🪓Lake Louise Axed—What’s Next?

Good morning, Bow Valley!

We’re not sure if this is a new thing or not, but if you live in Banff, you can cut down your own Christmas tree inside the Park.  That sounds like a good deal for locals, considering we just saw Christmas trees going for a few hundred in Calgary!  There’s a bit of fine print, but don’t worry—we’ve got the details below. 🎄

In today’s Bow Valley Insider:

• Canmore is wrestling with how to move forward with “green” buildings

• Lake Louise gets cut from hosting the men’s World Cup races

• What’s on the chopping block for Banff’s 2025 budget?

• Plus, food drives, wing specials, trivia nights, and winter fitness ideas

Let’s get to it!

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

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CANMORE’S PUSH FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDINGS

What’s Happening? Canmore’s got energy—literally. A new study, Options for Achieving High Performance Resilient Buildings in Canmore, suggests ways the town can push for energy-efficient new builds, like aligning policies with its Climate Emergency Action Plan, revamping bylaws, and rolling out incentives.

The Building Code Blues. Here’s the catch: Alberta’s building codes limit municipalities to the lowest energy-efficiency tier. Translation? Towns like Canmore can’t mandate more stringent standards. Instead, they’re left relying on incentives and education, as outlined in the $25,000 study by EcoAmmo Sustainable Consulting.

Industry Wants a Say. The Bow Valley Builders and Developers Association (BOWDA) emphasized flexibility and collaboration, warning against Canmore overstepping its jurisdiction. Updating outdated land-use bylaws? A green light. Extra regulations? A hard pass.

Why It Matters? Buildings constructed today will shape Canmore’s climate impact for decades. Energy-efficient builds may cost more upfront but promise long-term savings and resilience—making them a win for both wallets and the planet.

THE DIGEST

• 🏆Banff snagged 13th place in US News’ list of best cheap winter vacations. Cheap? That’s a new one. The ranking highlights options like Tunnel Mountain’s year-round campground as a budget-friendly alternative to pricier European ski villages—though locals might raise an eyebrow at the “cheap” label.

• 🚧Hwy 40 in Kananaskis Country is officially closed until June 15, 2025, to protect wildlife during winter. Backcountry hikers soaked up rare chinook warmth on the final day, with temperatures near zero. Access now shifts to the northern entrance or limited routes via Hwy 541 and Hwy 940. A Conservation Pass is still required.

• ⛷Lake Louise is out from hosting the men’s World Cup downhill races, benched by high operational costs, its remote location, and low spectator turnout. Now, Alpine Canada is looking to Panorama and Whistler, B.C. as contenders. With plans for a national training center, they aim to keep Canada on the alpine map by 2026.

• 🌲Banff residents can cut their own Christmas trees with a permit from Parks Canada. Harvesting from pre-approved areas helps reduce wildfire risks. Email [email protected] to request a permit and add a sustainable touch to your holiday cheer. 

• 🛠️Construction has begun on an 8-kilometer, 2.4-meter-high wildlife exclusion fence around Canmore’s Three Sisters lands. Designed to separate human activity from wildlife corridors, the fence mirrors Parks Canada’s designs and includes gates and crossings. Funded by Three Sisters developers, it will be owned and maintained by the provincial government.

BANFF’S 2025 BUDGET: WHAT’S IN, WHAT’S OUT

What’s Happening? Banff Town Council kicked off its annual budget debates, aiming to balance services with a 6% tax increase for 2025. Cuts to flowers, trees, and fireworks are on the table, while wildfire prevention, transit growth, and affordable housing get the spotlight.

What’s on the Chopping Block? The proposed budget slashes $1 million, including $588K in wages, $71K for summer flowers, $58K from tree maintenance, and $12K for New Year’s Eve fireworks. Meanwhile, rising costs for transit, policing, and the library require $413K more.

Key Debates. Council is weighing more wildfire prevention, local transit hours, solar panels, heritage funding, and moving the Banff sign. Big-ticket capital projects like the Caribou Street reconstruction are deferred, but affordable housing on Wolf Street gets a $4.43M boost.

Speak Up. Residents can voice their opinions live or in advance. Find details, schedules, and live streams at banff.ca/ServiceReview. Council meets Dec. 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, and 18.

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Science of the Bison: Wes Olson. Accompanied by his book, The Ecological Buffalo, Olson will speak about the ecological importance of bison on this landscape. 2:00 PM. The Whyte Museum, Banff. Free.

• Food Drive. Help make this year's Food Drive the biggest and most impactful one yet! Join a dedicated team of volunteers and be a part of something extraordinary. Volunteer reception to follow. 5:30 PM. Canmore Chrysler, Canmore.

• Wing Wednesday Trivia Night. DJ Tenax hosts five rounds of trivia for teams of up to 6. Trivia from 7:00 PM. Patrinos, Canmore. Wings $9 per pound. Trivia is free.

• Beers for Queers. Taproom is a chill, small space that never gets too loud. They have a selection of canned alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages and also a couple of mocktails on the menu! 8:00 PM - Late. Banff Ave Taproom., Banff.

Thursday

• Mini Thni to the United Nations. Presented by Daryl Kootenay, Mini Thni to the United Nations shares the story of the Nakoda Youth Council attending the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York City. 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. ArtsPlace, Canmore. By donation at the door.

• Banff Run Club. Helly Hansen hosts a weekly run club. 5-10k, all levels welcome. 6:30 PM. Helly Hansen, Banff.

• Bow Valley Feud. Like Family Feud with cider and a magician as your host. Show up in teams of 2. Teams will be chosen at random to play. Great prizes are up for grabs! Limited seating, so make sure you show up early. 7:00 PM. Core Values, Canmore. 

• Fireside Chat with Cori Brewster. Banff musician and author joins Chic Scott to discuss her thirty-year career. 7:00 PM. The Whyte Museum, Banff. $5.

• Winter Training Discussion. Why, where, when, and how to train safely in the winter. Join Women Run Wild for a discussion on all things winter mountain training. 7:30 PM. Canmore Brewing Co. Free. 

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🧠New Trivia Competition! Tenax Entertainment is offering a bonus $300 cash for any team of 6 people that can win 3 Tenax Trivia events in the same week. (The competition will run until the prize is won, and they will add $100 each month until it does!)

• ⛄Celebrate Winterfest. Winterfest is a one-of-a-kind event in the Bow Valley where every room, nook, and cranny is transformed by the spirit of holiday magic into a place of childhood wonder. Saturday December 7th, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM.

• 🤰Mountain Maternity is Growing. As a result of Family Physician recruiting efforts, Mountain Maternity and Family Medicine has outgrown its space and has expanded to include a second location in downtown Canmore. Same great staff and physicians, but just in a different space. 

• 🎁Let's Get Wrapping. If anyone and their scissors are available to help wrap for the Exshaw gift-giving event, that would be great. Thursday, December 5th at 7:00 PM. Exshaw Legion, Exshaw. 

• 🧸Gingerbread Houses. Reserve your table at Lovely for an evening of decorating delicious gingerbread houses, cozy beverages, and lots of fun! Each reservation includes a table for up to 4 people, a gingerbread house kit, 4 gingerbread men, 4 hot beverages, all icing and decorations.

• 🎟️Gift Certificate Deal! Receive a $25 Gift Certificate when you purchase $100 in Gift Certificates from December 1-31, 2024. Rose and Crown Banff. 

• 🎄Christmas Tree Sale. Trees are now on sale at Banff Scout Guide Hall on Lynx Street. Trees are Douglas Fir from the Columbia Valley, BC. Sizes range from 3 ft to 12ft, and prices range from $20 to $80. Cash only.

• 🍽️Fish n’ Chips For the fish and chip connoisseurs in the Valley, check out this Facebook list of recommended fish! 

• 🐩Pooch Parade! Banff held their first-ever pooch parade last weekend on Bear Street. Check out the action here if you missed it. The reindeer and elves costumes are so darn cute.

• 👏A Round of Applause. Congratulations to Community Cruisers for being chosen as a recipient of the Field Law Community Fund. 

CHARITY SPOTLIGHT: BOW VALLEY SPCA

If you’ve been around for a while, it’s no secret that one of Fortune’s favorite local charities is the Bow Valley SPCA. 

The Bow Valley SPCA's mission is to provide a “no-kill, no-cage” adoption center for stray and abandoned dogs and cats, promoting humane attitudes and responsible pet ownership through educational programs and community leadership. They aim to improve the lives of animals and ensure they receive proper care and a loving home.

CIVIC NEWS

• Canmore is increasing business license fees for the first time in a decade, despite opposition from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). CFIB argued the hike sends a negative message to small businesses. The new fees, anticipated to bring an additional $85,000 annually, will support economic development initiatives, such as the Tourism Canmore Kananaskis' regenerative tourism initiative.

• Banff residents should be aware of parking bans today for removing accumulated snow in several residential streets. Wednesday, December 4:

  • Beaver Street from Buffalo to Wolf St 

  • Marten Street from Wolf to Elk St

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, December 4, 6:30 PM: Open Mic Location: WildLife Distillery, Canmore. Free.

• Wednesday, December 4, 7:00 PM: Open Mic with Colin Macdonald. Location: The Local, Canmore. Free.

• Wednesday, December 4, 10:00 PM: Latin Fiesta  Location: Melissa’s MisSteak, Banff. $8.79.

• Wednesday, December 4, 10:00 PM: Battle of the Bands. Location: Tommy’s Neighborhood Pub, Banff. Free to Attend.

• Thursday, December 5, 10:00 PM: Dangerous Cheese (80s Tribute) Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

SPORTS

• World Junior Hockey. Canmore Eagles’ Zach Coutu and Hudson Sedo head to Calgary this week for the Canada West selection camp, vying for spots in the 2024 World Junior A Challenge. Sedo boasts a .925 save percentage, while Coutu leads the Eagles in points. The tournament kicks off Dec. 9 in Camrose, Alberta.

• Speed Skating. Canmore’s Connor Howe kicked off the ISU World Cup Speed Skating season with an 8th-place finish in the 1500m. Ivanie Blondin and Valérie Maltais also delivered strong performances, placing 5th and 9th, respectively. A solid start for Canada as the season gets underway.

That’s all, folks!

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