adults at Canmore Nordic Centre, 2pm-5pm.

• Fall Soccer Program is here for ages 8-13! Register your child for the Canmore Soccer Camp held for six weeks in Banff High School every Wednesday, 4:30pm-6pm. Contact [email protected], or register directly on zone4.ca. 

• See art from Alberta artists for FREE! Opening Reception for Circles and Spheres Exhibition is from 6pm-8pm in Three Sisters Gallery.  

• Help clear the trails! Volunteers are needed for a OnwardUp’s Trail Night at Canmore Nordic Centre, 6pm-8:30pm. Sign-up is required to volunteer!

• Beers for Queers: $6 pints at Banff Ave Taproom, 8pm-late!

Thursday

• Round up your buddies for a charity round! Silvertip Golf Resort is hosting its third annual Supervillain Golf Charity Tournament from 8:45am. The price is $100, and you can register online. 

• Now is your chance to finally go to the museum you’ve not visited yet! Canmore Museum is free to visit on the first Thursday every month between 4pm and 7pm! 

• Hang out with the skaters! Banff Skatepark’s weekly skate meet-up is 7pm-9pm and free to join. 

• Play your best hand! Weekly Poker Night at Canmore Legion from 7pm.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🙌The Jasper Evacuee Donation Centre has done a great job in helping our mountain neighbors and is now open by appointment only for evacuees in need. Reach out to an admin on Facebook to book. Winter gear is still highly needed if you leave after summer and have anything to donate.  

• 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏼Who wants to win a date night for two at Sauvage? Sauvage is the partner for Canmore Pride’s Queer Prom and is offering a free date night package including a 5-course tasting menu + wine (or juice) pairings for two to the best promposal photo posted on Instagram. 

• 🛵Bow Valley, say hello to Farm-Fresh delivery! Britestone Farming is offering fresh-food delivery to your doorstep, including Alberta beef, seasonal produce, and farm-fresh eggs. 

• 🏷️Tickets and passes are now on sale for the Banff Centre Mountain Film & Book Festival. Every year, Banff Centre holds this sought-after event, which draws in people worldwide to experience over 70 events, exhibitions, films, talks, and workshops. The film fest runs between October 26th and November 3rd.

• 🏇🏻Rundle Riders offer therapeutic horse riding sessions; if you missed the last one, they have another volunteer training session next week. To sign up, email [email protected]. 

• 🧭Any thoughts about your long weekend? Is there something you need in the Bow Valley or something you enjoyed? Let Parks Canada know so they can inform their Lake Minnewanka Area plan.

• 🦌Parks Canada’s Elk Rutting Safety Campaign is in full force, and they’ve released safety tips for being near Elk while mating from now until mid-October. 

• 🔥Summer is over, but Banff National Park's wildfires are a year-round danger! Here are three easy steps to staying fire-safe! 

• 🎥The camera loves Alberta! And so do these directors who have shooting schedules around Calgary, Banff, and Lake Louise between September 23rd and October 9th. Lights, Camera, Action! 

• 💛Larch Season in the Valley is approaching. Here are four great spots to see yellow larches in Alberta in that short window (sometimes only lasting two weeks)!

CIVIC NEWS

• On Thursday, September 5th, the Town of Canmore is holding its annual Municipal Emergency Advisory Committee meeting at Canmore Civic Centre, 1:30pm-3pm. The members will review the Municipal Emergency Management Program and related plans and guide Canmore's Municipal Emergency Management Agency.

• Tuesday’s public hearing regarding employee housing in Canmore’s light industrial areas was popular, and the bylaw reading was postponed until Tuesday, November 5th. You can watch the meeting on YouTube.

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, September 4th, 7pm: Open Mic Night! Location: Rose and Crown, Canmore. 

• Wednesday, September 4th, 6pm-9pm: Steph O’dette at Farm and Fire.

• Thursday, September 5th, 7:30pm: Guitarist Leeroy Stagger. Location: Arts Place, Canmore. Tickets are $35. 

• Thursday, September 5th, 4pm-6pm: Steph O’dette at Bison.

• Thursday, September 5th, 9pm: Thursday Acoustic Tunes from Arn. Location: High Rollers Banff. Free entry and half-priced pizza.

SPORTS

• The annual Canmore Highland Games was a success last weekend. If you didn’t get a chance to attend, they have a few videos on Facebook you can watch, like the Haggis eating competition, the jig, and the bagpipes!

• The Canmore Eagles 2024/25 exhibition season is underway. See their schedule here and purchase game or season tickets here. Children under 6 are always free.

That’s all, folks!

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