1,431
Safe nights provided to clients accessing emergency sheltering programs during the 2022/23 fiscal year.
2,341
Community members served during the 2022/23 fiscal year.
671
Crisis calls received through YWCA Banff’s 24-hour crisis line during the 2022/23 fiscal year.
Our Pillars
Advocacy and Leadership
Lead our community to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.
Housing and Shelter
Develop facilities and services to better meet the spectrum of emergency and supportive housing needs.
Culture and People
Strengthen our culture to attract, retain and develop the best people.
Resource Development
Expand our resource framework to enhance the sustainability of our programs and services.
Our Guiding Principles
Women-Centered
We root our work in the knowledge that gender equity is a basic human right and adopt a women-centred approach to achieve healthier and more prosperous communities.
Autonomy
We value the lived experience of each person and respect their right to individual freedom and self-determination. We believe that the folks we serve are the experts in their own lives and can make their own decisions when it comes to their care.
Adaptability
We lead a stable organization in an ever-changing landscape. We understand and accept that change is inevitable. We push boundaries, challenge conventions, and shift to better support our community.
Integrity
We maintain an accountable, professional presence in the Bow Valley and ensure the credibility of our organization through sound internal practices and transparent communication about our values, goals, practices, and outcomes.
Inclusivity
We embrace people across varying identities and aim to provide equal access to opportunities for those who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized.
Collaboration
We connect with a diverse network of community partners to advance our mission and create greater impact.
Cathy’s Story – YWCA Banff is Bold
“The Bow Valley community is not unique in its reluctance to speak openly about difficult issues. We have either ignored or addressed them gently.
YWCA Banff tackles big societal issues straight on. They are unapologetic in stating the problem and using the specific language to describe it; words that make most of us embarrassed and find hard to say. They are bold and assured…”
Nancy’s Story – YWCA Banff is Empowering
“I was looking for tools to help me raise an empathetic and considerate young man. In our constantly changing society, its more important than ever.
Fortunately, in Banff, I wasn’t alone. The Y has long recognized that supporting women in our community cannot be done with the exclusion of men. Their workshops, booklets and support provide boys with the tools, understanding and broader perspective they need to become better men…”
History
For more than a century, YWCA Banff has been the leading resource for women and their families fleeing domestic violence and for providing safe, affordable housing for Bow Valley community members. It was with the YWCA National mandate in mind, that we officially opened our doors in 1912 to serve the critical needs of our community in housing and anti-violence prevention.
In 1987, the old Banff Mineral Springs Hospital was acquired and renovated by the YWCA of Banff for the purpose of providing affordable co-ed accommodation. The building was awarded to the YWCA for $1 because of the YWCA’s successful 75 year history in housing and social services. Until 1995 when the organization became autonomous, the YWCA of Banff was under the auspices of the Calgary YWCA.
We are still in the same location today at 102 Spray Ave. The organization continues to evolve and is now structured based on our three pillars: Programs & Services, Housing, and the YWCA Banff Hotel social enterprise.
Land Acknowledgement
We honour and acknowledge the traditional lands of Treaty 7 upon which Banff is located, and honour these sacred grounds that were shared by the Siksika, Piikuni, Kainai, the Tsuut’ina peoples of the Stoney-Nakoda First Nations of Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Wesley, as well as the Metis peoples of Region 3 of the Metis Nation of Alberta. We recognize that we have a responsibility to understand our history and the Spirit and Intent of Treaty 7 so that we can honour the past, be aware of the present, and build a future on Peace, Friendship, and Understanding for a just and caring future.
Shaping a safe and inclusive Bow Valley that empowers women and their community for a better future.
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