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

The Alberta government's Bill 28 has quietly gutted Canmore's vacancy tax before it had a chance to work. The exemption for Alberta residents strips out a significant chunk of the projected $10.3 million in annual revenue, and council meets May 12 to decide next steps - options include nearly tripling the rate on out-of-province owners to make up the difference. It is the kind of policy outcome that pleases nobody and solves nothing.

Meanwhile, rural Alberta municipalities are pushing to end the 20-year grizzly hunt moratorium - and the timing matters here. Bears like The Boss aren't protected the moment they cross the park boundary. He has ranged into the Canmore corridor before, and bow hunting is already legal in Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park. The park boundary is the only thing standing between a well-known grizzly and a legal hunt. He doesn't know where it is.

Fire danger across the Calgary Forest Area - covering Canmore, Kananaskis, and Iyarhe Nakoda lands - remains at high wildfire danger this week. Sixteen fires have already been recorded since January, and officials say the higher-risk period has weeks still to run.

If you'd rather be out on the trails than reading about what threatens them, the Johnston Canyon e-bike and walking tour is a half-day option that covers Vermilion Lakes and the Bow Valley Parkway before heading into the canyon on foot. Everything else is below.

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

Canmore Easy Hikes | Bow River Loop | Quarry Lake | Three Sisters | Policeman’s Creek | Larch Island

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When travellers on TripAdvisor consistently rank a hotel among the top places to stay in Banff, it’s usually worth a closer look. In this case, a big part of the appeal is location. Peaks Hotel & Suites is less than a minute from Banff Avenue, so you’re right in the centre of town, with restaurants, cafés, and shops all within easy walking distance.

Despite being so central, the hotel itself feels calm. You can step straight out into town, then come back to somewhere that feels quiet and relaxed at the end of the day. Everything is set up to keep your stay simple, from contact-free check-in and phone access to your room to underground parking if you’re driving. You also have access to the pool, hot tub, and steam room at Banff Park Lodge just across the street.

Check it out for yourself here

🌤️ The showers are on their way out - and the sunshine is punching its way in. Saturday brings a chance of showers with a high of 16°C. Sunday clears up nicely with a mix of sun and cloud reaching 19°C. By Monday, it's all sunshine and 17°C. Full Forecast Here

🐻 Grizzly Hunt Debate Puts Banff Bears at Risk. Rural Alberta municipalities are pushing to end the 20-year grizzly hunt moratorium - and conservationists warn that bears like The Boss aren't protected the moment they cross the park boundary. The Boss has ranged into the Canmore corridor before. Bow hunting is legal in Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park.

🏠 Canmore's Vacancy Tax Math Gets Complicated. Alberta's Bill 28 exempts Alberta residents from Canmore's non-primary residence tax, gutting its projected revenue. Council meets May 12 to decide next steps - options include nearly tripling the rate on out-of-province owners to recover the original $10.3M target.

🦌 Elk Calving Season Is Here. Cow elk are beginning to give birth across Banff and Canmore - which means aggressive mothers on familiar trails, calves hidden in grass, and 30 metres minimum clearance. Keep dogs leashed. Last May, a cow elk killed a leashed dog near Elk Run Boulevard in Canmore.

🔥 Fire Danger High Across the Bow Valley. The Calgary Forest Area - covering Canmore, Kananaskis, and Iyarhe Nakoda lands - remains at high wildfire danger this week. Sixteen fires have already burned since January, and officials say the higher-risk period has several weeks still to run.

🗑️ Canmore's Ploggers Haul In 512 Pounds. Roughly 40 runners collected nearly 60 bags of garbage during Canmore's eighth annual Strides Plogging event on April 26. Not a record - over nine years, the event has pulled more than 8,000 pounds from Canmore's trails and green spaces.

Private vehicles can't reach Moraine Lake at all this season, and Lake Louise parking is effectively a pre-dawn exercise. If you'd rather skip the logistics entirely, there's a half-day guided option covering both lakes in the activities section. Everything else is below.

Half the Rockies come to see these lakes. A small number of people actually sleep next to them - and the difference in experience is considerable.

🌿 Emerald Lake Lodge - Tucked into Yoho National Park, this one sits directly on the water in a valley most visitors only pass through. By the time the coaches arrive, you've already had the lake to yourself for two hours. Read The Reviews And Book

⛺ Moraine Lake Lodge - Private vehicle access to Moraine Lake is gone - park-and-hike or a shuttle for day visitors. Staying at the lodge sidesteps all of that entirely. It's one of the few ways left to see the lake at dawn without a reservation-day scramble. Read The Reviews And Book

🏰 Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise - The price is fixed, and the lobby will be busy. But guests wake up at the lake rather than commuting to it - and at 7 am, before the shuttles start running from Banff, it's a different place entirely. Read The Reviews And Book

🛶 Big Canoe River Explorer - A 1.5-hour paddle on the Bow River in a 12-passenger voyageur canoe, departing from the Banff Canoe Club. Upstream first, then a relaxed float back - suitable for families with children from age two.

🚌 Moraine Lake Double-Decker Shuttle - Private shuttle from Deer Lodge to Moraine Lake on a double-decker bus, sidestepping the Parks Canada shuttle scramble for access to the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Parking at Deer Lodge is included - a five-minute walk from the Lake Louise shoreline.

🚶 Banff Town Walking Tour - A two-hour, 3km circuit through the parts of Banff most visitors miss, covering the Art in Nature Trail, Luxton Museum, and local lore you won't find on a self-guided wander. A snack and drink are included along the way.

🎟️ Do I need to book anything in advance for a July trip to Banff? Yes - popular sites and activities fill up weeks ahead in peak season. Sorting key bookings early saves a lot of frustration once you arrive.

🎉 Are there unique food experiences in Banff beyond just eating out? Yes - Banff offers food and drink experiences that go well beyond restaurants, from guided tastings to outdoor cookouts in the mountains.

📅 Can visitors see Boo the grizzly bear? Yes - the refuge is open seasonally from late spring through early autumn, and morning visits give you the best chance of seeing Boo active in his enclosure.

Yesterday’s Question: Which major music event takes place in Canmore in early August?

✅Answer: 1) Canmore Folk Festival - 46% Correct

Discover more annual events in our guide to major festivals and events.

This tour brings together a bike ride, a canyon walk, and a scenic drive into one easy half-day. The e-bikes make it possible to enjoy the views without it feeling like a workout. You’ll ride at a relaxed pace through places such as Vermilion Lakes and along the Bow Valley Parkway.

Book now to explore the Banff National Park with ease.

📅 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 |

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