Bow Valley: A Place for All

An Open Letter to the Bow Valley Community

Dear Bow Valley community,

The Bow Valley we know 

Mount Rundle doesn’t ask where you were born. The Bow River doesn’t mind what your accent sounds like. These mountains bring people together - adventurers, workers, families building their dreams.

We see this welcoming spirit every day in our community. And we know we can do better.

Picture Daniel, an immigrant working his afternoon shift at a retail store in Canmore. A Canadian citizen since 2017, he has a young family here, and knows most customers by name. When someone shouts, "Go back to where you came from," his coworkers stay silent. Daniel keeps working, pretending nothing happened while his heart breaks.

This happens in the Bow Valley: A taxi driver assaulted during a late shift. Someone pushed down in a parking lot because of their skin colour. An employee missing out on the promotion because of their accent. 

Stories like this show us where we need to do better. Every time someone faces racism here, we have a choice. We can accept "that's just how some people are," or we can say "that's not who we choose to be."

The Bow Valley we choose 

About one in three Bow Valley residents - 32.8% - was born outside Canada (Statistics Canada, 2021 Census). That’s just over 7,700 of us.

From Lake Louise to Banff Avenue to Canmore's Main Street to Exshaw to Kananaskis Village, you see businesses started by people from around the world. In our hotels, hospitals, and construction sites, you meet people who choose to build their lives here. You see how newcomers and longtime residents build this place together. 

We choose a Bow Valley where everyone belongs. Where coworkers support each other, neighbours connect over food and stories, and where we build the community we can all celebrate, together. 

 This Valley has always been a place of possibility. Now we make it a place of belonging too. 

Your moment to lead is now 

The Bow Valley Immigration Partnership (BVIP) calls you to this moment.

We're creating a mountain community where everyone feels at home across the Valley. Whether in the bustling streets of Banff, the growing neighbouhoods of Canmore, or the quiet charm of smaller communities: we’re celebrating our diversity, and building on what makes each place so special. 

You have the power to make this happen. Whether you're seeking office, running a business, leading a team, or building your life here - your voice matters and your actions count. 

Join the Bow Valley: A Place for All Campaign 

We know you care about building an inclusive community. Now we're asking what you're ready to do about it. Will you add your name to this open letter today?

Every signature on this letter is a promise to act. When you sign, you're saying: 

☑ I will interrupt racism when I see it, safely and respectfully. 

☑ I will learn about cultures different from my own and celebrate that diversity.

☑ I will welcome newcomers and help them feel at home here.

This isn't about being perfect. It's about being better than yesterday, and standing up when it matters. 

Add your name to the list of hundreds of local leaders, businesses, and residents like you who believe the Bow Valley should be home for everyone.  

Step 1: Add your name: Sign this open letter and join our growing movement of change-makers.

Step 2: Choose your role: Find meaningful actions you can take to make the biggest impact.

Step 3: Start today: Help build the inclusive community we all want (and click here if you want to do even more).

The question isn't whether we can build a welcoming Bow Valley. The question is: Will you help us do it? 

Brought to you by Bow Valley Immigration Partnership, and community members who believe in belonging for all. 

The Bow Valley: A Place For All.

One Valley, Many Cultures, No Room for Racism. 

Want to see your name on this list?

Click here to sign this open letter today →

Signed,

Bow Valley Businesses and Organizations

Aaron Smith, BanffLIFE

April Stevenson, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

Ashley Wells, Banff Caribou Properties

Becky Lipton Fournier, artsPlace

Chinthaka Nambapanage, Bow Valley Adult Learning Centre/ Bow Valley Palliative

Donalyn Biado, Canmore Corporate Cleaning

Fiona Gagnon, Roam Transit

Heather Bates, Settlement Services in the Bow Valley

Heather Bodnarchuk, Banff Lodging co

Jada Sutherland, Bow Valley Primary Care Network

Jane Marshall, Interpretive Guides Association

Jeanie Godfrey, Settlement Services in the Bow Valley

Jeff Mah, The Yoga Lounge and Town of Canmore

Jenn Porter, Banff and Lake Louise Hospitality Association

Kadambini Chouhan, Indian Authentic Cuisine

Kasia Wroblewska, artsPlace

Kasia Wroblewska, HSS Design Build

Kevin Driver, Banff Ministerial Association

Klaudia Slawinska, Settlement Services in the Bow Valley

Lucile Bletzacker, artsPlace

Makaylah Rogers, Frankie D's Donuts & Scale Naturally Inc

Marissa Gamilovskij, Settlement Services in the Bow Valley

Monette Esmeria, Sama Sama Bow Valley

Natasha Lay, Bow Valley Immigration Partnership 

Nicole Eplett, The Canmore Young Adult Network

Noriko Ohsada, artsPlace & Bow Valley Connections Centre

Paul Kalra, Dead Man's Flats

Reave MacLeod, YWCA Banff

Sachiho Oki, Immigrant Advisory Group

Sarah Freeman, BVCC

Savanna Yeager, Banff Park Lodge, Bow View Lodge, Peaks Hotel & Suites

Sonya Manser, SkiBig3

Talia Kassner, Arctos & Bird

Tineke Van Der Merwe, Bow Valley Immigration Partnership

Brenda Stanton, Bow Valley Adult Learning Centre

Jill Harrison, Bow Valley Food Alliance

Brian Callaghan, Canadian Rockies Public Schools

Sierra Sawatzky, The Job Resource Centre

Dawn Saunders Dahl, Listen Studios

Rachel Ludwig, Tourism Canmore Kananaskis

Mich Lam, Canmore Pride Society

Reinira Lankhuijzen, the Job Resource Centre

Shannon Fountain, Town of Banff- Community Helpers Program

Oliver Reeves, The Job Resource Centre

Jill Pratt, The Job Resource Centre

Tanya Belireau, The Job Resource Centre

Jamie McCulloch, Rocky Mountain Adaptive

Amanda Carrington, Hope for Kids Ryan Carrington Foundation

Jaye La, Jay La Photography

Lalanie Clark, Fuji Starlight Express

Valeria Aguirre, Fuji Starlight Express

Libor Kocian, Banff Park Lodge, Peaks Hotel & Suites, Bow View Lodge

Amanda Rewucki, Banff Park Lodge

Martin Bean, Roam Transit

Lena Fritzsching, Roam Transit

Cathy Hagan, Bow Valley Food Alliance/Bow Valley Food Bank

Shaun Pearson, Town of Banff

Emmanuel De Silva, Canmore Filipino Canadian Society

Janette Begata, Canmore Filipino Canadian Society

Karli Fleury, Banff & Lake Louise Tourism

Robyn Fisher, Banff Lake Louise Tourism

Christie Pashby, Banff & Lake Louise Tourism

Leslie Bruce, Banff & Lake Louise Tourism

Brian McClure, Innovate Canmore

Amy Osbaldeston, Banff Caribou Properties

Beau Galeski, Banff lodging co

Peter DuBeau, BCP

Brittany Laidman, Banff Caribou Properties

Jacqui Galea, BCP

Terry Morgan, Banff Caribou Properties Laundry Division

Ella Schatzmann, Recovery Alberta

Banff Community

Camila Cordovez, Banff

Hana Kujawa, Banff

Jane MacDonald, Banff

Jocelyn Hsu, Banff

Jomarie Dizon-Gammad, Banff

Rae Roberts, Banff

Shawn Carr, Town of Banff

Tannia Burelo, Banff

Vanja Stojanovic, Banff

Christine Larocque, Town of Banff

Alison Turley, Banff

Jeremiah Marsh, Banff

Eamonn Reil, Banff

Jaymi Burke, Banff

Tori Ames, Banff

Kim Le, Banff

Ericson Dizon, Banff

Robyn Fisher, Banff

Alison Turley, Banff

Joanna Wroblewska, Banff

Jeet Vyas, Banff

Laura Porsch, Banff

Banff Municipal Election Candidates

Allan Buckingham, Banff

Brian Standish, Banff

Corrie DiManno, Mayor of Banff - acclaimed

David Fullerton, Banff

Grant Canning, Banff

Hugh Pettigrew, Banff

Kaylee Ram, Banff

Mark Walker, Banff

Michelle Backhouse, Banff

Seth Enriquez, Banff

Canmore Community

Akemi Hara-Ogle, Canmore

Caitlin Miller, Canmore

Degju Suwal, Canmore

Gaspard royet, Canmore

Jeanie Macpherson, Canmore

Jerome Laycock, Canmore

Jill Jamieson, Town of Canmore

Joanna McCallum, Canmore

Joanne Morgan-Smith, Canmore

Jonathan Fangot, Canmore

Kamil Kumorek, Canmore

Katie Leaf, Canmore

Kristina Langs, Canmore

Laura Dehaene, Canmore

Laura Wellmann, Town of Canmore

Laurie Cantello, Canmore

Molly Matheson, Canmore

Nel Keith, Canmore

Nicki Dublenko, Canmore

Perrine Le Dreff, Canmore

Rob Shewchuk, Canmore

Stacey Wells, Canmore

Whitney Smithers, Canmore

Bassem Hafez, Canmore

Holly Nathan, Canmore

Judy Archer, Canmore

Ruth Pryor, Canmore

Michelle Rhode, Canmore

Cheryl Fraser, Canmore

Christine Lindberg, Canmore

Jenn Hoffman, Canmore

Stephen Legault, Canmore

Courtney Babott, Canmore

JaNae Sheppard, Canmore

James Pyecroft, Canmore

Anne Kontokosta, Canmore

Janet Krausert, Canmore

Doug Saul, Canmore

Hugh Benham, Canmore

Lesley Randal, Canmore

Canmore Municipal Election Candidates

Ed Russell, Canmore

Javan Mukhtarov, Canmore

Jeff Hilstad, Canmore

Jeff Mah, Canmore

Jen Marran, Canmore

Jonathan Hazzard, Canmore

Karen Marra, Canmore

Rob Murray, Canmore

Sean Krausert, Canmore

Tanya Foubert, Canmore

Wade Graham, Canmore

Municipal District of Bighorn Communities

Paul Kalra, Dead Man's Flats

Hailin Xu, Exshaw

Bruce McClintock, Exshaw

Rose Reid, Exshaw

Lake Louise

Krista Callen, Lake Louise

Danielle Duffy, Improvement District No. 9

Kananaskis

Supporters From Outside The Bow Valley

Robin Locke

Caleb Mironga