News / Articles

Updated as of Tuesday, June 24th

The proposed plan paid parking lot upgrade project for Edworthy Park's north lot has been cancelled. The City received significant public feedback, primarily against the introduction of parking fees, leading to the decision to keep the lot as-is with ongoing maintenance. The current gravel lot will remain free to use.

KANANASKIS COUNTRY – Eighty kilometres west of Calgary, in the heart of eastern Kananaskis Country, is a remote field research station.

What began in 1950 as a couple tents pitched near Sheep River, serving as a base for trout research, is now the Research Base (RB) Miller Station – an internationally known research base that marks the earliest beginnings of the University of Calgary.

“The historians of this university decided to trace back our roots to the creation of that field station. There is something kind of cool to me as a field station person, as an ecologist that [RB Miller] is viewed as the birth of what would then become the UofC,” said Dr. Steven Vamosi, director of the University of Calgary’s Biogeoscience Institute.

HINTON – The agenda has been set for a fatality inquiry into the three deaths caused by a glacier bus rollover at the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park nearly five years ago.

Justice Vaughn Myers, who presided digitally from Barrhead over the pre-inquiry conference at Hinton court on Tuesday (June 10), said he wanted to limit the inquiry to three groups of issues.

The first was the driver’s pre-inspection of the ice explorer since the court did not have a description of what this inspection entailed.

It will also examine a concern raised before the accident that the slack adjusters needed to be looked at since full-service pedal depression was required for a full stop.

Myers said the court was not clear whether this concern was raised by the driver or a different one, when it was raised, who the concern was relayed to or what was done to address it.

BANFF – The Mount Coleman picnic area in the northern end of Banff National Park has been closed after a bear sought human food and was displaying bold behaviour.

The closure is in place from June 10 until further notice. The day-use area is located along Highway 93 North, also known as the Icefields Parkway.

“Bear displaying bold behaviour, seeking human food reward,” states the closure notice on the Banff National Park website.

The notice does not say whether the bear is a grizzly or black bear.

Anyone caught violating the closure could be charged under the Canada National Parks Act and face a fine in court of up to $25,000.

The Outlook has reached out to Parks Canada for an interview. The story will be updated when more information becomes available.

We are disappointed by the Alberta Energy Regulator’s (AER) recent decision to grant coal exploration permits for Grassy Mountain. Northback Holdings’ previous coal mine proposal for Grassy Mountain was rejected by a joint provincial AND federal review panel for being “not in the public’s interest” due to environmental, economic, and Indigenous rights concerns.

While these recent permit approvals are for coal exploration (which still has negative environmental impacts), not for a coal mine (yet), this decision restarts a coal project that was previously dead in the water.

BANFF – Two female grizzly bears were struck and killed on the railway line in Banff National Park, while the legendary patriarch of Bow Valley bears, The Boss, escaped from the train’s deadly path unscathed.

The two female grizzly bears were killed in separate incidents – one on the evening of May 27 near Protection Mountain between Banff and Lake Louise and the other early in the morning on May 30 near Bath Creek, west of Lake Louise.

Grizzly bear No. 122, a.k.a. The Boss, had been seen in the company of one of the females during the mating season, and while she was killed in the May 27 incident, he managed to flee from the approaching train.

“We assume they were mating. She was in estrous,” said Saundi Stevens, acting wildlife ecologist for Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay field unit.

BANFF – Banff’s tourism industry is calling for removal of reference to transportation arrival hubs and intercept parking in the draft community plan amid fears a lack of flexibility to consider all potential options may create “severe consequences” for local businesses.

While supporting the intent, officials with the Association for Mountain Parks Protection and Enjoyment (AMPPE) and Banff and Lake Louise Hospitality Association (BLLHA) say they find the language in the draft community plan “overly prescriptive.”

Karli Fleury, BLLHA’s director of workforce and destination initiatives, said the group supports the intent behind moving people sustainably and reducing environmental impacts, but a singular vision of intercept parking and transit hubs “risks precluding other viable strategies and solutions.”

KANANASKIS – A new plan for Alberta’s provincial parks aims to deal with increasing demands for recreation, accelerating and new environmental pressures, and a growing population across the province.

A survey seeking input on the 23-page draft Plan for Parks, which builds on direction set in the 2009 strategic plan, is currently out as part of the second phase of public consultation and is open until July 26 at alberta.ca/planforparks.

“In the Plan for Parks, it’s very much parks are for people,” said Tracy Draper, the executive director of strategic planning and capital development with the Parks Division of Alberta Forestry and Parks.

BANFF – Canmore’s Niclas Brundell saw the warning signs when car tire-sized boulders started falling from above Bow Glacier Falls, prompting he and his wife to leave just moments before a fatal rockslide descended on the popular hiking area.

The massive rockfall in Banff National Park on Thursday (June 19) left two people dead and sent three others to hospital with unknown injuries, but in stable condition. Police say they are notifying next of kin and no additional information is available at this time.

About 10 minutes before the deadly rockfall hit about 12:40 p.m., Brundell said he and his wife were about 20 metres to the right of the waterfall when they first heard and noticed large rocks falling from above the main waterfall.

“We would have gotten hit if we had not moved,” he said.

Located outside the town of Banff is the Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station. This heritage site not only offered scientific functions but has immaculate views of the town and surrounding landscapes below. Perched at the top of a rocky ridge, the observatory is a small 3x3 meter building that was built, using natural materials to blend seamlessly into the mountainside. But what is the Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station and why is it there? This article explores the history of this monument and the best way to visit it.

The Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station in Banff, Alberta, is an iconic scientific site nestled in the Canadian Rockies. It's located near the summit of Sulphur Mountain, at an elevation of about 2,286 meters (7,500 feet) above sea level. This remote location provided an ideal setting for studying cosmic rays - high-energy particles originating from outer space.

KANANASKIS COUNTRY – As conditions continue to shift from winter to spring, mountain rescue specialists are advising people visiting Kananaskis Country to plan ahead.

The more than 4,000 square kilometres of public land can feature wintery conditions well into the summer months, particularly at higher elevations.

“There’s certainly places we’re still seeing a lot of avalanche activity,” said Jeremy Mackenzie, a mountain rescue specialist with Kananaskis Mountain Rescue (KMR). “There’s a lot of places where the travel is quite difficult with deep snow or where you can lose the trail because of the snow. It can often cause problems this time of year.”

Mackenzie said the conditions vary from the valley bottom in places such as Canmore, where it can be in the mid-20s Celsius, but still have large amounts of snow, with the west side of Highway 742 – also known as Smith Dorrien Highway – still largely covered in snow.

CANMORE – An adventurous man lost his leg doing what he loved is one way to look at Kim Logan’s new documentary.

Although, what struck the Canmore filmmaker about working closely with Matt Hadley, a local legend in his own right, is not about what has been lost, it is about what is still possible.

Trailblazing: The Matt Hadley Story is a point of view documentary about the approach of Hadley’s recovery journey from traumatic life-altering injury to the new doors that have opened in adaptive outdoor pursuits, in his community and in life.

As Logan puts it, when storytelling showcases adaptive athletes like Hadley, narratives are challenged about limitations and what is possible.

BANFF – The fire danger in Banff National Park has hit extreme.

Parks Canada issued a notice late Thursday afternoon (June 5), noting fires will ignite easily, spread quickly and burn intensely under an extreme fire hazard conditions.

“Wildfires burning under these conditions are very difficult for firefighters to control,” according to a social media post by Parks Canada.

“While we cannot avoid naturally occurring wildfires – lightning strikes – we can avoid human-caused fires.”

Parks Canada asks residents and visitors to do their part by only having campfires in designated fire pits and keeping them small; completely extinguishing a campfire after each use; and disposing of cigarettes in appropriate receptacles.

Experience the ASCCA at night under the light of a full moon, with monthly guided walks led by a Forest Therapy Guide.

Stay tuned for more information, and save the following dates:

• Monday, May 12
• Wednesday, June 11
• Thursday, July 10
• Saturday, August 9
• Sunday, September 7

Forest bathing, or Shinrin-yoku, is a Japanese practice of immersing yourself in nature to mindfully engage your senses, promoting relaxation and well-being.

Ribbon Creek area closed until further notice.

KANANASKIS – The Ribbon Creek area of Kananaskis Country is closed until further notice as construction of a massive fireguard gets underway.

A popular destination for skiers and hikers, the closed areas include Ribbon Creek Day Use Area, Ribbon Creek Hiking and Ski Trails, Mine Meadow Trail, Centennial Ridge Trail, Hidden Trail, Studless Trail and portions of Skogan and Terrace Trails.

The fireguard or prescribed fire, happening south of Nakiska Ski Area off Highway 40, has a project size of approximately 8,000 hectares. A main benefit of the fireguard is to create a fuel break to protect nearby communities and infrastructure from the threat of wildfire.

Our destination, Mockingbird Lookout, was a relatively easy 358 meters of vertical gain in about 3.3 km one way. Both the “legacy style” pavement and the later gravel road sections of Highway 40 were in decent condition, and we arrive without drama at the trailhead.

Ascending the trail was very straightforward, and we arrived at the summit in less than two hours of light to moderate exercise. An outstanding view presented itself, with an entire panorama of the Rocky Mountain front ranges before us. What a wonderful place for lunch!

We also had a very pleasant conversation with the friendly fire warden, about bears, mountains, fires, and mysterious black helicopters (G7 conference related, probably).

An easy descent took us down to our cars, where Lori provided us with some cold refreshments courtesy of the Calgary Ski Club.

Ensuing, we dropped in on Guy’s Coffee Shop in Cochrane for some goodies.

On Wednesday, June 11th, six members joined me for a hike at Brown Lowery Provincial Park. While Calgary was under hazy skies due to recent forest fires, the skies near Millarville remained bright and clear.

As we made our way along the trails, we encountered a variety of wildflowers that we hadn't seen on previous hikes. One member of our group had an app that could instantly identify wildflowers, mushrooms, and even insects—just by taking a snapshot. There’s also a similar app for identifying birds in real-time.

During the final stretch of our hike on Chickadee Trail, we suddenly stopped in our tracks upon hearing a distinct sound from the bushes. After a moment of listening, we realized we had startled a bear—and in response, it grunted at us. Without hesitation, we picked up the pace and headed toward the trailhead, choosing to enjoy our lunch rather than risk becoming the bear’s lunch!

All in all it was a great day for a hike.

As we continued the gentle climb we noticed new signs have been posted, which makes it really hard to get lost. For those flower lovers we noticed several Calypso Orchids as well as the usual Prairie Crocus.



Although it did not feel cold, the clouds showed up and it started to... snow! very little but still, it is late May. The snow lasted for about 1km and by the time we reached Prairie View we had mostly blue skies and a gorgeous view. Since it was not windy at the top, we had lunch with a magnificent view (and company: several chipmunks trying to steal our lunch).

Upper Kananaskis Lake hike showed itself off in all its splendor during our hike.



Nine hikers enjoyed a beautiful clear blue skies day with great company and a lot of wildlife sightings on our drive to the trail. Even a marmot decided to show up during the hike!



After the hike we enjoyed some refreshments before heading back to Calgary. Thanks to everyone for joining the hike.

Five of us jumped into a car and drove to Canmore for a hike up Ha Ling Peak (well, the "saddle").

It was a beautiful day and temperatures were around 10C all hike long. After a steep 4 km and 2.5 hour climb (with two lookout/rest places), we arrived at the "Saddle"; where we enjoyed lunch with amazing views of Canmore and the rockies.

The trail is upgraded with stone steps, handrails and cable stairs in steep sections. This is a popular trail and, even on a Wednesday morning, we encountered a few groups of hikers, which makes it very unlikely for a bear encounter.

The way down is hard enough to make your quads sore the next couple of days... a reminder of a nice adventure in a beautiful place.

We had a great hike at Mount Hoffman with a group of eleven people.



It was a friendly and supportive group, accommodating a range of ability levels, which made for an enjoyable experience for everyone.



Despite recent rainfall, the trail was surprisingly dry and far less muddy than expected.



Another group of hikers reported seeing a grizzly in the area, but thankfully, we had no encounters with bears.

One of the first more strenuous hikes of the year didn’t scare off eight hikers who conquered Ha Ling. We swapped out Miner’s Peak for Ha Ling due to snow at Miner’s Peak. We were a little worried that it would be a rainy day for a hike, but we got lucky and the first 4 hours were pretty dry. We took our time completing the hike as the rocks were getting pretty slippery on the way down.

After the hike we stopped at the Canmore Nordic Centre for a treat and good conversation. Welcome to Victor who attended his first hike with the Calgary Ski Club. Thanks to Rick, Janet, Victor, Jim, Scott and Fenne for coming out. Missing from the picture is Scott, Fenne and Poul.

On April 26th, 42 members joined us for a fun filled evening of bowling at the Chinook Bowladrome, pop, pizza, competition, and laughter were the mainstay of the evening.

The 11 lanes of teams embarked on two regular games of bowling and then the competition really began when everyone tried CRAZY BOWL!!!! 😊 Then the laughter and challenge was on! Even the advanced bowlers had to take a back seat on some of the challenges! It was hilarious looking down the 11 lanes of bowling to see each team at a different stage of the game, whether it was bowling between their legs, throwing the ball backwards, or bowling with their left hand. Well done everyone!

What an incredible ride! Highway 546 offers such a stunning stretch of wilderness and having it all to ourselves without any motor vehicles was a delight. Sunny skies, a light breeze and breathtaking scenery - truly the makings of a perfect cycling day.

Spotting wildlife like was exhilarating. A Grizzly sow with her cubs, deer crossing the highway and Big Horn Sheep with their babies - it's like nature was putting on a show just for us. Moments like these remind us just how wild and beautiful Alberta's landscapes are.

We capped off the an already amazing day at the Black Diamond Hotel that has such a great atmosphere for unwinding and sharing stories of the ride.

Jim and I would like to thank all that attended and looking forward to seeing you soon!