Encounters in the Wild
A Bear and Bison Inn

Luxury Bed & Breakfast & Wedding Venue
in Canmore, Alberta

March 28, 2024

Encounters in the Wild

By Jacqueline Louie For visitors to Canmore and the Bow Valley, spotting a wild animal, like a bear, can be a thrilling highlight of a wilderness experience. To safely enjoy the wilderness, a little awareness and education — and a lot of respect — can go a long way. That’s what Reno Sommerhalder believes. “Respect…

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December 4, 2022

Legacy of a Local Namesake, Elizabeth Rummel

By Jacqueline Louie Lizzie Rummel, ‘the Baroness of the Rockies,’ was generous in sharing her deep love of the Rocky Mountains with everyone who met her.  A Canadian Rockies legend, Order of Canada recipient, and beloved Canmore resident, Lizzie Rummel ran backcountry mountain lodges for more than three decades. Her name graces two lakes, a…

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Tunnel Mountain in Winter

May 28, 2022

Renaming Banff’s Tunnel Mountain

By Jacqueline Louie Just west of Canmore, in Banff National Park, you’ll find a variety of hiking trails to explore. One of the area’s most popular trails takes you to the summit of Tunnel Mountain, which overlooks the town of Banff, with panoramic views. No-Tunnel Mountain In 1858, surgeon and geologist James Hector named this…

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February 26, 2022

Did Someone Paint That Lake Turquoise?

Sue Slaght – Travel Tales of Life The beauty is surreal. Gleaming in sunlight, it is as if turquoise gems have dissolved into the glacial lake waters. Tourists and locals alike, find it challenging to pull their eyes from the mesmerizing shades of the mountain waters. “How do they make the water look that way?”…

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January 29, 2022

Bankhead, Alberta: A Cursed History of a Ghost Town

By Jacqueline Louie An easy excursion from Canmore is the historic ghost town of Bankhead, an abandoned coal mining town near Banff. The Canadian Pacific Railway established Bankhead Mine in 1903 at the foot of Cascade Mountain. Bankhead grew quickly and its population eventually reached 900 – larger than Banff at the time. Bankhead ‘was…

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A man downhill skiing near Canmore.

December 8, 2021

The Top 10 Things to Do in Canmore in Winter

While Canmore is an incredible destination all year round, there’s something extra special about the area when it comes to the colder months. In fact, there are a ton of unique things to do in Canmore in winter that are fun for the whole family. From skiing and snowboarding, to snowshoeing, skating or curling up…

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May 28, 2021

Why the Grizzly Crossed the Road, Alive!

Wildlife Crossings Banff National Park By Sue and Dave Slaght          Do you get a wee bit apprehensive when you see signs for wildlife crossings as you’re speeding down the highway? Is there an elk just around the corner? Watch out for the deer! Oh, that poor porcupine! As one drives west…

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Outstanding Micro Destination Wedding

I relied heavily on reviews while planning for my micro destination wedding so I wanted to leave a detailed review for other brides looking. The Bear & Bison was perfect. Lonny & his team made the planning process stress free. We had a 20 person micro wedding & rented the entire Inn for the weekend (10 bedrooms). The place is exactly the vibe for the Rockies – log cabin style with a view of the mountains. Our guests could not stop talking about the food – they even made accommodations for our 10 year old cousin who loved her pancakes instead of the “adult” breakfasts.
I cannot speak enough about the staff. Brooke, Annette, and Barbara continuously checked on us to ensure we had everything we needed. We didn’t need to bring any decorations as they set up everything perfectly from their inventory. I was so stressed about the rain (it didn’t end up raining) but the girls were fully prepared with options for umbrellas or setting up inside which I cannot thank enough. Everyone loved the bartender Landon – he talked to all the guests and made everyone feel like his family. From our bonfire welcome night, to the wedding day itself, to the goodbye breakfast, the staff made sure every event went perfectly.
This was our dream wedding. I cannot thank the staff enough for making the weekend so special for us. We will definitely be back for an anniversary. A few notes for future brides -ask the staff which rooms don’t have separate showers when planning for elderly or disabled guests -Put bath salts as favors for your guests since all the rooms have beautiful tubs -do the bonfire package plus bar the night before the wedding – it was easier to organize than planning a trip to another bar, plus people can go to bed when they want.
Brina July 28, 2025

Outstanding Micro Destination Wedding

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