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

Parks Canada is cutting jobs. The agency that runs Banff National Park told staff this week it is entering a period of workforce adjustment - $140 million in savings over three years, with no word yet on how many positions will go.

The Three Sisters saga in Canmore, meanwhile, has mostly cleared the courts. Four appeals against the development that would double the town's population were dismissed, with judges ruling the environmental assessment completed in 1992 still stands. Construction questions now move from the courtroom to the council chamber.

There is better news up the hill: Sunshine Village will run two lifts when summer skiing opens June 20, the payoff from a top-three snowfall season. Not many places on the continent let you ski in July.

And if Jasper is on your list, the Maligne Valley wildlife tour with its 90-minute cruise to Spirit Island handles the transport and timing for you - one of the easier ways to tick off that particular view.

Plan a visit to Moraine Lake | How to get to Moraine Lake | Moraine Lake in August | Moraine Lake Rockpile Trail

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Every week, readers email us asking where to stay, what to prioritise, and how to make the most of their time here. We've put together a one-to-one consultation service so we can answer those questions properly - tailored to your trip, not a generic list.

If you’re hoping to see wildlife and visit one of Jasper National Park’s most iconic views, this tour combines both in a single trip. The route follows the Maligne Valley, an area known for frequent wildlife sightings, and passes through some of the park’s most scenic landscapes.

The day includes a stop at Medicine Lake for a short walk along the shoreline before continuing to Maligne Lake. From there, you’ll take a 90-minute cruise to Spirit Island, one of the most recognisable views in the Canadian Rockies. With transport and timing handled for you, it’s an easy way to experience some of Jasper’s best-known highlights.

Book now and explore Jasper’s Maligne Valley with ease

🪓 Parks Canada Begins Job Cuts. The agency that runs Banff National Park has told staff it is entering a period of workforce adjustment, with cuts covering $140 million in savings over three years. The email announcing the job losses did not say how many.

⚖️ Three Sisters Clears Court, Mostly. The Alberta Court of Appeal has dismissed four appeals over the Canmore development that would double the town's population, ruling no new environmental assessment is required. The one on file was completed in 1992.

⛷️ Sunshine Adds Second Lift for Summer. Banff Sunshine Village has confirmed the Standish Express will join the Strawberry Express when summer skiing opens on June 20, running through July 5. After a season ranking among Sunshine's top three for snowfall, it will be one of the only lift-served ski areas on the continent.

⛷️ Fortress Mountain Gets Conditional Green Light. The Alberta government has conditionally approved the return of Fortress Mountain ski resort in Kananaskis, closed since the early 2000s. Conditions include wildlife surveys, reduced daily visitor numbers, and Indigenous consultation. If met, the resort gets a 99-year lease.

🍺 Grizzly Paw Turns 30 This Month. Canmore's first brewery is marking three decades with a full-day outdoor bash on June 21 - Father's Day - featuring eight-plus hours of live music and a throwback pack of its four original beers. Tickets are $10, kids under 12 free.

☀️ Banff gets two beautiful days before the clouds roll back in. Saturday brings mainly sunny skies and a high of 20°C; Sunday is fully sunny with a high of 21°C, and Monday stays mild at 21°C but turns cloudy as the next system approaches. Make the most of that weekend window! Full Forecast Here

If the access logistics around Moraine Lake and Lake Louise are giving you pause, there is a half-day tour operating out of Banff that handles the transport and timing, leaving you around 80 minutes at each lake without the parking scramble.

🚡 Banff Romantic Highlights Tour - Nine hours, eleven people max, and a route that hits the gondola summit, a South Korean K-drama filming location, and the spot where Marilyn Monroe shot a scene in 1954. Book the tour and layer up - Sulphur Mountain runs cold.

🛶 Banff Kayaking Trip - Early morning on the Bow River before the day-trippers arrive - elk on the banks, ospreys overhead, Mount Rundle framed in the water. You'll need prior kayaking experience, but it's a great way to see the park from a different angle.

🍽️ Banff Foodie Walking Tour - Three hours, eight people, and a loop through Banff Avenue with food stops built in. Nibble Tours covers the history of the Bow Valley too, so it's not just lunch with steps.

🏔️ What is the difference between staying in Banff vs Canmore? Banff is a resort town built around tourism, sitting inside the national park, while Canmore is a real working mountain town just outside the park boundary - same scenery, very different atmosphere.

🏚️ What was Bankhead and why is it called a ghost town? It was a coal mining town inside Banff National Park that was abandoned in the early 1920s - the Bankhead Ghost Town is all that remains.

⚠️ How do you stay safe around elk? Keep your distance, control your dog, and watch for warning signs of aggression.

Self-catering in Banff National Park used to mean a tent and a camping stove. These three properties have moved things on considerably - full kitchens, proper beds, and enough space to feel like you're not living out of a bag.

🏔️ Blackstone Mountain Lodge - Condo-style suites in Canmore with full kitchens, in-suite laundry, slate fireplaces, and free underground parking. The lodge is a walkable distance from Canmore's main street, and you're 20 minutes from the Banff park gate - far enough to decompress at the end of the day, close enough that it genuinely doesn't matter. Take a look.

🏙️ Basecamp Suites Banff - Apartment-style suites in the centre of Banff town, with full kitchens - oven, full-size fridge, dishwasher, the lot. The grocery store is immediately next door, which makes the self-catering argument fairly hard to ignore. Rooftop hot tubs, walkable to everything, and no shuttle required. Check it out

🌲 Lake Louise Inn - Located in the village of Lake Louise itself, with suites and condos offering full kitchen facilities and the village grocery store a five-minute walk away. Free on-site parking, an indoor heated pool, and a free shuttle to the ski resort in winter. A great base for anyone planning to spend time on the Icefields Parkway rather than just passing through. Compare Prices Before You Book

Yesterday’s Question: Which of the following activities is allowed in Banff National Park?

✅ Answer: B) Paragliding - 34% Correct

Paragliding might not be on your list, but knowing Banff’s park rules should be. Here’s what to check before you visit.

If you’re curious about the grand stone “castle” overlooking Banff, this is it. The Fairmont Banff Springs has welcomed travellers for more than a century. It sits just above the Bow River, a short drive from downtown, with mountain views in every direction and walking trails and viewpoints right outside the door.

Book now and experience one of Banff’s most iconic places to stay.

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

FULL EVENT CALENDAR | BANFF & LAKE LOUISE | CANMORE | JASPER NP
BANFF HAPPY HOURS | CANMORE HAPPY HOURS

All Day | Canmore MTB Classic | Canmore Nordic Centre | Canmore

10:00 | Fungi, Identity & Queer Ecologies Workshop | artsPlace Canmore | Canmore

11:00 | National Indigenous History Month | Canmore Civic Centre | Canmore

12:00 | Amanda L. Rautio - Local Author Signing | Cafe Books | Canmore

18:30 | Big Bike Film Night | Canmore Brewing Co | Canmore

19:30 | Art of Piano | The Banff Centre | Banff

20:00 | Salsa Socials | artsPlace Canmore | Canmore

20:00 | Aaron Wild: Live | The Stand Easy | Jasper

21:00 | Nomadisms Dance Party | The Banff Centre | Banff

21:00 | Dr.Z Duo: Live | Tavern 1883 | Canmore

22:00 | The Sessions | Rose & Crown Banff | Banff

22:00 | Retrobution: Live | The Drake | Canmore

22:00 | DJ Styler Nazo | The Drake | Canmore

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