It’s Summer in Banff-Kananaskis!
There is a particular kind of light that arrives in our riding each July. I love the long, golden evenings that stretch well past nine o’clock, mornings that smell like warm pine, and a hum of energy in every community from Springbank to Lake Louise, Waiparous to Millarville. I love the neighbours spilling out of their homes and back into the mountains, the trails, and the backyard BBQ. I love watching kids on bikes weaving down quiet streets, gardens bursting open, farmers markets setting up their tables, and porches full of people catching up over coffee or a cold drink. I love this season. Summer here is more than just a time of year – it is also a feeling, one I am always grateful to share with all of you.
Getting Out and Getting Grounded
Some of my favourite moments as your MLA happen far from any legislature chamber. They happen on a trail, at a lake, or in a lawn chair at a community barbecue. Over the past few weeks, I have had the chance to join residents at local markets and community events to sit and chat about what summer means to them. Almost every conversation eventually turns to the same thing: how lucky we are to live where we do. Kananaskis Country, Banff National Park, and the countless provincial recreation areas woven through our riding are the backdrops to our lives here. They are part of the fabric of who we are. Even a quick evening walk along the Bow, a weekend at Elbow Falls, or a longer trek up toward Barrier Lake, restores something in us that is hard to find anywhere else.
I would encourage everyone, residents and visitors alike, to make the most of these parks this summer. Pack a picnic, bring the kids, bring the dog, bring a friend who has never seen a mountain sunset. These landscapes belong to all of us, and sharing them is one of the great joys of calling Banff-Kananaskis home.
Sharing the Landscape, Respectfully
Of course, we are not the only ones who live here. Grizzly and black bears, elk, cougars, and countless other species share these same valleys. Keeping our parks and natural areas wild means keeping them safe for wildlife too. Being “wildlife- smart” is second nature to many of us who grew up here, but it is always worth a reminder, especially as more visitors discover our trails each year. Make noise as you hike, especially near rivers or in thick brush where visibility is low. Travel in groups when you can. Keep dogs leashed. Store food and scented items properly at campsites, and never approach or feed wildlife, no matter how tempting that perfect photo might be. These little habits protect both people and animals, and they help preserve the very wildness that draws us outside in the first place.
I have spent much of my time as Shadow Minister for Environment and Protected Areas advocating for the habitat that makes these encounters possible in the first place: the headwaters, wildlife corridors, and natural spaces that will keep our ecosystems healthy for generations to come. But protecting this land is not only a legislative task. It is something each of us does every time we choose to hike responsibly and give wildlife the space it needs. Your care and action matter too!
A Quick Check Before You Go
Before heading out this summer, I always encourage folks to take two minutes to check current conditions and local advisories. Alberta Parks post regular updates on trail closures, wildlife activity, and fire bans. With the flooding that happened in Kananaskis a few weeks ago, trails are continually moving from closed to open and things are changing daily. Always know before you go! With drier conditions becoming more common across the province, wildfire advisories are especially important to watch. A quick look at Alberta’s wildfire status map or your local park’s website before you leave the house can make all the difference in planning a safe day out. It is a small habit that keeps our communities, our firefighters, and our wild spaces safer all season long.
Good Neighbours, to Each Other and to the Land
What I love most about summer here is how it brings people together. It is community clean-ups and creek days, kids’ bike parades, front-yard gardens shared with neighbours, and impromptu conversations at the trailhead. It is watching Bragg Creek Days fill up the community grounds or running into familiar faces at an evening market. These moments remind me why I wanted to do this job: to serve a community that really looks out for one another, and for the wild places we are lucky enough to steward.
So, this summer, I hope you get outside. Go for that hike. Plant the garden. Wave at your neighbours. Check the advisories before you head out, give wildlife its space, and soak up every bit of sunshine our beautiful corner of Alberta has to offer. And, if you see me out on a trail or at a local event, please stop and say hello! Hearing your stories is still my favourite part of this job.
Wishing you a warm, connected, and wonderful summer.
Sarah Elmeligi
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