Sign In Register MORE LOCAL NEWS > Archives of the Outlook, from 2009 to the current edition, can be accessed here More Local News > More JASPER FITZHUGH NEWS > More BEYOND LOCAL > More Banff > More Canmore > More Lake Louise > More MD of Bighorn > More Kananaskis Country > More Stoney Nakoda > Sign up for today’s headlines delivered to your inbox… FREE More Business News > More Business News > More Education > More Education > More Mountain Guide > More Mountain Guide > More Opinion > More Opinion > More Vox Populi > More Vox Populi > More Local Sports > More Local Sports > More National Sports > More National Sports > More Alberta News > More Alberta News > More National News > More National News > More National Business > More National Business > More National Lifestyle > More National Lifestyle > More World News > More World News > Several North American ski areas that are still open plan to celebrate the unofficial Star Wars Day tomorrow Around 40 Canadian and US ski areas are still open with tomorrow the last day of the season for about 15 of them Some are going more Star Wars than others, with Banff’s Sunshine Village in Alberta where there’s still another fortnight of the season left to run offering lift discounts to those who get fully engaged Those who do embrace their inner Star Wars fanatic and ski or ride the slopes of Banff Sunshine dressed as their favourite Star Wars character will save $30 on a full price lift ticket (Adult Skiers and boarders must be in full costume (head to boots) to qualify for a discounted full-day lift ticket Besides the lift pass discounts Sunshine’s Creekside will be serving up Baby Yoda (Grogu) pancakes and Jedi Drinks tomorrow BANFF – Banff RCMP are calling on the public's help to find a missing man The police want to find Rory Edwards to confirm his well-being If you see Edwards or have any information on his whereabouts More SPOTLIGHT > these under-the-radar spots offer plenty of room to roam You’ve seen the social media posts: the towering and rugged peaks, the glossy, glacial lakes, and the lumbering bears disappearing into thick forests. This is Banff National Park one of the most beautiful—and famous—places on Earth Field also offers spectacular views of the Van Horne Mountain range and cozy accommodations at Truffle Pigs Bistro and Lodge "What attracted me [to Field] was the strength of the community," said owner Jennifer Coffman who left Banff in search of a quieter mountain life With a seasonal menu crafted by a Moroccan head chef Truffle Pigs is the heart of this tiny town fueling visitors who fill their days with hiking (Related: Mist, Sun, Rain, and Snow: Capturing the Mood Swings of Yoho National Park.) “It’s a real authentic town and not one that attracts busloads of tourists,” says Andy Brown “For people that are looking for that mountain town that is still a little tucked away there’s no comparison to other more traditionally popular mountain towns.” Golden is located within a two-hour drive of six national parks, and winter brings some of Canada’s best snow quality at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort The resort’s busiest days host a fraction of the crowds of some of Canada’s more well-known ski resorts (Related: Prince Edward Island’s Best Road Trip: Red Cliffs & Green Gables) The resort is the reason Brown moved to Golden in the first place “The terrain is unmatched at almost every other North American Resort,” he says visitors can ski in the morning and mountain bike in the afternoon The Columbia Valley Wetlands exudes natural beauty especially in the fall.Photograph by Michael Wheatley Alamy Stock PhotoA female backpacker climbs a ladder up a rock face while hiking into the tranquil Bugaboo Provincial Park in British Columbia The trail into the Bugaboos is extremely steep gaining thousands of feet over a short distance.Photograph by Alex Ratson Getty ImagesWith the melting snow comes adrenaline-inducing whitewater rafting on the Kicking Horse River or for people seeking out a gentler adventure the Columbia Wetlands—the longest protected wetlands in North America—is just south of Golden and offers quieter flat-water canoeing Hiking and mountain biking season peaks in Golden during the fall so book a stay at Cedar House Chalets where multi-room log cabins provide private hot tubs and easy access to the Mountain Shadows Trail Network alongside honeyed autumn colors Alternatively, check out the Golden Skybridge—Canada’s highest suspension bridge spanning a vast canyon with a cascading waterfall—before driving up to Mount Seven to catch the sunset (Related: Everything you should know about British Columbia.) Those looking for a more rugged Alps-inspired adventure should consider heading to the helicopter staging area for Icefall Lodge It offers some of the most stunning hiking in Western Canada “These aren’t manicured Parks Canada trails,” says Sophie Champagne “But the fact is that there is no one else here You get all this without any other people in the comfort of cabins and lodges.” Their hut-to-hut hiking option is inspired by the European Haute Routes offering intrepid guests heart-pounding river crossings and silty lakes tucked below prominent glaciers one of Western Canada’s less trafficked national parks other recreational opportunities in the area should not be discounted (Related: Canada's best wildlife encounters on a small-ship cruise of British Columbia.) Leave the crowds of sheep behind and continue south to the charming Bavarian-inspired town of Kimberley. While the allure of pristine powder at Kimberley Alpine Resort is certainly enticing a summer stay is worthwhile for the area’s world-class and impeccably maintained mountain biking trails Kimberley is blazing trails with the implementation of the innovative “Electrify the Mountain” project which is focused on testing remote charging stations for e-bikes and developing e-bike-specific trails and adaptive riding trails for the disabled community “All abilities, all types of riding are now available on the Kimberley trails,” says Matt Mosteller, the senior vice president of marketing for Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Another goal of the project is to provide remote backcountry access to e-bikers “We’re working on a couple hundred-kilometer route where we’ll have a [remote] charging station It will be a gravel mountain route where e-bikers could leave the Kimberley community (Related: Meet the Canadian filmmaker who conquered the world's longest hiking trail.) Nearby Fernie—home to the hallowed snow slopes of Fernie Alpine Resort—also boasts a strong mountain biking culture and hiking community the resort will open the Timber lift for fall-access hiking ensuring that the alpine bowls and ridgeline trails are more accessible than ever before during that coveted autumnal glow Eager hikers should also spend time exploring the rugged landscape at Island Lake Lodge road-accessed wilderness lodge with ample hiking opportunities The lodge also rents canoes to guests looking to get out for a paddle in the shade of the Lizard Mountain Range while a wide variety of storied mountain bike trails in the area will tempt avid cyclists Fernie boasts a strong mountain biking culture and hiking community The city is home to the first mountain bike trail operator in the world.Photograph by Dirk Kruell a young man cliff jumps near the city of Fernie British Columbia.Photograph by All Canada Photos Alamy Stock Photo“Fernie and North Vancouver were where big mountain-style biking began,” says Mosteller  “Fernie had the first mountain bike trail operator in the world (30 years ago) … so that really put emphasis on the fact that we’re a trail community One of the few remaining inland temperate rainforests this far east is also found within the vicinity of the lodge, where hikers can wander amongst ancient cedar trees on the easily accessible Old Growth Trail (Related: 9 ways to explore Canada's natural beauty.) Waterton is one of the most southern towns where the Aurora Borealis appears on a regular basis and the internet is buzzing that 2025 will be an even better year for spotting the Aurora It’s the perfect place to leave the city lights behind and peep the unpolluted night sky (Related: 7 of the best places to stay in Canada.) Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account The murder of Banff native Ethan Enns-Goneau not only shocked the idyllic mountain town it tore one of the most beloved residents from the community Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience More than two dozen victim impact statements were filed for the sentencing of convicted killer John Christopher Arrizza Twenty three were read into the record in the murderer’s Calgary Court of King’s Bench hearing to a steady parade of friends and even the mayor of the town Justice Robert Hall heard how much the victim meant to the people of Banff Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Noon News Roundup will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Perhaps most eloquent was the victim impact statement provided by Enns-Goneau’s partner who spoke of receiving the tragic news of his death in the early morning hours of Aug “He brought something so special and unique to this world and nothing will ever be the same,” wrote Pieters in the statement read in court by Crown prosecutor Ron Simenik “Each and every one of us will carry this hurt with us forever The reality of it is that everything happy in my life will forever be tinged with a bit of sadness Everything sweet is interwoven with a little bit of bitter.” was convicted by a Calgary jury last September of second-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of Enns-Goneau “It still feels like yesterday and the pain is still as deep,” Enns said She said she delayed writing her victim impact statement “avoiding the pain I knew would come with it.” How do I begin to describe my kind and beautiful boy with a smile that lit up the room?” spoke about failed attempts to overcome their grief “We will endeavour to enjoy some of the sunny days although the dark clouds invariably pop up Many wrote of the impact the crime had on the serene mountain community which hadn’t experienced a homicide in 32 years Said Pieters: “He not only robbed us of a partner but he robbed the residents of Banff of a sense of security and safety when they go out at nighttime.” We were horrified and heartbroken over losing our bright like and sunny smile “We believed we were immune from this extreme and senseless violence.” Defence counsel Katherin Beyak and co-prosecutor Patrick Bigg proposed a joint submission for an automatic life sentence without parole for a minimum 12 years Before adjourning to Tuesday for his sentencing decision “This was 100 per cent my fault,” Arrizza said “I am so sorry to everyone who loved Ethan and everyone who came here today.” KMartin@postmedia.com transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account When I was 25, my friend asked me whether I wanted to move to Banff I quit my job at a daily newspaper in Australia My friend had lined us up with an agency that sorted out all the visa paperwork and organized a job in Banff I'll never forget sitting on a bus driving from Calgary to Banff and seeing the Rockies for the first time That was the start of one of the most magical periods of my life One of the many things about Canada I first fell in love with was its changing seasons I had never really experienced proper seasons before The Gold Coast typically averages about 300 days of sunny weather a year The first time my friend and I saw snow falling laughing and dancing in the snow like two little girls For someone who'd grown up on a beach in a subtropical climate I realized what else I'd been missing in Australia we would go trick-or-treating in our street and we'd be lucky to come across a neighbor who actually had candy to share and spooky decorations adorning most buildings For Thanksgiving, my Canadian friends made me a traditional Canadian pumpkin pie — something I'd never tried before locals showed me that North American hospitality I'd heard so much about Christmastime also felt extra special celebrated against a snowy backdrop and we experienced some of the most festive decorations we'd ever seen in Canada North America seems to do food better than everybody else The serving sizes tend to be big and the flavors strong and tasty One of my favorite things to eat in Canada was the local favorite poutine — fries with cheese curds and brown gravy It proved to be the perfect après-ski treat after a day of shredding the ski hills around Banff and coconut crumbs) and fluffy pancakes with pure Canadian maple syrup I'd also love to once again have fresh BeaverTails (a fried-dough treat) and the mighty Caesar (a zesty tomato-clam-juice cocktail with vodka) After living in Canada my partner and I moved to London and then to various parts of Australia and wildlife that often took our breath away most caring souls you could imagine there — people who instantly felt like family I would've spent longer in Canada before moving on after a year and a half On all of my travels to more than 50 countries, I've never found another place quite like it, and it will always have a special place in my heart. British Columbia & the Canadian Rockies Sit atop a mountain, hike through the forest, feel the spray of a waterfall: Banff and Jasper offer outdoor experiences at their simplest and best. Banff & Jasper National Parks Back to topAttractionsMust-see attractionsBanff National Park Banff National Park justifiably ranks as many people’s number one As much a piece of history as a natural wonder Lake Louise Considered by many to be the crown jewel of Banff National Park Lake Louise is nearly impossible to describe without resorting to clichés Moraine Lake deep teal waters of Moraine Lake are one of Banff National Park’s most iconic sights Jasper National Park Encompassing 11,228 sq km of Rocky Mountains wilderness glacial lakes and the magnificent Columbia Icefield Athabasca Glacier The tongue of the Athabasca Glacier runs from the Columbia Icefield to within walking distance of the road opposite the Icefield Centre Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies Founded by local artists Catharine and Peter Whyte the century-old Whyte Museum is more than just a rainy-day option Cave & Basin National Historic Site The Canadian National Park system was effectively born at these hot springs discovered accidentally by three Canadian Pacific Railway employees on their… Banff Gondola you can summit a peak near Banff thanks to the Banff Gondola with four-person enclosed cars that glide up to the top of Sulphur… View more attractionsPlan with a localExperience the real Canada Get startedArticlesLatest stories from Banff & Jasper National ParksRead more articlesFilter by interest: Planet Earth is packed with countless wonders that call out like a beacon to fans of humbling scenery Here are 8 of the world's most beautiful landscapes Get to the heart of Banff & Jasper National Parks with one of our in-depth British Columbia & the Canadian Rockies $24.99 Visit in ShopAtlantic Canada $24.99 Visit in ShopPocket Toronto $13.99 No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission “It’s still a little bit of a secret gem.” Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50 She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel Jill Tester/Courtesy of Banff & Lake Louise Tourism Courtesy of Banff & Lake Louise Tourism Quietly watching over the eclectic finds in the Banff Trading Post is the shop’s oldest resident: Mr half-terrifying-taxidermy-experiment was most likely acquired around 1915 by the shop's legendary proprietor Norman Luxton a gold prospector and canoe explorer who almost died on an attempted expedition around the world but they really hit their stride as part of the sideshow circuit when P.T Barnum got into the action with an elaborately planned hoax in 1845 Barnum's wild success led to a peak in popularity for this particular kind of fanciful creation and they joined sideshow line-ups and wonder cabinets around the world The Banff Park Museum exists because of the tireless work of Norman Bethune Sanson He hiked over 32,000 kilometers and never passed an unusual specimen without collecting it for study and display The oldest item in the museum is a male merganser collected in 1860 and the second floor contains more exotic specimens Sanson also looked after the Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station hiking up the peak and reporting his observations to Ottawa for over 33 years The highest point of the mountain was named Sanson Peak just six months before his death Few other hotels in North America can rival the grandeur of what's been called “the Castle in the Rockies.” Opened in 1888 the hotel looked almost nothing like it does today The original structure was built in the Scottish Baronial style it was a $250,000 mistake; the builder goofed and changed the intended orientation of the building A major overhaul lasted from 1906 till 1928 which holds 300 rooms and was the tallest building in Canada upon completion It’s been weatherized to operate year-round and is now home to a renowned spa It’s also allegedly haunted by a former bell hop and bride who fell to her death in the 1920s Collisions between vehicles and wildlife—from elk to snakes—take a toll on the environment Not only can these accidents cause harm for both the driver and animal roadways that cut through natural habitats can also cut off migration routes This has been mitigated by several dozen bridges that help animals cross the Trans-Canada Highway Data has shown that 13 large mammals species have used the structures in Banff more than 200,000 times These wildlife crossings have served as a model for other countries looking to protect wildlife around the world Once a bustling mining town operated by the Canadian Pacific Railroad the crumbling ruins of Bankhead now lie abandoned up in the mountains of Banff National Park What one historian dubbed “the twenty year town” was established in 1903 to provide coal to CPR locomotives and Banff Springs Hotel boilers But the unusually brittle coal was far from ideal for the railroad which immediately began to crumble into dust Several labor strikes in Bankhead won the workers higher wages but exacerbated the mine’s cash flow problems the National Parks Act forbade future logging or mining in Banff and Bankhead’s fate as a ghost town was locked in place Being the only non-ice cave under a glacier in the world this subterranean den is a unique blend of glacier and cave Calcium deposits have created soda straws and rare cave pearls A shrimp-like animal lives here that exists nowhere else in the world which may have survived the ice age by sheltering in this underground cavern The only way to get through the entirety of this cave is by scuba diving An unpermitted caver named Mike Boon had a mysterious adventure down here which led to a few areas being named after him including a dangerous shaft called \"Boons Blunder\" which rapidly floods the cave when the weather warms First Nations people had been enjoying the warm mineral-filled waters in a cave nestled in Sulphur Mountain for possibly 10,000 years before three Canadian Pacific Railway workers claimed to have found it in 1883 Frank McCabe and brothers William and Tom McCardell built a fence around the cave and a cabin near its entry and petitioned the Canadian government for ownership of the land But the country needed to finance the railroad and wanted the revenue from the springs The government won the competing lawsuits and established Canada’s first national park then Rocky Mountains National Park in 1887 and admiring wildlife like orchids and an endangered snail only found in the area The Columbia Icefield feeds eight major glaciers It’s 100 – 365 meters (328 – 1,197 feet) in depth and receives up to seven meters (275 inches) of snowfall per year The Athabasca is the most-visited glacier in North America the glacier is visible from the Icefields Parkway The Athabasca has receded significantly since its greatest modern-era extent in 1844 visitors can travel onto the glacier in the comfort of large \"snowcoaches.\" Visiting the glaciers should be done with caution as they’re dangerous and people have been killed falling into deep A name change of this 9,000-foot-tall ridge plunged Castle Mountain into a uniquely Canadian scandal Eisenhower was due to arrive at the Ottawa Canadian Club as the guest of honor World War II had just come to an end the summer before and the tremendously popular general was completing an international victory lap across the Allied nations Inspired by another gift given to Eisenhower—a Scottish Castle—Canada’s Prime Minister Mackenzie King had an idea King quickly had the name changed to Mount Eisenhower the Permanent Committee on Geographical Names agreed to revert to the name Castle Mountain A smaller pinnacle on the eastern side became “Eisenhower Tower” as something of a consolation prize to the then-deceased American general A 1985 article about the Grizzly House Restaurant made sure to mention the telephones at each table just in case diners “wanted to pick up somebody at another table.” Established in 1967 Grizzly House began as a cafe intended to foster the area’s Beatnik bringing with it dancers and touring musicians The establishment earned “a reputation for attracting swingers.” Needing to sell food in order to keep its liquor license the owners made a deal with the Chinese restaurant next door which would deliver food through a hole in the venues’ shared wall the cuisine was replaced by fondue served with a selection of wild game like alligator The current-day spot winks at its history with its “For Lovers and Hedonists” tagline as well as the 70s-era music and still-functioning phones with a telephone directory on the back of the menu and iridescent blue lakes have long made Canada's first national park its most visited Nearly the entire Rocky Mountain range in Canada is covered by a string of national parks smooshed together so the wilderness here feels as vast as the northern country itself That raw ruggedness is exactly what's been attracting people for hundreds of years so the land is pocketed with nuggets of history Many people are familiar with the icefields But not as many are aware of the mummified merman a sunken ghost town that requires scuba diving to the bottom of a lake or the old swinger restaurant that keeps the area colorful with quirky stories From the town of Banff to the point where the road seamlessly passes into next-door Jasper National Park here are the attention-grabbing sites and legendary tales of Banff National Park in Canada’s wild west including a dangerous shaft called "Boons Blunder" which rapidly floods the cave when the weather warms visitors can travel onto the glacier in the comfort of large "snowcoaches." Visiting the glaciers should be done with caution The reintroduction of Plains Bison to Banff National Park is reversing the cascade of adverse ecological and cultural impacts caused by their near-extinction from North America over 140 years ago growing herd and set a strong foundation of knowledge and best practices to inspire and support allyship for similar reintroductions by Indigenous Peoples and conservation practitioners elsewhere Parks Canada Resource Conservation team members work on horseback in the backcountry of Banff National Park radio collaring the bison herd for monitoring purposes Plains Bison were hunted to near extinction throughout the Great Plains and the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains including the area that became Banff National Park including reduced biodiversity and impacts to natural processes in the ecosystem bison influence many parts of the ecosystem Their grazing and wallowing create habitat for plants and other animals The movement of bison herds redistributes nutrients throughout the ecosystem Their loss has also deeply affected Indigenous Peoples who have vital cultural connections with bison 16 healthy Plains Bison were translocated from Elk Island National Park to Banff National Park Parks Canada has contributed to the reintroduction of bison across Canada by providing disease-free Plains and Wood Bison from Elk Island National Park This translocation program has started many new herds and is significant to global bison conservation with the first five years of the bison reintroduction project complete the herd at Banff National Park is healthy and has grown rapidly to over 100 animals this new herd is only the 5th free-roaming population of this imperilled species in the world Much of the project’s success is due to the weaving of Indigenous ceremonies and cultural knowledge with western science This has been achieved through important collaboration with many First Nations including the Stoney Nakoda Nations (Bearspaw and the Rocky View Métis District of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government and non-governmental organizations have also been pivotal Ongoing work is focused on keeping the animals contained in the park until there is support to accept bison as a wildlife species on adjacent lands The otherwise free-roaming population is kept within a 1200 km2 home range by using short sections of wildlife-friendly fencing placed where bison might try to leave the park and by herding them back when they leave park boundaries With the completion of five years of the project and stakeholders are exploring what a broader bison program might look like including trans-jurisdictional possibilities and regulated Indigenous harvest of bison to manage the growing herd Collaborating with partners across boundaries will be key in accommodating the growing herd over the long term Watch the historic return of Plains Bison to Canada’s first national park Parks Canada reintroduced wild bison to Banff National Park Title: after they were absent from the wild for nearly 150 years We know that bison were an integral part of this landscape They played an important role in the whole food web and affected all kinds of other species from fish to amphibians to songbirds to predators like wolves and bears And so one of the key actions in our park management plan most recently was to work restore wild bison to Banff National Park We brought bison from Elk Island in February 2017 it was a great honour to actually cut that fence and pull it back and give them their freedom in this 1200 sq km reintroduction zone they are reintegrating back into this place where they have been gone for a hundred years The role of our team is now to do the research and to monitor these animals we have a team of technicians often referred to as the “bison stewards” who go out and work in the backcountry on multiday shifts and monitor the bison for us So either by doing a heliflight periodically but also getting out on the land whether its skitouring or riding on horseback or hiking Title: Watch the next episodes to see what it takes to bring bison back to Banff National Park The Honourable Steven Guilbeault Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada, and Quebec Lieutenant CalgaryNewsConcerns raised with decision to put G7 demonstration zone in downtown Banff By Melissa GilliganUpdated: April 25, 2025 at 6:19PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved BANFF – A teenaged skier was flown to hospital in “serious and potentially life-threatening condition” on Sunday afternoon (March 30) following a skiing accident in Banff National Park Banff EMS was called to Sunshine Village at approximately 2:20 p.m. where they assumed care of a male teenager after he was brought down the ski hill by patrol.  Paramedics treated the teen while waiting for the arrival of STARS air ambulance a public education officer for Alberta Health Services “The patient was subsequently flown to Foothills Medical Centre [in Calgary] in serious and potentially life-threatening condition,” Brideaux said An update on the injured skier is not available at this time murdered Banff native Ethan Enns-Goneau can finally rest in peace shortly after his killer was sentenced to life in prison Calgary Court of King’s Bench Justice Robert Hall accepted a joint Crown and defence submission that convicted murderer John Christopher Arrizza be ordered to serve a minimum 12 years before he can seek parole Arrizza … for the second-degree murder of Ethan Enns-Goneau I sentence you to life imprisonment,” Hall said in handing down the mandatory punishment for the crime “You will not be eligible for parole until the expiry of 12 years of this sentence.” Both Gloria Enns and Mark Goneau expressed relief the prosecution of their son’s killer had concluded Ethan can rest in a little peace and maybe we get a little bit “I just want to thank the Town of Banff and all of his friends and everybody that’s taken such good care of us,” Enns said Goneau said his son touched many lives in his short 26 years “He was a charismatic kid,” the father said “He was a bright light and we’re gonna miss that kid forever Hall noted the outpouring of support for the victim and his family by Banff residents left reeling at the tragic killing of a native son “The picture painted in the victim impact statements was that Ethan was a young man full of life and full of love,” Hall said The Calgary judge said Enns-Goneau’s killing shocked residents of the national park town a mecca of fun and exciting and (a) safe place to live had been shattered by a murder occurring there for the first time in 30 years,” Hall said “Even the mayor of Banff (Corrie DiManno) wrote to say what a terrific young man Ethan was and how the murder had shaken the community.” who didn’t know his killer when he was suddenly attacked in the men’s room of the Dancing Sasquatch bar on Banff Avenue violent stabbing and killing of a vulnerable unsuspecting innocent person without any reason or provocation.” But he said he had to balance the crime with the need for Arrizza’s rehabilitation noting the offender had no prior criminal record and his conduct was driven by alcohol and drug addiction “Sentencing is not an exercise of vengeance or revenge and no sentence can right the wrong in what occurred here,” Hall said “Under the influence of drugs and alcohol he became a different person … That is the person that murdered Ethan Enns-Goneau.” The judge said he hopes during his incarceration Arrizza will “defeat his addiction to drugs and alcohol and return from prison a better man.” BANFF – The Town of Banff’s unrestricted year-end surplus for 2024 dropped from a projected $843,000 to $42,000 representing 0.06 per cent of the $67 million operating budget The small surplus is being transferred to the budget stabilization reserve Hugh Pettigrew questioned why there was such a substantial difference in surplus projections between the third quarter and year-end financials “What forecasting improvements can we consider to enhance projects what are we doing to get more accurate numbers?” he said Town of Banff officials say there were several changes that led to the 2024 actuals being very close to budget as opposed to the $843,000 unrestricted surplus predicted in the third-quarter financial statements director of corporate services for the Town of Banff said personnel costs came in higher than forecast due to the number of days of accrual to year-end that were required as per public sector accounting standards She said the last pay period of 2024 ended on Dec and therefore an accrual for 17 days was done to fully account for wages and benefits for the year “We had forecast the wages based on pay periods and because of that accrual at the end of the year that’s what was a large chunk of that variance that we’ve experienced,” she said “What we’re going to do going forward to ensure that doesn’t happen again is we’ll be forecasting that on the date basis as opposed to the pay period DiManno was quick to remind council that administration had cautioned elected officials about the third quarter surplus prediction during service review and budget discussions “We were very mindful of keeping tax support down as much as possible and we were basically looking at spending $1.4 million on fire mitigation work so upgrading structural protection unit and taking down trees near critical infrastructure,” she said administration at that time was very hesitant to tell us they had a forecast to the tune of ($830,000) because we were in a position where we were really trying to balance the budget and there was an idea that we could use some of that potential forecast to get fire work done.” visitor pay parking funded the fire mitigation work but my question was to administration to answer the question “You kind of set it up as if it came out of nowhere so I just wanted to give it some context as to how we even arrived at hearing a forecast.” the prediction of the $830,000 surplus was made during a “bit of an unusual time” when trying to put the budget together “I appreciate the question and to us as well coming in and thinking the forecast was going to be $800,000 and then having it be lower it was a very nervous forecast for us to bring forward,” she said Pettigrew replied: “I appreciate the answer and I wasn’t trying to be critical I was just wanting to know how we go forward with that information so we won’t get caught in the same way.” said the municipality received a total of $74.9 million in revenues in 2024 “Some areas of the Town operations experienced shortfalls in revenues throughout the year but close management of expenditure helped to partially offset gaps,” she said the Town spent $65 million to maintain its services which includes non-cash items of amortization and asset retirement obligation accretion of $7.4 million.” The Town of Banff collected about $6.1 million in paid parking revenues last year which is $1.6 million higher than initially budgeted due to a hike in paid parking fees and an increase in the number of paid parking stalls in the Bear Street parkade Contracted and general services were $3.6 million higher than expected “The majority of this increase – $2.4 million – is due to the flow through of tourism business licences revenue to BLLT,” said Biswas “The remaining increase is attributed to increased contracted services required for maintenance on municipal buildings and transit buses hiring contractors in-lieu of staff shortage, etc.” BANFF – Banff’s overall tax levy – made up of municipal provincial education and regional housing taxes – will increase 12.73 per cent this year after the province’s school tax requisition came in much higher than expected council passed the tax rate bylaw on a 5-2 vote with a mill rate split of 4.2469:1 to equalize the annual percentage increase in the $26.5 municipal portion of the tax levy between residential and non-residential properties at 5.93 per cent This results in an overall increase of 9.30 per cent for residential properties and 14.24 per cent for non-residential properties when the provincial education tax and Bow Valley Regional Housing levy are factored in said the overall increase of 12.73 per cent is not representative of the expected change on individual tax bills especially within the various sub-sectors of non-residential properties She said an average residential property could expect to see an increase of approximately 9.30 per cent “The average hotel would see an increase of 15.28 per cent an average downtown mixed-use property would see an increase of 11.88 per cent and an average industrial property would see an increase of 12.28 per cent,” she said The provincial government’s school tax requisition which is collected by the Town of Banff on behalf of the province is up a staggering 29.4 per cent to $13.4 million The Bow Valley Regional Housing levy is 7.52 per cent higher than in 2024 at $500,000 which will be mailed out in mid- to late-May will have a new and revamped layout to clearly spell out the provincial education tax requisition makes up 33.1 per cent of the total bill underlined,” said Mayor Corrie DiManno noting the provincial education tax requisition is beyond the municipality’s control Aebig said the provincial education taxes for Banff have increased by 61.8 per cent since 2019 compared to total assessment growth over the same period of 45.5 per cent She said for a residential property continually assessed at the overall average value the provincial education tax will represent more than half of the 2025 taxes payable through the Town of Banff’s notice She said the 29.4 per cent increase in the provincial education tax requisition for 2025 includes a 12.7 per cent residential increase and a 48.1 non-residential increase “That hits the Town of Banff particularly hard because of the continuing increase in equalized assessment,” she said “When the province calculates these numbers they use equalized assessment, which is a lagging number so the number that they use when they calculate this allocation is from 2023,” she added “That was still a year where assessment was increasing quite significantly as we came out of COVID-19.” Ted Christensen voted against the tax rate bylaw was unsuccessful in his attempt for a mill rate split of 4.5:1 This would bump the overall residential increase down to 6.93 per cent + increase commercial to 15.28 per cent.  “This is a way to recognize the increased cost of living and pressures on the residential sector and a lot of them don’t get to write this off,” he said “I think it’s time to take a bit of the burden off this year understanding at least from my perspective that next year the rough waters will be softer as the changes from the property values will likely soften for next year on the provincial side because it will be based on this year’s assessment.” who voted against the tax split put forward by Pettigrew said equalizing the municipal portion is council’s usual practice “The pandemic required us to deviate from it but it’s now appropriate to return to our historical method Last year we took a big step towards equalizing so this year it feels like more of an adjustment than a major shift,” she said “I continue to want to make as much room as possible between the current tax rate and the 5:1 ceiling in case of any kind of economic downturn so that we have room to try and do what we can to soften impacts in a hard time.” Barb Pelham said it is important to equalize the shift in the tax rate split “I believe this results in 76.6 per cent of the taxes being paid by the non-residential sector … we’re moving that dial from 80 to 76 per cent,” she said “We’re so fortunate to have that strength in our commercial sector to help pay for the amenities going into our town I think that the equalized approach is something that is justifiable and fair for everybody.” The total overall taxable assessment for the Town of Banff has increased by 10.3 per cent from $4.020 billion to $4.435 billion Aebig said the average residential property value increased by 7.3 per cent for the 2025 tax year compared to 5.5 per cent for 2024 She said the total residential taxable assessment which excludes tax exempt designated affordable housing properties like Ti’nu increased by 6.1 per cent from $2.259 billion to $2.397 billion The non-residential assessment value increased 18.1 per cent for the 2025 tax year “Total non-residential taxable assessments which like residential assessment excludes tax-exempt properties have increased by 15.8 per cent from $1.761 billion to $2.038 billion,” she said YELLOWHEAD – William Stevenson is the new federal representative for the Yellowhead riding He earned 69.1 percent of the riding’s vote – or 47.797 – after all polls were counted the Conservative representative, by phone and email multiple times after he was declared winner but was unable to reach him and will update the story when we do Stevenson will head to Ottawa to represent the riding with Mark Carney and the Liberal Party forming a federal government Stevenson is a chartered professional accountant in Carstairs who has been involved in provincial and federal politics for about 30 years His work included representing multiple Conservative MPs as a financial agent in past elections this was the first time he put his name forward to represent constituents when he challenged former MP Gerald Soroka for the nomination and was named the winner last June or 69.145 of 92,461 registered electors; however this does not include electors who registered on election day received 25.1 per cent – or 17,388 votes – of the votes for the Liberal Party the former general manager of municipal infrastructure and director of recovery for the Municipality of Jasper He said his hope is that with the election finished all sides can find a way to work together to address issues being faced by Canadians “If you look at the [election] results [across Canada] I think what it really comes down to is there’s that sense of anger and division that needs to be addressed and we need leaders who are going to try and focus on what unites us to bring us together and what we have in common and bring forward common solutions and not lead through division,” he said Fark said with a Conservative heading to represent the region in Ottawa he hopes Stevenson will do his best in representing all people across the diverse riding “I hope William takes seriously the role as a representative and the accountability that comes with it,” he said “That’s something we consistently heard across the riding is people felt their voices were not being heard and they didn’t have a seat at the decision-making table … I hope he’ll do the work to be a representative across the riding for all constituents.” The riding had roughly a dozen candidate forums in places such as Banff Sundre and Waiparous during the five-week campaign With the divisive nature seeping into politics Fark pointed to the lack of “reasonable disagreement,” with all sides becoming more entrenched in their specific position He said it was vital for sides to find ways to work with one another to find common ground Fark said he felt there were many meaningful discussions with voters of all political spectrums he said both sides felt heard and respected “We’re looking at how do we motivate each of our bases rather than how do we find real practical solutions to our common solutions,” he said “If we don’t start introducing that back into our politics we are going to go the way of the United States and that’s something I don’t want for my country.” Yellowhead was projected to be a Conservative stronghold “That’s likely the kind of voice that’s going to dominate here unless there’s a real surge in momentum for the Liberals,” Lori Williams a political scientist at Mount Royal University previously told Great West Media Despite the Liberal Party's projected poor chances federally up until a few months ago when former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned and Carney formed a government the Liberal Party surged throughout the country A key election promise made by Carney was national parks and historic sites would be free this summer if he was elected which came as many people in Canada questioned whether to visit the United States in recent months due to the tumultuous relationship since Donald Trump was elected president and threatened to make Canada the 51st state it could have a significant impact on visitation in the Bow Valley this summer particularly in Banff and Banff National Park Voters across Canada gave the Liberal Party a fourth mandate The last time a federal government had four consecutive terms was Jean Chrétien from 1993 to 2003 and Paul Martin from 2003 to 2006 Canmore’s Avni Soma was third in the riding with 2,753 votes She was selected as the party’s candidate in 2024 and spent several months visiting all areas of the riding Not a good night for the NDP across the country as the party collapsed Soma gave a concession speech at her watch party in Canmore she said she wasn’t surprised Stevenson won the redrawn Yellowhead riding particularly because much of the riding is rural Alberta “It is going to take time to change hearts and minds in rural Alberta,” she said Despite the loss in her first election campaign “This is the beginning of the next chapter because I am so grateful to have campaigned for over seven months and built an amazing team throughout this very large and very diverse riding,” she said “The next chapter is going to be building on that,  so building on those relationships and all the conversations and continuing to campaign for the next election Vicky Bayford for the People’s Party of Canada received 955 votes for 1.4 per cent while Canmore’s Dale Heath of the Christian Heritage Party got 252 votes for 0.4 per cent The riding had 27,666 eligible voters take part in advanced voting before April 28 The riding has a population of 115,086 people and 92,461 people eligible to vote The Yellowhead federal riding was redistributed in 2022 and 2023 when Elections Canada went through a nationwide process of redrawn electoral maps and creating new ones Yellowhead is among the largest in Alberta – more than 80,000 square kilometres – and has about 115,000 people It stretches from Banff and Canmore in the south to Grande Cache in the north and Carstairs and Sundre in the east The diverse riding has multiple issues ranging from housing Stevenson previously told Great West Media if elected he would rely on technology such as video conferencing to represent all constituents this riding is not built to make it easy,” Stevenson said in a February interview [an MP] can be across their entire one in 10 minutes This is possibly seven hours from north to south so it's gonna be very difficult on that end to get to everybody there.” He also said he would look to get on a committee that involves matters of Canada Revenue Agency to potentially work on tax reform BANFF – Fire crews from Parks Canada and Banff’s fire department were quick to extinguish what is believed to be human-caused wildfire west of Vermilion Lakes in Banff National Park on Friday afternoon (April 18) to the fire crews from Town of Banff Fire Department and Parks Canada for their swift action,” states a Parks Canada Facebook post “Fire crews from the Town of Banff Fire Department and Parks Canada responded quickly and the fire is now under control.” There is no current threat to public safety Parks Canada fire crew members remain on scene the fire is believed to have been human-caused potentially by the careless tossing of a cigarette “This serves as a reminder that during this time of year We urge visitors to properly dispose of cigarettes when hiking cycling or driving,” states the Facebook post “We also wish to remind the public that having illegal fires outside of designated fire rings can easily get out of control under these conditions and pose a serious threat “To safely have a campfire in Banff National Park Never leave your campfire unattended.” BANFF – A section of the Bow Valley Parkway in Banff National Park will once again be car-free to make way for cyclists in spring and fall and Parks Canada has opened the Legacy Trail between Banff and Canmore but there will be a ‘yield and dismount’ zone of the Legacy Trail between Valleyview Lookout and the park’s east gate along with signs at the site of a damaged bridge where a semi-trailer collided a few weeks back but cyclists will need to walk their bikes through this section for safety,” said Kelly Veillette public relations and communications officer for Banff National Park Parks Canada has also extended the Bow Valley Parkway cycling pilot project until 2030 with a 17-km stretch of the parkway between Fireside day-use area and Johnston Canyon off limits to private vehicles between May 1 and June 25 and from Aug the overnight mandatory seasonal travel closure from 8 p.m which runs until June 25 to give wildlife space and security at crucial times during spring also applies to the parkway’s so-called “cycling experience.” strategic communications advisor for Banff National Park said the initial three-year cycling experience from 2022-24 showed there was significant demand for a vehicle-free cycling experience within the park “The extended pilot presents an opportunity for Parks Canada to take an adaptive management approach to this unique cycling offer,” she said in an email Smyth said Parks Canada will continue to monitor and collect data to address visitor experience “Adaptive management adjustments may be made to mitigate issues over the course of this extended pilot phase and to inform long-term management planning,” she said The Rundle Mountain Cycling Club (RMCC) welcomed the news saying it was pleased to see that Parks Canada has responded to the “overwhelmingly positive feedback” we would have loved to have seen it open all summer long We thought the parkway would be of great interest to kids during the summer holiday period,” said Bruce Eidsvik we aren’t looking a gift horse in the mouth. RMCC is happy to take what it can get we can demonstrate through continued usage what a great resource this section of the parkway is to cyclists of all walks of life and Parks Canada will eventually extend the closure to cover the entire summer.” BANFF – Banff’s Katherine Severson has seen it all – from wildfire disaster floods and more during her lengthy career in frontline emergency services Now the director of emergency management and protective services for the Town of Banff a retired sergeant with Calgary Police Service has received the Calgary Police Commission’s 2025 Lifetime of Distinguished Service Award “She showed a commitment throughout her career to leadership and improving policing,” according to a statement from the Calgary Police Commission which gives the award each year to a current or recent CPS member who contributes to positive change in the field of policing who spent 26 years with Calgary Police Service before she retired in 2023 to start her new role in Banff said she was very surprised to learn of the award but I quickly learned how the nomination process worked and it was from my former peers so that really meant a lot,” she said winning the Bill Shelever Memorial Award for outstanding achievement during recruit training She also twice received the Chief’s Award for Life Saving and consistently volunteered during her career to be a coach and instructor for other officers for her tremendous contributions to Calgary’s emergency management practices She co-authored both the City of Calgary’s mass casualty incident protocol and flood evacuation plan ensuring there are multi-agency plans to quickly address large-scale emergencies She was also instrumental in creating protocols for a Victim Reconciliation Taskforce and the police to quickly work together to reunite loved ones It later became the template for the rest of the province Severson created and provided live training on a new active shooter protocol for first responders active shooter victims would have to wait until the police stopped the threat before receiving aid other emergency services can enter buildings with the police to immediately provide medical care while police officers work to stop a shooter Also a longstanding volunteer member Canada Task Force 2 – a national all-hazards disaster response team – Severson has been deployed to help manage disasters across western Canada Severson said she is extremely grateful for the career she has had giving thanks for the many partnerships with other agencies and emergency management organizations and the opportunities those partnerships have opened “Not only the opportunities I had in real world incidents starting in 2013 with the the southern Alberta floods and then going from there but also working with my emergency management and emergency preparedness colleagues in the city at the Calgary Fire Department … those relationships really allowed me come to the appreciation around interoperability between emergency services,” she said “I think that’s the bridge that really set me up to appreciate coming here and getting to do that here.” Severson said the last 12 to 13 years of her 26-year career with Calgary Police Service were centred on emergency management “That opportunity is really what allowed me to hopefully build some programs that lasted as it was a long period of time that I was able to work there,” she said “I was lucky. I was super lucky that I found something that I was personally so interested in and there was so much great work to be done.” A career in emergency services does leave some scars but Severson hopes the work has left an impact on members of the public She said she also appreciates the mentors and teachers she had along the way noting she had some excellent partners outside of policing that were also crucial “Having a career in frontline emergency services was a huge privilege,” Severson said BANFF – The Liberal Party candidate for the sprawling riding representing the Bow Valley in the April 28 federal election has voiced concerns about his party’s campaign promise to make Canada’s national parks free this summer During a federal election forum in Banff on Tuesday (April 15) for the new redrawn Yellowhead riding – in which the Conservative candidate William Stevenson was a last minute no-show – Michael Fark said he supports Liberal leader Mark Carney’s call for additional national parks but flagged concerns about free entry to the national parks this summer “I am concerned about the policy implications of that most importantly are they going to commit to make up the revenue shortfall that Parks is going to lose by implementing that,” said Fark during the forum which was hosted by Banff and Lake Louise Hospitality Association (BLLHA) and Association of Mountain Parks Protection and Enjoyment (AMPPE) but when it comes time for action and implementation we need people to actually understand what the implications of the policy are.” Carney has announced that the Liberals plan to create at least 10 new national parks and 15 urban parks across the country He also announced a move to drop national park entrance fees this summer which comes at a time many Canadians have decided against travelling south of the border amid U.S President Donald Trump’s trade war and threats against Canadian sovereignty Carney has not said what it would cost taxpayers or what the impact would be on budgets for Parks Canada which relies on entrance fee revenues as part of its funding model. Banff National Park attracts about 4.3 million visitors a year the federal government dropped park fees to mark the 150th anniversary of Canada’s confederation The move led to an explosion in visitation to Banff National Park Banff Mayor Corrie DiManno said she knows people love and cherish the national parks system noting it is the Town of Banff’s mandate to help provide services to visitors to the park Stevenson told the organizers of the election forum that he couldn’t make the event because he had a staff member with a family emergency which meant he was pulling double duty in his accounting firm His withdrawal was mere hours before the forum was to get started at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity Fark took aim at Stevenson’s last minute absence a couple of times throughout the evening including during discussion on Parks Canada’s budget and infrastructure pressures “It’s unfortunate William is not here tonight He’s made statements in some of the other forums about wanting to change Parks Canada’s mandate looking for more local or provincial control over our national parks,” he said “Those are statements that I find quite concerning so it would have been better to hear those from him.” operational funding for Parks Canada has remained relatively flat despite inflationary pressures and rising visitation which has put strain on essential services like washroom maintenance AMPPE and BLLHA raised questions about the ever increasing pressure placed on local infrastructure in the tourism region wanting to know how each party would advocate for investment in transportation and infrastructure to improve accessibility to the Bow Valley the People’s Party of Canada’s representative for the sprawling Yellowhead riding said her long-term vision in an ideal world would be a passenger train from Calgary but “right now I do not feel like we’re in a spot as a country or a province that we can invest in a big train.” “I think we have to depend on our local people to start the businesses to start the bus tour companies,” she said “I don’t know what another feasible option for transportation to get people here is and I don’t think we have the space here for that either.” said this issue has to be thought of in the context of advancing technology are people going to be owning cars?” said Soma most of them don’t drive because they’re either car-sharing or using public transport and things like that … just to think about how we’re going to move in the future as technology advances.” Fark said multi-modal transportation and mass transit has to be the way of the future If you’re going to park those vehicles parking takes up an inordinate amount of land and at some point also we have to recognize that there are going to be limits,” he said “The idea that we can grow visitation and visitor numbers in the national park without eventually coming to a point where we are degrading both the living experience and the visitor experience and the environment.” Fark said he was involved in discussions a number of years ago when the viability of high speed rail from Calgary airport to Banff and Canmore was initially put on the table "It requires a critical mass of people and population in order to be able to justify the cost otherwise it requires a heavy subsidy from government,” he said “It is still a project that has a lot of allure; it would be a wonderful visitor experience but the reality is it’s extremely challenging financially with such a low population base in order to make a project like that work.” Fark said when talking about infrastructure that is required for the Bow Valley it has to be about the road network and the Trans-Canada Highway “We invest in improving and upgrading and maintaining that infrastructure which has been under-invested in for a number of years,” he said “There are a lot of things we can do in the meantime as we have done in the Bow Valley Roam locally and On-It from Calgary are really good examples of that.” Commitment to new SAIT training facility will support YWCA Banff initiatives to promote community well-being and industry sustainability Banff, AB (Monday, Nov. 25, 2024) — Following the announcement of a new partnership between the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and YWCA Banff the Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation has gifted $30 million towards the partnership to establish world-class hospitality and tourism programming based in Banff This precedent-setting gift is divided into two components with $10 million gifted to YWCA Banff to support transformative renovations to turn a portion of the building into a state-of-the-art teaching facility and student housing The YWCA units dedicated to affordable and transitional housing A gift of $20 million to SAIT supports long-term hospitality and tourism programming uniquely created to provide world-leading applied learning opportunities in one of Canada’s premier tourism communities Through a shared commitment to creating long-term benefits for the community and tourism sector YWCA Banff and the Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation are set to accomplish extraordinary change in Banff By creating a space to offer tourism-based education in Banff tourism and hospitality will continue to be elevated as a viable career path while supporting community issues and challenges through investment in the YWCA “SAIT is dedicated to building new pathways to strengthen hospitality and tourism in the Bow Valley corridor while supporting the community through this dynamic partnership,” says Dr “By offering a new immersive learning environment in the heart of a globally revered tourism centre we are committed to developing a secure talent pipeline to support tourism and the community in the area.” Wim and Nancy Pauw established their Foundation in 2009 with a focus on investing tourism earnings back into the community Wim has always looked beyond immediate success to invest in people and the community,” says Cathy Geisler Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation Executive Director “This exciting new partnership is yet another step toward realizing his vision — a world-class centre for tourism and hospitality that fosters excellence strengthens the delivery and expansion of locally-based critical social services and supports economic resiliency right in the heart of Canada’s most iconic national park.” The renovation will be a game-changer for both education and the community supporting a sustainable tourism economy and strengthening the YWCA’s ability to deliver and expand its critical services By securing a long-term agreement with SAIT the capacity for the YWCA to deliver critical programs and services will be better positioned to meet increased demand “This partnership goes beyond education — it aims to create long-term benefits for our community while strengthening the tourism sector that sustains our town Through efforts aimed at violence prevention — including driving systemic change within the tourism and hospitality sectors — we aim to address root causes YWCA Banff will continue to provide critical programming but we also recognize the importance of upstream initiatives that create long-term solutions,” says Ebony Rempel “We are grateful to the Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation for this incredibly generous donation reinvesting tourism profits into projects that enhance community members’ lives.” SAIT’s School of Hospitality and Tourism, ranked #14 globally and #1 in Canada offers world-class programs in hospitality A presence in Banff is intended to offer a continuous flow of highly skilled professionals publicly funded technical school in North America As a global leader in applied education and research — serving nearly 40,000 students annually — SAIT offers certificate apprenticeship and applied degree programs corporate training and more than 1,000 continuing education courses award-winning areas of research and capacity for new and emerging research Curriculum and research priorities are developed through industry partnerships to ensure graduates have the skills and knowledge required to fulfill the demand for talent SAIT is honoured to be recognized by Mediacorp Canada Inc as one of Alberta’s Top Employers for 2024 and to be ranked fourth by Research Infosource Inc in the Top 50 Research Colleges in Canada for 2024 CEOWORLD Magazine ranked the SAIT School of Business #53 on the list of Best Business Schools in the World for 2025 and the School of Hospitality and Tourism placed #13 on their list of Best Hospitality and Hotel Management Schools in the World for 2025 Connect with us: facebook.com/SAIT | twitter.com/SAIT | instagram.com/SAIT SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta student-led crowdfunding projects or the I.G Learn how you can make a difference and become a donor today BANFF – At least three wolves from the Bow Valley pack have been killed in traplines outside Banff National Park earlier this year which was fitted with a GPS collar last year dispersed around the south side of Canmore and then south into Kananaskis Country in late January where he was caught and killed in a trapline near the Elbow River “Parks Canada is aware of three wolves being trapped outside of the national park boundary in recent months,” said Kelly Veillette public relations and communications officer for Banff National Park in an email the Bow Valley pack is currently estimated to have seven members.” titled Wolves Without Borders: Trans-boundary survival of wolves in Banff National Park over three decades published in Global Ecology and Conservation showed that wolves have much lower survival rates once they leave Banff National Park onto unprotected provincial lands The research by Parks Canada wildlife ecologist Jesse Whittington and University of Montana wildlife scientist Mark Hebblewhite looked at the trans-boundary movements on survival of 72 radio-collared gray wolves from 1987 to 2018 in and adjacent to Banff National Park The researchers found the cumulative risk of wolf mortality was on average 6.7 times higher for wolves outside the park peaking during the winter hunting and trapping seasons There are no quotas for wolf hunting and trapping The top three sources of mortality when wolves left the national park were trapping Trapping and hunting are prohibited within Banff National Park wolves are exposed to hunting and trapping mortality in Alberta where there are no quotas in place and there are lengthy seasons Hebblewhite said transboundary mortality of wildlife species is still one of the main ways that national parks are failing to conserve their populations – not just in Alberta but around the world the regulatory environment for large carnivores is so exploitative that anytime a carnivore leaves a park they are subject to much higher risk of mortality,” he said “The mortality of these wolves back in January – that were all likely Bow Valley – is both sad and absolutely predictable based on research we’ve done over the last 30 years or more in Banff National Park.” a professor in the wildlife biology program at the University of Montana who has studied wolves since the 1990s said this kind of mortality when wolves leave the national park can have ecological impacts “Even though it’s probably likely that the Bow Valley pack will once again den and have pups this year this continued mortality means that wolves in national parks aren’t allowed to live in big multi-generational packs,” he said Hebblewhite recalled watching a wolf pack with more than 36 wolves hunting in Yellowstone National Park last winter He said that is the type of  wolf pack with multiple generations of different age wolves “With this kind of transboundary mortality we just never have wolf packs like that in Banff,” he said Hebblewhite said it is interesting that both times this collared wolf went out to the eastern slopes area east of Canmore it used the wildlife corridor on the south side of the Bow Valley “It shows that the Canmore south corridor is still functional for at least some wolves to be able to get through at current level of development,” he said “It highlights the other work that we’ve done showing that expansion of the Three Sisters Mountain resort is almost sure to reduce the effectiveness of the corridor even more especially for sensitive species like wolves.” Hebblewhite said this all points to the same sort of debates happening in Montana where there is a “political football kicked back-and-forth" between the Montana state government and federal National Park Service about a buffer zone surrounding Yellowstone National Park He said there is still some harvesting of wolves allowed meaning that only two wolves in each of these two units can be killed “Alberta would really improve the quality and management of parks and protected areas by considering buffer zones for large carnivore harvest around the national parks,” Hebblewhite said “There’s already an effective buffer zone for some species of large carnivores such as wolverines in British Columbia west of the national parks but Alberta is a laggard in this regard.” wolves first recolonized the Canadian Rockies in the 1970’s and 1980’s.  Wolves colonized the Bow Valley of Banff National Park in 1985 and also recolonized provincial lands east of Banff National Park in the late 1980s According to a statement from Alberta Forestry and Parks registered fur management licence holders in Alberta are permitted to trap and harvest wolves in wildlife management units with an open season.  licence holders are required to submit a mandatory fur harvest report between July 1 and Sept 30 when applying for their licence for the following trapping season,” according to the emailed statement “This helps Alberta’s government make informed management decisions and monitor harvest levels throughout the province.” If a wolf with a GPS collar provided by the province is killed Alberta's wildlife regulations require that they submit a completed report to the ministry no later than seven days after the animal was killed or found.  “The ministry is not aware of any report being filed at this time,” according to the statement For wolves with collars fitted by other agencies the province referred the Outlook to Parks Canada BANFF – A dog owner has been fined $300 after the off-leash dog attacked a mule deer in Banff Parks Canada officials issued the $300 fine under the Town of Banff's animal services bylaw for “harassment of wildlife” as the incident occurred within the municipal boundaries of the Town of Banff according to a Parks Canada emailed statement on Thursday (March 6) In accordance with the Town’s animal services bylaw the municipal enforcement department required the dog’s guardian to purchase a $500 vicious animal licence The Town of Banff was quick to act shortly after the incident which was caught on a 40-second video clip that was circulated on social media site Reddit showing an off-leash dog attacking the mule deer outside the Moxy hotel on Banff Avenue the weekend of Feb director of communications for the Town of Banff said municipal enforcement staff made the determination in the same week of the incident and in accordance with the animal services bylaw took steps to enhance public safety by requiring the dog owner to agree to having the dog on leash or harness and muzzle the dog at all times in public and to obtain the special licence “The owners were immediately fully compliant obtained the licence and paid the fee within three business days of being directed to do so,” he said The dog owner has not been fined previously Parks Canada said its law enforcement wardens worked closely with the Town of Banff’s municipal enforcement on the investigation Parks Canada would not say what day the investigation wrapped up or when the fine was issued A follow-up email requesting the public information was ignored “The current status of the deer involved is unknown,” according to the Parks Canada statement the law requires dogs are to be on-leash at all times the dog appears to be biting into the deer’s ear and grabbing it by an antler – and not letting go and is knocked to the ground in the process Parks Canada but directed residents and visitors to its website to learn how to be a responsible park-user here: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/faune-wildlife/chiens-dogs we help ensure the safety of both wildlife and our furry companions,” according to the Parks Canada statement CanadaBanff offers the best of both worlds: adventure and wellness Here are fives reasons why June is the best time to visit Mitti Hicks•Apr 21 There is (probably) not a television, laptop, or tablet in the world that doesn’t have Banff, Canada, and its iconic Lake Louise as a screensaver option.  Few landscapes in the world can captivate all your senses like Banff National Park especially with its iconic lakes such as Lake Louise Imagine if a Blue Zircon gem could transform into pure liquid which serves as the centerpiece for the beautiful mountain backdrop that surrounds the lake Lake Louise isn’t the only mesmerizing destination in Banff National Park. Moraine Lake is another incredible must-see destination during your time in Banff, and you won’t want to leave without taking the Banff Gondola for breathtaking panoramic views of the Canadian Rockies Banff offers the best of both worlds: adventure and wellness There are hiking and cruising experiences to keep you active and the Banff Upper Hot Springs are a great way to unwind after a long day of physical activity you want to pick the best time to revel in these unique excursions Here are five reasons why June is the best time to visit Banff Prepare to experience what feels like two seasons in June during the transition from spring to summer in the Canadian Rockies Visitors to Banff can expect warmer temperatures in June The snow is melting from the higher elevations Warm temperatures in June mean that more hiking trails become available and attractions start to open up June also offers more daylight hours than winter allowing for more time to explore outdoors In addition to more attractions opening up Banff visitors can expect wildlife to start emerging from winter hibernation Hikers will encounter incredible wildlife in its natural habitat While the moose population continues to decline you may see some near the marshy areas around the Vermillion Lakes One of the best reasons for visiting Banff in June is that it’s still considered the off-peak season. The off-peak season generally comes with cheaper accommodations and activity prices compared to the peak travel season which typically occurs during the summer months of July and August Fewer crowds mean there are more hotels and airplane seats more people are visiting to witness its beauty up close the summer months have become unbearable with large crowds June will give travelers looking to visit while it’s warm out some peace of mind and a parking space June brings a ton of events to Banff and its neighbor The Banff Farmers Market begins on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m and the Canmore Mountain Market is on Thursdays at the same time visitors can enjoy a unique lake cruise experience on Lake Minnewanka If you are a runner or appreciate athletes the Banff Half Marathon and 10K are held annually in June There is no better time to visit Banff National Park than June. June offers long days and warmer weather with fewer people to enjoy this bucket-list destination There’s plenty to explore for a nature escape and unforgettable memories Head to the Fairview Lookout or Lake Agnes Teahouse for the most epic pictures of your journey a free daily newsletter that features the best of travel and guides to the cities you love from a new point of view — yours you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy Queen Elizabeth Once Stepped In To Prevent Snoop Dogg From Being Banned From The UK United Airlines Flight Attendant's Armrest Announcement Sparks Social Media Frenzy ‘Basketball Wives’ Star Mehgan James Speaks Out About Popular Bahamas Island With Flesh-Eating Bacteria After Friend Loses Leg Chaos Erupts After Ethiopian Airlines Passenger Forced To Give Up Seat For Minister Paramount+'s 'MobLand' has rapidly garnered a wide audience thanks to its fascinating characters and gorgeous scenic backdrops A 27-year-old Chinese student living in Japan was rescued twice from Mount Fuji within days – the second time after reascending for his phone The Haifeng is Taiwan’s first luxury dessert-themed train It redefines the afternoon tea experience with some Michelin-starred desserts is taking a step towards opening its doors to international travelers discovering these dishes is recognizing that the rice you're eating in Louisiana has a cousin in Lagos Agreement aims to strengthen community well-being and sustainable hospitality and tourism growth in the region 2024) — The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and the YWCA Banff are working together to help shape a bright future for hospitality and tourism in Banff with a shared commitment to creating long-term benefits for the community and tourism sector a portion of YWCA's building will be transformed into a state-of-the-art teaching facility and student housing The number of YWCA units dedicated to affordable and transitional housing supporting a sustainable tourism economy and strengthening the YWCA's ability to deliver and expand its critical services "This partnership with SAIT offers an incredible opportunity to re-think how we can use our space to better fulfill our mission respond to the community's evolving needs and ensure those who rely on our services will continue to have the support they need," says Ebony Rempel SAIT's School of Hospitality and Tourism "This collaboration is about creating a lasting positive impact on the community the local tourism sector and the future workforce of hospitality professionals," says James Overall "Banff is a world-renowned destination and this unique partnership will give our students invaluable experience while allowing them to contribute directly to the local economy." SAIT's presence is intended to offer a continuous flow of highly skilled professionals ensuring a future-ready workforce for Banff’s hospitality and tourism industries Construction is anticipated to begin in 2025 pending funding support as well as government approvals on several levels including Parks Canada and the Town of Banff and provincial government approvals for SAIT programming SAIT expects to deliver programming in the facility by Fall 2026 Home   News   Article An exhibition featuring the works of a 19th century Scottish artist has opened Duff House in Banff is hosting the 'Private Landscapes’ Wilson (1848-1890) was one of the most distinctive and talented Scottish watercolourists of his generation but even in his lifetime his name was little known Wilson was educated in Aberdeen and attended the University of Edinburgh before moving to London in 1868 to study art at the Royal Academy and the Slade School of Fine Art There he formed a friendship with the portrait painter JB Yeats and joined ‘The Brotherhood’ an informal artistic group influenced by the work of William Blake Wilson was an accomplished draughtsman and was interested in the patterns produced in nature by foliage and on his regular visits to see his family in Aberdeenshire His landscape watercolours convey his intense love of nature and a sense of the mystery and beauty of the world around us Wilson rarely exhibited or promoted his art and most of his work remained with his family after his tragically early death aged 41 Brilliantly coloured and meticulously painted the artworks in this exhibition demonstrate his ability to find beauty in every quiet corner of the landscape All but one of the watercolours on show were bequeathed to the National Galleries of Scotland in 2018 by the artist’s great-great-nephew Alan Victor (1942-2018) two sketchbooks and supporting archive material which form the centrepiece of this exhibition They have recently undergone conservation and the exhibition will provide visitors with a fascinating insight into this work and new research carried out by the National Galleries of Scotland’s Paper Conservation team Collections Manager for Duff House at Historic Environment Scotland said: “We’re really excited to open the doors to ‘Private Landscapes’ a beautiful exhibition of artworks by Scottish artist George Wilson “It’s always a joy to welcome pieces on loan from the National Galleries of Scotland into Duff House but this exhibition feels uniquely special as we’re putting on display the works of a local homegrown talent Visitors to the exhibition may even spot some familiar Banffshire sights in a couple of paintings!” 'Private Landscapes’ will be on open to view at Duff House on selected dates until Sunday 24 August 2025 The artworks are the latest in a series of paintings to be loaned from the collection of the National Galleries of Scotland Entry to view the exhibition is included with admission to Duff House Booking in advance is recommended to guarantee entry An exhibition only ticket is available for £4.50 For more information and to book tickets, visit historicenvironment.scot/whats-on. In the wake of devastating wildfires in Jasper work is ongoing to lower risk to other Canadian gems — Banff National Park and Lake Louise We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentWithin the park’s 6,641-square-kilometre footprint the Town of Banff is working alongside Parks Canada to protect people businesses and infrastructure from wildfires the Town of Canmore is also playing a role in the region’s wildfire strategy which aims to draw on all levels of government and community members to mitigate risk but we can help mitigate the risk,” said Michael Bourgon Canmore’s deputy fire chief of prevention and community risk reduction Speaking to media after a daylong tour of sites throughout the region on Wednesday a fire management specialist with Parks Canada echoed Bourgon’s comments “We can’t eliminate the risk,” said Jane Park who’s also an incident commander for Banff National Park In a changing climate with more “extreme fire behaviour,” as much as possible has to be done ahead of time Lumber is transported to sites where it is cut to length and piled it takes years to get all the environmental surveys done how we put it on the landscape,” said Shelley Tamelin Parks Canada’s wildfire risk reduction project manager for Lake Louise which she said is great for grazing and grizzly bears — and also holds far less fuel for fire the guard west of Lake Louise aims to prevent fire from being swept into the area by wind the Tunnel Toe wildfire risk reduction project will cover 220 hectares It aims to reduce fuel in the Tunnel Mountain area and lower risk for the nearby communities of Banff 70 hectares at Tunnel Toe will be completed this winter The “fuel break” will tie into man-made features such as the campgrounds at Tunnel Mountain “If a fire (was) coming down the Bow Valley or coming out of the Cascade River Valley it forms a feature that wildfire managers can use to help contain and slow the spread of fire,” said Park Parks Canada is also in the planning phase for another 1,413 hectares of wildfire risk reduction within 15 kilometres of the Town of Banff “All of those are serving to break up the landscape so that we don’t have really large tracts of homogeneous fuels that can really bring a fire directly into (communities),” said Park a Banff and Lake Louise resident for over 45 years chairs the FireSmart committee in the town’s Valleyview community many individual residents have also made efforts to reduce risk to their homes The program offers educational resources about wildfires including how residents can protect their homes and themselves Worobets and others in Valleyview have removed 87,000 kilograms of fuel from the community over the years and taken advantage of the town’s sprinkler system “We’re hoping we can increase the survivability of our property,” he said Worobets said sprinklers aren’t the “end all Parks Canada is clearing deadfall and undergrowth in wooded areas said the town has been doing its own mitigation work since 2004 treating about 75 hectares inside the municipality — primarily vegetation management “It’s really about creating spaces where we can get the fire out of the crowns (of trees) and onto the ground,” said Martens adding that makes it easier for local fire crews to battle fires Tree and vegetation management will also create a 1.5-metre non-combustible zone near all of the town’s critical infrastructure over the coming months “Everyone realizes that wildfires do happen adding that the tragedy in Jasper has also affected their community indirectly what we’ve learned is the importance of working together and ensuring that we’re all (taking) the same approach when it comes to wildfire,” Bourgon said swilhelm@postmedia.com BANFF – Several hundred fire-prone coniferous trees have been chopped down on private residential property and on public lands around municipal buildings parks and critical infrastructure in the Banff townsite to help reduce the threat of wildfire Town of Banff officials say 329 trees were removed from public land around municipal buildings and critical infrastructure in 28 different locations Banff Child Care Centre and the wastewater treatment plant while 300 permits have been issued for removing coniferous trees on private property Hundreds more trees were taken out on the perimeter of town Town of Banff officials say they are applying FireSmart principles to remove all combustible material from 1.5 metres around municipal buildings and select conifer trees within 10 metres of municipal buildings Phase 1 of the Town FireSmart vegetation management is virtually complete … We have removed 329 trees around critical infrastructure,” said Paul Godfrey director of operations for the Town of Banff during an April 14 governance and finance committee meeting we have executed a contract to start phase 2 which is going around the critical infrastructure and removing the vegetation in the appropriate zone – within 1.5 metres everything combustible will come out.” Wildfire remains the top-rated hazard within and around the Bow Valley with residents on high alert following recent record-breaking fire seasons in Canada and the devastating wildfire that destroyed one-third of Jasper’s buildings last summer Banff council directed almost $1.4 million be spent on FireSmarting the townsite this year including forest thinning on the perimeter of town and cutting trees and removing combustible vegetation around municipal buildings An additional $100,000 is being spent to update the wildfire tactical response plan and purchase more equipment for structure protection plus almost $100,000 worth of rebates for rooftop sprinklers roof replacements and tree removal are available to property owners to FireSmart their homes and yards Outland Forestry Services was hired to thin forests branches and all deadfall from almost 20 hectares of Town-managed land including around the Banff Centre campus and to Surprise Corner around hotels on Tunnel Mountain and in north Banff neighbourhoods like Tatanga Ridge and Ti’nu “We managed with the moisture that came at the end of the season to get not only all the vegetation removed but all the burning completed as well,” said Katherine Severson the Town’s director of emergency management and protective services was unsuccessful in securing $200,000 under the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta (FRIAA) granting program for planned work to re-treat about 17.2 hectares of land “We have come to understand anecdotally that no communities to our knowledge have been successful in receiving a grant for a re-treatment,” said Severson “Our early assumption is that re-treatment is not going to be included this year due to the enormous demand in the FRIAA grants.” The Town of Banff has seen an uptick in applications for the tree removal rooftop sprinkler and rooftop replacement financial incentive programs Severson said there have been at least 58 trees removed under the residential tree removal program though that number is likely higher as requests for the $250 per property rebate continue to be approved “I think you can say it’s been busy and thank you to the planning department because they’ve been facilitating permits and making it really easy for residents to do so,” she said Severson said the Town of Banff has filled requests for rooftop sprinkler systems for 20 residents on the waitlist from 2024 and there are another 50 requests this year The Town offers the sprinklers at a discounted rate of $65 from the regular retail price of $240 with the kit including two sprinkler heads “We just want to remind everyone the sprinkler request goes hand-in-hand with having a completed home assessments and as of last week we have restarted our home assessments,” she said Mayor Corrie DiManno thanked the community for stepping up to help with FireSmart initiatives “I think it demonstrates how seriously we are all taking this and that we are in this together and I really appreciate everyone doing their part,” she said “I want to continue to encourage folks to stay as informed and as ready as possible in the event of a worst-case scenario.” Severson said a project manager has been selected to oversee the regional Bow Valley-wide evacuation modelling project “This regional project is largely about our main transportation corridors and impacts that those would experience should multiple communities need to be evacuated in the Bow Valley,” she said The Town of Banff’s engineering department and emergency services have recently partnered with the University of Calgary engineering faculty on research around mass transit and mass transportation specific to evacuation in the event of a disaster or emergency “I don’t have any specific updates yet as to the outcomes of that research but it’s exciting to know they’re looking at the Town of Banff and going to be providing some feedback and some recommendations to us around the movement of mass transit during evacuations,” said Severson She said the Town of Banff has recently had the opportunity to partner formally with Parks Canada’s new emergency manager for the Banff National Park field unit “That person was the emergency manager for Lake Louise but they have also been assigned to now encompass the Banff field unit,” he said “This is a very significant development for us A former head of Parks Canada’s national prescribed fire program and a leader in fire management for almost four decades with the federal agency is proposing a new approach to mitigating the “critical danger” of wildfire in the Bow Valley who was key in launching Parks Canada’s prescribed fire program across the country in the 1980s is pushing for establishment of so-called community forest zones around towns like Banff and Canmore he said the municipalities would assume the primary responsibility for managing fire risk to a distance of five to 10 km from their boundaries and would hire foresters and FireSmart specialists “Likely working within the municipal fire departments and partially subsidized by harvesting wood within their community zone their task would be to reduce risk and to formulate and rehearse action plans for when wildfires occur,” said White “Many towns have already achieved exceptional FireSmart standards within their boundaries The ‘community forest’ approach would allow these communities to extend this fire risk reduction work to a scale where it can make a substantial difference.” While Indigenous burning once maintained meadows shrub fields and thrifty young trees in the valley bottoms and travel corridors of western Canadian forests White said ongoing fire suppression by Parks Canada and provincial agencies is allowing forests to age to a “critical state.” and the forest floor is covered with deep layers of dead and decomposing wood these forests explode into conflagrations that destroy communities – Kelowna (2003) “Disastrous burns often ignited from two to 10 km away from the towns but spread rapidly with dry weather and high winds They usually occur during extreme periods of drought when the regional wildfire agencies are already overwhelmed,” he said “With so many communities in their regions it is impossible for any agency to plan and deliver the custom pre-fire risk reduction – mechanical forest thinning prescribed burning – that each community needs.” in partnership with the Municipal District of Bighorn and Kananaskis Improvement District and with support from Alberta Forestry and Parks have worked together to begin construction of the Bow Valley community fireguard With construction occurring in phases over the next three to four years the large-scale fireguard will extend from the east gates of Banff National Park to Dead Man’s Flats on both sides of the Bow River large firebreaks are under construction in Lake Louise and on Tunnel Mountain near the Banff townsite A large break was logged at Protection Mountain along the Bow Valley Parkway last year White said the standard fire disaster these days is a wildfire that starts about three to 10 kilometres from a community which then fans out to be more than one kilometre wide with high intensities and a shower of embers “as it burns into the high values at risk.” He said this usually happens in about four hours to three days and “overwhelms all firefighting forces.” there are either few outside resources available due to other fires or not enough time to bring them in due to rapid rates of spread so the towns and communities need to be more prepared for all contingencies,” he said it must be the local municipal firefighters that have the best knowledge of their local values at risk and how to use the fuel breaks, etc., that surround their community, and where the weaknesses are in the community itself This local knowledge can then be passed to an incident command team and other firefighting resources when – or if – they arrive on time.” Following a Bow Valley wildfire interagency committee public meeting in Banff in February White said it is excellent news to hear the landscape-level approach is being taken in recognition of the extreme danger He said it is also great news to hear the centrepiece for mitigating danger is to apply FireSmart standards to houses White said he is concerned that failure to recognize that fuel breaks – the “log-it and leave-it” approach won’t work unless they are continually maintained over time “We’ve been through three cycles of this since the 1800s,” he said “These fuel breaks have not been maintained and have almost all now partially overgrown and are more dangerous than if they were natural forest.” White said the ‘community forest’ approach is being applied in numerous areas in British Columbia and Alberta to make local citizens and businesses – oil patch long-term regional community to park FireSmart work He said the ‘community forest’ approach may be difficult to apply in the Bow Valley due to the national and international significance of parks and protected areas so other options for long-term solutions for funding fuel break operations and maintenance need to be considered “I personally believe that a joint Canada-Alberta-Banff-Canmore Community Forest Agreement is the optimal way to go but that may be for future generations to legislate a foundation might be able to achieve some of the same objectives,” he said “My guess is that many towns will need to burn down at least a couple times before our culture comes to grips with the understanding that we BANFF – A transport truck crash forced closure of the Trans-Canada Highway near the water tower east of the Banff townsite on Thursday morning (April 10) The westbound lanes remain closed as the truck is blocking both lanes but Banff RCMP indicated at about 10:30 a.m that both lanes were expected to open within the hour though it may take longer to get backed-up traffic moving again The eastbound lanes were initially closed at the Banff Avenue/Minnewanka Loop exit to allow a large tow truck coming from east of Canmore to get to the crash site For the latest updates on road and traffic conditions, visit: https://511.alberta.ca/#:Alerts By Cindy HirschfeldFeb 36 Hours Banff, Alberta Jump to: Recommendations Itinerary Google Map By Cindy Hirschfeld Photographs by Ruth Fremson an avid skier and frequent contributor to the Travel section this town of 10,300 residents (all of whom must be locally employed to live within the national park) also has a vibrant cultural scene that sets it apart from many other mountain resorts the town’s natural hot springs that have long attracted visitors are open year-round Imagine climbing a nearby peak in hobnail boots circa 1930 or dodging avalanches as a Canadian Pacific railroad construction worker in the 1880s. Learn about these experiences and more at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (admission 12 Canadian dollars founded in 1968 by the landscape painters and philanthropists Peter and Catharine Robb Whyte (their works are also shown) the eclectic array of exhibits explores Banff’s relationship with the mountains as well as the Indigenous people who lived here for centuries (their eviction is addressed in a photography display) View everything from landscapes and vintage mountaineering gear to displays on early female explorers and the challenges of building the railway Two temporary exhibitions (through April 13) showcase glacier-focused paintings and photographs a 1902 weather observatory later turned international research lab in the 1950s (or take the guided tour Then warm up with spiced wine (10 dollars) at the Nightrise patio bar back at the summit building Spiced Tuscan fries are among the favorites at the Fat Ox Fuel up for an active weekend at the Fat Ox (reservations recommended) with favorites like 30-month-aged prosciutto with melon (25 dollars) tagliatelle with bison Bolognese (26 dollars) and spiced Tuscan fries made of cornmeal instead of potatoes (15 dollars) — or splurge on a 16-ounce Alberta-sourced rib-eye with porcini mushroom ragù (94 dollars this restaurant on the east side of town reflects Banff’s thriving dining scene as one of several new spots that debuted in the past year The popular Calgary chef Glen Manzer conceived the menu unfussy northern Italian fare at a mix of high-top and regular tables backed by long leather banquettes The wine list is appropriately heavy on Italian pours with well-worn wood floors and low ceilings drink Kokanee on draft (9 dollars a pint) and shake it to live music nightly at 10 p.m Banff offers awe-inspiring mountain views at every turn Whitehorn Bistro at the Lake Louise ski area At Lake Louise, ski to the midmountain Whitehorn Bistro for dishes like squash and sage gnocchi (28 dollars), a hearty seafood chowder (24 dollars) and cheese fondue (68 dollars), along with a view across the valley to peaks like Mount Temple and Fairview Mountain, and the Victoria Glacier. At Banff Sunshine, duck into Mad Trapper’s in the village housed in a rustic log building from 1928 that used to be a lodge (check out the historic photos inside for a glimpse of the ski area’s past) In keeping with the restaurant’s vintage vibe the offerings include classic ski fare like burgers (18 dollars) The pool at Banff Upper Hot Springs fits 200 people which catalyzed the creation of the national park two years later The upper springs drew visitors starting in 1884 Fully embrace the retro vibe by renting a vintage-style unisex bathing suit (2.25 dollars) to wear in the springs The Open Sesame cocktail at Block Restaurant and Bar Find some of Banff’s best food at Block Kitchen and Bar a matchbox-size restaurant in the downtown core that serves inventive Asian- and Mediterranean-inflected fare (reservations aren’t taken It has the genial feel of a neighborhood bar but it’s not bar food the kitchen turns out Try dishes like a boneless-beef-rib steamed bao bun with housemade kimchi (10.50 dollars per bun) flatbread with smoked bison and pumpkin seed pesto (27 dollars) and a risotto with three kinds of mushrooms and three types of rice in a mouthwatering Thai curry sauce (26 dollars) Cocktails also get creative treatment: The Open Sesame (18 dollars) prosecco and shiso bitters into a palate-pleasing elixir A bonus for extroverts: Conversing with other diners is practically de rigueur you may even be lucky enough to see the northern lights (locals flock to the lakeshore on these nights) Park at the well-signed day-use area along the lake’s western end which has a few picnic tables as well as a wooden dock to sit on Winter in Banff is a perfect time to bundle up and enjoy the snow-blanketed natural splendor A coffee and baked treat at Wildflour Bakery where the baked goods are also made in-house white windowside counter for a close-up view of Mount Rundle’s distinctive wedge-shaped ridgeline Entering this hole-in-the-wall spot on the top floor of a small indoor shopping mall may seem inauspicious, but some Banff locals swear that Ramen Arashi serves some of the best ramen this side of Tokyo fragrant black arashi ramen (18.95 dollars) You’ll slurp in close comfort with your neighbors at the eight-table restaurant which makes up in flavor what it lacks in décor hungry would-be patrons sit in order of arrival on a bench outside was on Monday afternoon (April 7) – the latest recording of the patriarch of Bow Valley grizzly bears being out of the den in more than a decade A remote camera also picked up an image of the famed bruin resource conservation officer for Banff National Park having emerged from winter’s hibernation he’s obviously still a sizeable bear,” he said but like any bear coming out of six months of being in a deep sleep without having eaten he’s definitely on the leaner side.” 122 was first spotted out of the den on March 18 in 2024; March 23 in 2023; March 14 in 2022; March 29 in 2021; Feb 28 in 2020; March 19 in 2019; March 24 in 2018; March 22 in 2017; March 5 in 2016; March 19 in 2015 and March 16 in 2014 Rafla said he may have been out of the den earlier than April 7 so we don’t have a tally of every year that he’s come out of his den. We’re obviously going to take things with a grain of salt,” he said even some of the observations from the previous 10 years might have just been luck and happenstance … it could have been earlier.” The Boss’ reputation is well deserved as the Bow Valley’s dominant bear He’s bred with most of the female bears in the area – and DNA has proven he has fathered many – and he has access to the best calorie-rich food sources While his movements vary throughout his 2,500-square-kilometre home range in Banff National Park and into parts of Kootenay National Park including front country and backcountry areas he spends the early part of the year in the busy Bow Valley Last year, The Boss was left bloodied and scarred on his hind and face likely a result of a fight or two with other large male bears He ventured outside the protected boundary of Banff National Park to Canmore for the first time on Nov looking for a last-minute easy meal before heading to the den Witnessed many times on his trek between Harvie Heights and Canmore he feasted on fruit trees and mountain ash berries he was spotted in residential neighbourhoods on the north side of the Trans-Canada Highway said there had been rumblings and concerns that The Boss might not appear this season because he is getting up there in age with battle-worn injuries “We’ll have to see this year if he ends up continuing to be the most dominant male or not He might get contended with,” de Ruyter said “It’s good to see that he’s out and out on the landscape and alive and well.” he typically travels up and down the railway tracks as an easier way to move through the snowy environment searching for spilled grain or the carcasses of other wildlife that were struck and killed by trains over winter Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Railway typically uses a vacuum truck each spring to suck up some of the spilled grain Parks Canada joined CPKC staff to drive the tracks looking for carcasses between the east gate of Banff National Park and Field in Yoho National Park in British Columbia “CP always call us if they strike an animal we proactively drive on the tracks with CP looking for carcasses and removing them if we find any.” Parks Canada implemented a no-stopping zone along a section of the Bow Valley Parkway after photographers flooded to the area when The Boss and Split Lip were both hanging out along the train tracks The federal agency has many proactive measures that can be implemented to try to keep bears and people safe during this critical time of year aversive conditioning and no-stopping zones Rafla said it is critical to get support from locals and visitors to give bruins space and security “What we ask for is also participation in not only reporting if you see the bear but not sticking around and watching or not going out and trying to find that bear,” he said “These bears don’t really want to see you they can get disturbed and bothered by people so it doesn’t do them any favours for crowds to be around them and watching them intently.” The Boss and other bears that will be emerging from their dens in the coming days and weeks are focused solely on finding food bears typically spend spring searching for food in the valley bottoms and don’t move to higher elevations until the snow disappears and vegetation greens up later in the season The large male grizzly bears are the first to emerge from their dens in spring followed by females without cubs by mid- to end of April and then females with cubs typically some time in early May “There’s going to be more bears in the coming weeks that will be on the landscape,” said Rafla Black bear tracks were seen near the Bow Valley Riding Association last month but WildSmart’s de Ruyter said he is not aware of any other bear reports yet around Canmore or in Kananaskis Country “It’s been a fairly mild spring but even though we haven’t maybe seen them it doesn’t mean they’re not there,” he said Spring is the time of year when residents and visitors are also encouraged to brush up on bear skills “The main thing is this time of year is we’re all going to be sharing the valley bottoms because there’s snow up high and the only available food for bears is in the valley bottoms “We’re all cramped together in a finite small space in the valley bottom so we just really need to be aware and know that there’s an increased chance of wildlife encounters and the key thing is we do not want to give them any kind of food reward or reason to come into town or linger in town or linger in campgrounds or day-use areas,” added de Ruyter “Managing attractants is really important don’t leave anything in the backyard We just don’t want to tempt bears and bring them into town and get them into trouble.” it is important to make lots of noise so as not to surprise bears With their heads down focused on finding food bears may not hear people approaching if there are running creeks and rivers or wind or thick vegetation “The bears around here are aware of the human voice and we have lots of evidence that bears will move out of the way or off the trail if they can hear people,” said Rafla While it is best to carry bear spray throughout the year to use on other animals if needed Rafla said he highly recommends carrying it and knowing how to use it now that bears are out “Make sure that it's accessible,” he said “It can’t be overstated that if you need it “That’s about not waiting for an incident to happen and that’s the heart of coexistence,” said Rafla Hikers are urged to travel in groups and to stick to official trails “Although it’s not unlawful to travel off trail it is difficult now because there’s still a fair bit of snow but that’s where bears may be,” said Rafla “There's also the chance of just pushing them off areas which is where they’re trying to secure some food and food is very minimal right now on the landscape," he added “These bears are essentially using their fat reserves they put on from last season They’re looking for winter kill … in fact maybe sometimes those bigger males are pushing cougars or wolves off their kills.” Ungulates like deer and elk are also concentrated in the valley bottoms right now because there is still a lot of snow at higher elevations so we’re having basically a higher concentration of animals down below,” said Rafla “It’s also where people may be if they're out for a hike on a beautiful day or a bike ride So that’s something to keep in mind as well.” Parks Canada asks residents and visitors to check the Banff National Park website for information on closures and to report any carnivore sightings Mount Royal University’s Institute for Community Prosperity and ATCO’s SpaceLab are excited to announce the Banff Systems Summit taking place May 19-22 at the Banff Centre The Banff Systems Summit exists to amplify the use of systems thinking across sectors and many fields of work in order to shift complex problems and create positive and sustainable change Together We Thrive," speaks to the collective journey toward a more regenerative The Banff Systems Summit welcomes post-secondary students from across Canada practitioner-changemakers from multiple sectors and a select number of international participants all designed to foster meaningful connections and inspire innovative thinking This Summit creates a unique space where students and the curious can share and learn about tools and work contributing to positive systems change We celebrate and learn from the perspectives of students including those participating in Map the System Canada and offer a platform to explore real-world applications of systems thinking in addressing the complex challenges we face today—such as housing crises the Banff Systems Summit is about building a thriving community where individuals and resources come together not just during the event but long after Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in deep generative conversations that lead to new insights and purposeful pathways for leadership and action Check out what’s coming at the conference website — speakers Mount Royal University is a student-first undergraduate post-secondary university in Alberta supportive professors and hands-on learning With gratitude and reciprocity, Mount Royal University acknowledges the relationships to the land and all beings, and the songs, stories and teachings of the Siksika Nation, the Piikani Nation, the Kainai Nation, the Îethka Stoney Nakoda Nation (consisting of the Chiniki, Bearspaw and Goodstoney Nations), the people of the Tsuut’ina Nation, and the Métis. Learn more. BANFF – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s statements that it is federal mismanagement that is putting Banff under threat of wildlife were quickly disputed by Banff Mayor Corrie DiManno as “completely unsubstantiated.” Smith had a face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Edmonton Thursday morning (March 20) and came out of the meeting with several demands but also took a swipe at Parks Canada’s management of fires “I made it clear that federal mismanagement of Jasper and Banff national parks resulted in last year’s tragic wildfire in Jasper and is endangering Banff and the situation must be rectified immediately,” she said in a press release DiManno said Smith’s characterization of federal forest and land management in Banff National Park is  “completely unsubstantiated.” “Our community has benefitted enormously from Parks Canada’s efforts in Banff National Park working continuously over the last 40 years to protect residents and infrastructure from wildfire,” she said created fireguards and conducted prescribed fires in over 15,000 hectares in Banff National Park That’s 15,000 football fields of area treated around our town as well as into the valleys and peaks surrounding us.” An out-of-control fire ravaged the community of Jasper on July 24 one-third of the town’s buildings were destroyed and were burned 32,722 hectares of the park The fire forced the evacuation of about 25,000 residents and tourists land managers across Alberta and Canada put out all forest fires adding this human intervention suppressed the natural cycle of wildfire and thinning of forests creating artificially dense coniferous forests from Fort McMurray to Banff “But our philosophy changed across the country and as a result we have spent the last three decades implementing a new approach to reduce the risk of wildfire and proscribed fires,” the mayor said “Parks Canada has been at the forefront of the new measures these efforts are challenged by the dramatic effects of climate change resulting in a longer season of persistent wildfire threat.” The Banff Fire Department has collaborated with Parks Canada and Alberta Wildfire for years integrating training and emergency response planning Parks Canada is working on a community-wide firebreak in Lake Louise and completed a landscape level firebreak near Protection Mountain Work continues on an extensive firebreak on Tunnel Mountain and there are more plans in the works “We are working harder with Parks Canada on firebreaks outside the community,” DiManno said Going into this year’s wildfire season DiManno said the Town of Banff has strengthened and enhanced its coordination with Parks Canada as well as Alberta Wildfire and Alberta Parks we can always do better – both in the measures on land around Banff and throughout the townsite,” she said “That’s why we have increased our investment in work to remove coniferous trees around the perimeter of town where neighbourhoods meet forests.” a fire was reported near the Jasper transfer station another wildfire was reported near Kerkeslin Campground two more wildfires were reported near campgrounds south of Jasper Wind gusts of up to 30 kilometres an hour merged the three wildfires south of town into one and became too big for firefighters alone to handle Within the first hours after the wildfires started the combined area of the fires grew to more than 6,000 hectares new fires starting up to 500 metres ahead of the fire all aerial and ground suppression efforts had limited success Parks Canada forwarded the Outlook to the office of Stephen Guilbeault Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity whose portfolio includes Parks Canada The Outlook heard nothing back at press time The first spring sightings of famed alpha male grizzly The Boss is being seen as a reminder that the season of bear awareness in the Rockies has arrived Parks Canada has confirmed the massive grizzly — also known as Bear 122 — was captured in a trail camera photo in the lower Bow Valley on April 7 “Bears are awake and active in Banff National Park Bear activity will begin to increase within the national park as spring arrives,” Parks Canada said in an email the federal agency announced seasonal closures in several parts of the park to protect sensitive wildlife The Boss is considered the toughest and most dominant male grizzly in the Bow Valley region he is believed to be approximately 24 years old scavenging for tree fruit before heading into his winter slumber “I’ve seen a collared one walking by my house,” said Clayton Lamb who monitors bears in the Elk Valley of southeastern B.C “It’s the typical challenge of bears navigating a pretty busy (human-occupied) landscape.” But some spring conflict with humans could occur depending on how much dead livestock is on the landscape that acts as an attractant to bears non-celebrity bears throughout the range — we see older grizzly bears without ears due to fighting,” said Lamb adding that as those bears get older and lose their teeth they tend to take more risks around people Harvie Heights photographer Jason Bantle said he spoke with visitors from the UK who spotted bear 122 between Banff and Lake Louise on Tuesday “They were on their way back to Britain and were absolutely thrilled they’d seen him,” said Bantle adding he’s had a dozen encounters with the grizzly over the years “He and I have a connection — he seems to find me without me looking for him.” The provincial government on Friday issued a reminder for Albertans to take precautions now that black and grizzly bears are emerging from hibernation parks and great outdoors to be alert and take the necessary steps to avoid conflicts,” Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen said in a statement and simple precautions can help prevent serious encounters.” Provincial officials urged residents in bear habitats to reduce attractants such as pet food Parks Canada said those on hiking trails should carry bear spray ensure their dogs are leashed and be aware of bear presence by noticing skat where 62-year-olds Doug Inglis and his common-law wife of Lethbridge and their border collie were fatally mauled by a 27-year-old That followed a number of fatal attacks attributed to grizzlies in areas northwest of Calgary the UCP government said it was ending the 18-year moratorium on grizzly bear hunting saying it would allow a limited amount of the activity targeting problem bears BANFF – Town of Banff employees will be eligible for a 30 per cent increase in an interest-free loan to go towards the purchase of a home in Banff or Canmore to reflect a significant rise in housing prices over the past six years which was supported at governance and finance committee meeting on Monday (April 14) but yet to be officially approved by council is to be made under the municipality’s housing incentive purchase program for employees to help with down payments said assessment values of residential properties in Banff have increased by approximately 31 per cent on average since the last review of the program in 2019 She said the proposed increase from a $40,000 maximum to $52,000 for a Banff home and $30,000 to $39,000 in the broader Bow Valley represents a 30 per cent increase which tracks with rising home prices in the valley “The intent of this program is really more for first-time home purchasers who wouldn’t necessarily have that large of a down payment to put against a home just to give them a little bit of an edge to be able to get into a home,” she said Aebig said there are currently 15 employees taking advantage of this benefit She said not every employee applies or is eligible for the maximum loan amount because the loan requires evidence of a matching down payment from the employee “Since the program’s inception five employees are still with the organization,” Aebig said Aebig said the proposed changes are expected to have minimal impact on budget dependent on uptake and available housing stock She said there is an impact on the municipality to run this program in the form of a lost opportunity to invest these funds in an interest-bearing account because the loans are offered at zero interest for up to 10 years “The actual opportunity cost varies year to year with interest rates but should be considered in relation to the benefit of retaining valuable employees within the Bow Valley area,” she said the rest of council voted down the deferral “I think we need to look a little more into the program to see if we can increase the uptake because employee retention and employee gathering is a major concern we have,” said Christensen Mayor Corrie DiManno said: “With all due respect I think uptake is going to happen when we increase the amount that folks are eligible for The program has been in place since 2009 and DiManno said it is leading-edge when it comes to what the Town of Banff offers employees “We’ve heard that there’s been uptake of over 20 folks who have used this program and we know that it’s helped to keep people here so we know that the program is working,” she said “I don’t think there’s anything broken here I think we want to simply increase that eligible amount so that it’s more realistic with the current home costs in Banff and the Bow Valley and I certainly don’t want to see a delay in that.” Some of the stories from the May 1, 2025, edition of the Rocky Mountain Outlook The e-edition for the May 1, 2025, edition of the Rocky Mountain Outlook BANFF – It was a dry January in more ways than one Banff experienced the second driest January in 136 years of records with Environment and Climate Change Canada officials saying the same warm dry trend in December continued into January with only 2.3 millimetres of precipitation compared to the normal for the month of 18.8 mm Meteorologist Alysa Pederson said the data shows the driest January was in 1985 when there was just 0.6 mm of precipitation “It comes in as the second driest on record for Banff.” Pederson said most of the 2.3 mm fell as snow but there are different variants of snow containing different moisture levels and there’s usually more moisture than your dry “We look at it mostly when it just comes to millimetres equivalent of liquid if you were to melt the snow and that’s what we get as 2.3 mm for Banff.” Pederson said snow pillows – a device that measures the water equivalent of the snowpack – show the same dry trend across the Rockies they’re below the 25th percentile for what they’re supposed to have,” she said noting that area has recorded 250 mm of water equivalent so far this winter “That’s about on track to where they were last year as well Pederson said a snow pillow site at Skoki shows 125 mm of water equivalent “The general story across the Rockies is that the snowpack is lower than normal this year Pederson said the wettest months of the year are still to come which is by far the wettest month typically getting 73.3 mm of precipitation “Usually in Alberta it’s our May and June that are the biggest and that does fall in a lot of cases as rain,” she said we can still get snow right into June and July.” January was a bit warmer than typical in Banff Pederson said the normal mean temperature for Banff is -8.5 Celsius “It puts it at about the 43rd warmest in Banff.” there were nine days in January that were above zero 28-31 before the temperatures plummeted into the -20s Pederson said the warmest day was Jan 16 when the daytime high hit 5 C “More notable is there were actually only six days below -5 C and your normal daytime high temperature is about -3 for this time of year.” The month of December was the third warmest on record with Banff’s mean monthly temperature for December 2024 at -9.2 C According to the Environment and Climate Change data Banff saw 37.2 mm of precipitation in December compared to the average for that month of 33.2 mm CalgaryNewsMan responsible for fatal stabbing at Banff nightclub won’t be eligible for parole for 12 yearsBy Damien WoodPublished: April 15, 2025 at 5:10PM EDT PHOTOS: New adventure and nature playground opens at Banff's Sundance Park