Hi Everyone! Here's What’s Happening This Week!

A 13,000-square-foot spa is coming to Spring Creek, and it will not be sharing the hot tub with anybody's children. The Alexander, 45 suites and adults-only, opens in Canmore in early 2027, the second of three hotels planned for the site.

Staffing it may prove harder than building it. Advocates told Banff council that immigration policy shifts and the October provincial referendum could worsen hiring problems across a valley where nearly one in three residents was born outside Canada.

For now, dinner out can be done the older way. A wagon ride along the Bow River finishes at a backcountry cookout with steak grilled to order by the fire, and only a handful of departures run each evening.

Anyone planning a Lake Louise morning should look at Paradise Lodge, where the shore is a 20-minute walk, and the private Moraine Lake shuttle option removes the usual scramble for a seat.

Plan Your Visit To Banff For August | September | October

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Trade the usual bus tour for a horse-drawn wagon ride along the Bow River to a backcountry cookout, with steak grilled to order by the fire. Departures are limited each evening in summer.

🏔️ Fresh from the Rockies

Kananaskis Country, Highway 40

🛂 Immigration Changes Could Worsen Staffing. The Bow Valley Immigration Partnership told Banff council that policy shifts and October's provincial referendum could deepen hiring problems in a region where nearly one in three residents was born outside Canada.

🧖 New Spa Hotel Confirmed for Canmore. The Alexander, a 45-suite adults-only spa hotel, opens at Spring Creek in early 2027 with a 13,000-square-foot spa and geothermal heating. It's the second of three hotels planned for the site, alongside The Malcolm.

🎃 Halloween Night at the Castle. Fairmont Banff Springs is hosting a one-night Halloween event, Unknown World: A Night of Curiosities. Tickets are on sale now, and costumes are encouraged.

🕐 East Kootenay Stops Changing Clocks. The regional district voted to stay on mountain daylight time year-round, aligning with Alberta rather than the rest of B.C. Golden still has to make its own call.

🥁 Highland Games Return to Canmore. Centennial Park hosts three days of piping, Highland dancing and the caber toss over September 4-6, with a new Sunday night Hooley closing out the weekend.

☀️ Sunshine takes full control now that the showers have cleared out - Sunday goes mainly sunny at 24°C, Monday holds that same warmth, and Tuesday nudges up to 25°C. A clean, bright run with nothing but blue skies as far as the forecast can see. Full Forecast Here

⭐ Most Popular Last Issue

🚲 E-Bike the Bow Valley Parkway & Hike Johnston Canyon: A relaxed e-bike ride past Vermilion Lakes and along the Bow Valley Parkway, then stretch your legs to Johnston Canyon's Lower Falls before shuttling back to Banff. Check it out and book.

🚣Activities You Might Enjoy

🚌 Banff Hop-On-Hop-Off Day Pass - A yellow school bus loops all day between Johnston Canyon, the Lake Louise Gondola, Lake Louise itself and Moraine Lake's Valley of the Ten Peaks, with a guide onboard and a guaranteed seat whenever you hop back on. Early 7:45 am departure gets you the most time at each stop.

👻 Banff Ghost Walk - Follow a lantern-lit guide from the Good Earth Coffeehouse into the town's grittier past, covering unsolved crimes and the Banff Springs Hotel's more permanent guests over 100 minutes.

🚣 Kananaskis River Whitewater Rafting - Dam-regulated water keeps this stretch approachable for first-timers and kids from age five, running Class 2-3 rapids past the same limestone canyons used in The Revenant. Wetsuits, gloves and photos are included, with hot drinks waiting back at the lodge.

❓Your Questions Answered

📅 What time of year is Moraine Lake open to visitors? The lake is accessible from roughly June through mid-October - the road is closed to all traffic, including shuttles, outside of that window.

🐻 Who is Boo the grizzly bear? Boo is a famous rescued grizzly living at the Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge in Golden, BC - one of the most well-known bear conservation stories in the Canadian Rockies.

🥾 Is Policeman's Creek Trail suitable for families and beginners? It's one of the most accessible walks in the Rockies - flat, well-surfaced, and easy to shorten or extend depending on how far you want to go.

These cabins sit close enough that you can reach Lake Louise shore in under 20 minutes on foot. There's also a private shuttle option to Moraine Lake, so you dodge the usual scramble for a shuttle ticket.

🏕️ Quiz

Which canyon is shown in this photo, located along the Icefields Parkway?

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Yesterday’s Question: Which historic tea house is located at the top of a popular trail from Lake Louise and sits next to a waterfall?

Answer: 2) The Lake Agnes Tea House - 86% Correct

The Lake Agnes Tea House is a classic Lake Louise hike, but getting there takes a bit of planning. Our guide explains how to get to Lake Louise and manage access.

🎸Events, Activities & Live Music

📅 Featured events for today are listed below. Visit our website for a complete list.

Sunday, August 16

13:00 | Métis Plant Identification Walk | Cave and Basin | Banff

18:00 | CONTRA | Rose and Crown Banff | Banff

18:00 | Sunset Festival @ Banff Gondola | Banff Gondola | Banff

19:30 | Jasper Historical Tour | Jasper Town | Jasper

22:00 | Brent Lee | Rose and Crown Banff | Banff

22:00 | Sunday Night Karaoke | Banff Sizzlers | Banff

22:00 | Bunny Hops | Rose and Crown Canmore | Canmore

Monday, August 17

18:00 | Music Mondays | Grizzly BBQ Beer Garden | Canmore

19:30 | Jasper Historical Tour | Jasper Town | Jasper

20:00 | Monday Trivia | High Rollers | Banff

22:00 | Karaoke Night | The Drake | Canmore

22:00 | Arn Smit: Live | High Rollers | Banff

22:00 | Brent Lee | Rose and Crown Banff | Banff

Tuesday, August 18

All Day | Lux Cinema – Cheap Tuesday | Lux Cinema | Banff

19:00 | Trivia Tuesday | Rose and Crown Canmore | Canmore

19:00 | Yoga in the Park with CYAN | Riverside Park | Canmore

19:30 | Jasper Historical Tour | Jasper Town | Jasper

21:00 | DJ Styler Nazo | High Rollers | Banff

22:00 | Dean Lonsdale | Rose and Crown Banff | Banff

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👋 That’s All For Now 🎬

Another week of mountain magic awaits!
We're so glad you're here for the ride.
Keep exploring and sharing, and we'll see you in the next issue with another full lineup of Banff happenings.

Jill & Kevin | Editor | What’s On Banff

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