YWCA Banff’s Programs and Services Department provides a wide range of services based on best practice; this includes awareness, prevention, and one-on-one support. Working from a response-based and trauma-informed approach, our clients are empowered to make their own informed and safety-focused decisions.
The primary focus of our Programs and Services team is to support women who are experiencing intimate partner violence and their children, as well as community outreach work to prevent intimate partner and sexualized violence. Our team supports clients looking for information and referrals around community resource, support, and housing.
Our programs and services are confidential and free of charge, and available to people of any gender who reside in the Bow Valley region.
Domestic and Sexual Violence in Relationships
This informative program exists to educate the Bow Valley community on intimate partner violence and abuse including learning about different types of abuse and increasing skills to recognize and respond to disclosures.
Women’s Circle
A group for women to connect, share, empower, build skills, and encourage one another to live authentically in mind, body, heart and spirit.
Power-Up
Power-Up provides targeted education, skills development and support to kids in grades 4, 5 and 6 to provide them with tools to pursue safe, healthy relationships and maintain their long-term mental and physical well-being.
Strength In Being A Boy
Strength in Being a Boy is a free, full-day conference that focuses on consent, emotions, healthy relationships with self and others, and gender stereotypes.
Power of Being a Girl and Power of Being A Girl TEEN
As part of YWCA Canada‘s commitment to violence prevention initiatives for girls and young women, YWCA Banff hosts the Power of Being a Girl™ (PBG) and PBG-Teen conferences.
Healthy Youth Relationships
The Healthy Youth Relationships programs looks at both healthy and unhealthy peer romantic relationships.
Healthy Relationships
The overarching goal of this program is to promote connection, empowerment and skills for healthy relationships and self-care.
Housing Services
YWCA Banff has been a leading provider of managed, affordable housing in the Banff community for over 25 years.
Emergency Shelter
The Bow Valley Women’s Emergency Shelter is dedicated to supporting women and their children who are fleeing violent situations. We offer a safe place to stay, and counselling and support to help heal and rebuild their lives.
Transitional Housing
Bridge House is a next step option for those leaving crisis shelter.
Residence
We are Banff’s leading provider of temporary and permanent affordable housing with over 100 residents living onsite year-round.
Courtyard Project
YWCA’s new affordable housing facility will feature 33 self-contained, affordable housing units designed to accommodate individuals and families.
Higher Ground Project
Higher Ground Project is the YWCA’s plan to bring a new, purpose-built facility to Canmore with a range of services that address domestic and sexual violence in the Bow Valley.
Counselling
We offer confidential counselling for individuals who have experienced domestic and/or sexual assault, and for those questioning whether or not a current relationship is healthy.
Harmony Project
The Harmony Project is a collaborative community initiative addressing sexualized assault and harassment in the Bow Valley.
Shaping a safe and inclusive Bow Valley that empowers women and their community for a better future.
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