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

If you have been thinking about a trip to Lake Louise, this is an important moment to pay attention to. Parks Canada is exploring new crowd control plans, including possible changes to parking and vehicle access. These proposals are open for feedback, and they could influence how visits work in the near future.

Adding a bit of Alberta tradition to the week, Balzac Billy has delivered his weather prediction and is calling for more winter. It might not be the news everyone wants, but it does mean more time for snowy walks and crisp mountain mornings.

We are also breaking down the Moraine Lake shuttle booking system. Reservations can go quickly, and understanding the steps ahead of time can make the difference between a smooth booking and a frustrating morning. We also link to alternative ways of getting to Moraine Lake.

On top of all that, the local events calendar is full, with live music, community gatherings, and plenty of places to enjoy a good meal or drink after a day outside.

There is plenty more happening this week. Dive into the event listings below, or check out the detailed events page on our website.

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👉 For a complete up-to-date forecast for the week ahead, visit our Weather Page.

For many visitors, seeing Moraine Lake means juggling shuttle bookings and tight time windows. Staying at Moraine Lake Lodge removes that altogether. Guests are able to drive directly to the lake, which makes arrival simpler and gives you far more flexibility during your stay.

But the biggest benefit comes at the end of the day. Once the daytime crowds thin out and the last shuttles leave, the area regains a sense of space and quiet. Being on site gives you a rare chance to enjoy Moraine Lake without the chaos of the crowds.

Book now for a calmer visit to Moraine Lake

🏔️ Parks Canada is rethinking how we access Lake Louise. New proposals to tackle 34% visitation growth include parking reservations, lotteries for Paradise Valley, and potential personal vehicle bans. Share your feedback on these draft strategies via online surveys before 9 March.

🐹 Balzac Billy predicts six more weeks of winter for Alberta. Despite the recent mild weather, Alberta’s "prairie prognosticator" has a 42 per cent accuracy rate since 2004. Local residents remain sceptical as temperatures climb at the Blue Grass Nursery & Garden Centre.

🦋 Get your rhinestones ready for a Dolly-style celebration. April Cook brings Nashville glamour to Main Street with a shimmering musical journey through Parton's life. Don’t miss this intimate, high-energy tribute running throughout March at Canmore’s favourite microtheatre.

🚲 CAMBAPALOOZA brings winter racing to Canmore this month. Join the community on 28 February for the Arctic Fox Adventure Race or a 10km fat bike sprint. The programme includes live music, saunas, and a polar plunge to support local trails.

🏃‍♀️ Early bird registration for the Women’s Soap Run ends soon. Strides Canmore is hosting this inclusive event for women and girls of all abilities in the Rocky Mountains. Secure discounted pricing before the 15 February deadline to enjoy fitness and nature.

🍶 Shoku Izakaya celebrates five years of Japanese dining. Join the party on Thursday, 12 February, for an all-day happy hour and special features. Enjoy live music from Andy Loops starting at 10 pm in this popular Banff spot.

🏔️ Canmore’s "Real Estate Paradox" proves typical economic rules don't apply here. Despite a dip in sales, detached home prices jumped 8% to an average of $2.15M. Low inventory and stabilising interest rates mean the "wait and see" window is officially closing for 2026.

🐻 Banff's legendary grizzly bear stars in new children's book. "The Little Grizzly Who Walked Like a Boss" teaches kids about bear safety and bravery. You can pick up a copy at Café Books in Canmore, the Whyte Museum or on Amazon.*

Today’s quiz answer appears at the end of the events section below.

Lake Louise is one of the must-see destinations in Banff National Park, but access isn’t easy. Staying at the Chateau Lake Louise is one of the most straightforward ways to experience Lake Louise without the usual challenges. The hotel is also the starting point for many of the area’s best-known hikes, and a practical base for visiting Moraine Lake.

Find out more about this iconic hotel

You know the moment. Coffee in hand, browser open, pretending this is "just a quick booking" and not a competitive sport 🏁

Because if you want to see Moraine Lake in 2026, you are not driving there. Private vehicles are out, and the Parks Canada shuttle is how most people get in 🚌

Here is the key detail people miss. Shuttle reservations for 2026 open on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at exactly 8:00 am MT. Not "around eight". Exactly 8:00 am 🕗

When booking opens, everyone already logged in is pushed into a waiting room around 7:30 am. At 8:00 am, you are assigned a random queue position. Log in after 8:00 a.m., and you go straight to the back. Last year, people landed in the 17,000s and still got through within 20 to 30 minutes, but by about 8:30 am, many early July morning slots were already gone 🏔️

Read our complete guide on how to get to Moraine Lake

Alternative ways to get to Moraine Lake

Hop On Hop Off Bus
Open Top Bus
Private Shuttle

Step-by-step to maximise your chances:

1 - Set up early. Create your Parks Canada account days ahead and confirm you can log in. If the system starts asking about Canadian banking, skip the stress and set up a GCKey instead. Do not discover login issues at 7:59 am.

(A GCKey is just a free Government of Canada login. That is it. Nothing fancy. It is a username and password system run by the Canadian government that lets you access federal services, including the Parks Canada reservation system. It gives you a simple login (username, password, recovery questions) that works for Parks Canada bookings. You do not need to be Canadian. You do not need a Canadian bank account. You just need to set it up once.)

2 - Know where to click. Before booking day, practice finding the shuttle product. It lives under the Day Use tab, not somewhere you will magically remember under pressure

3 - Booking morning matters. Use a computer, not your phone. Be logged in before 7:30 am. Expect the waiting room to open around then, and the random queue assignment to happen at 8:00 am sharp.

4 - Know what you are booking. You select a one-hour outbound time block. The shuttle takes about 25 minutes from the Lake Louise Ski Resort Park and Ride to Moraine Lake, with no stops. Your reservation includes the Lake Connector shuttle so you can visit Lake Louise and Moraine Lake on the same day.

5 - Use the workaround if needed. If Moraine Lake is sold out, book the Lake Louise shuttle and use the Lake Connector to reach Moraine Lake. You must check in and take the shuttle at the Lake Louise Ski Resort Park and Ride first, unless you are a Roam Super Pass holder or staying at Chateau Lake Louise or Paradise Lodge and Bungalows with proof of lodging.

6 - Work the 48-hour release properly. More tickets are released 48 hours before each departure day at 8:00 am. Stay logged in until around 8:45 am. Slots often reappear as people fail to complete checkout or time out

7 - Control the basics. Book from somewhere with a reliable signal, like your hotel or apartment. Cell service at the Park and Ride can be unreliable. Screenshot or print your reservation because "it was on my phone" is not a strategy

This is not luck or insider magic. It is preparation, patience, and not logging off at 8:01 am.

📅 Today’s Events are listed below. To view future events, visit our website.

BANFF EVENTS | CANMORE EVENTS | JASPER EVENTS | BANFF HAPPY HOURS | CANMORE HAPPY HOURS |

📅 Submit Here (8 days before event date)
Complete starred sections. For a FREE LISTING, check the box on the promotions page.

✅ Answer: 1) Bow Valley Parkway

The Bow Valley Parkway is one of the best places to spot wildlife in the area. See more in our Bow Valley Parkway Guide.

Yesterday’s Question: Which iconic mountain peak is shown in this photo, towering over the town of Canmore?

✅Answer: 57% of you correctly chose Ha Ling Peak.

The best food, tours, and finds across the Park.

🏞️ Lake Louise & Johnston Canyon Winter Tour with Bow Falls and Surprise Corner. Was $99, now $79 until Feb 19. View details.

🏔️ Win the Ultimate Banff Getaway Package - Win a 2-night stay at Royal Canadian Lodge, lift passes, and more. Runs until Feb 22. Find out more.

❄️ Lake Louise, Abraham Ice Bubbles & Peyto Lake with snowshoeing. 5 ⭐ rated. Was $143, now $78 until Feb 21. Book now

❄️ Winter in the Rockies, Malcolm Hotel, Canmoe - Save 10% on 2 nights or 15% on 3+ nights. Valid Dec 1, 2025 - Apr 30, 2026. Book now or check the reviews first.

🍷 Sage Bistro Happy Hour, Canmore - Enjoy 25% off all food and beverages from 15:00 to 17:00, Friday through Sunday.

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