Banff Community Foundation celebrated the opening of a new office space on Banff Avenue on Wednesday (Aug. 26) and announced to gathered officials and dignitaries, including Alberta’s Lieutenant Governor, the organization has officially changed its name and expanded its outreach.
The Banff Canmore Community Foundation – said executive director Lorraine Widmer-Carson – will move forward with a mandate to serve the various communities throughout the Bow Valley, from Lake Louise to Exshaw, Harvie Heights to Morley to Kananaskis Country – and, of course, Banff and Canmore.
It represents a major change for the organization and an expansion of its outreach efforts to truly recognize that the valley is stronger together and goes farther together as well.
“If you told me two years ago the Banff Community Foundation would have over $12 million in assets, a street front address on Banff Avenue and a new plaque saying the Banff Canmore Community Foundation, I would not have believed you,” Widmer-Carson said. “I want you to imagine all the ways we can use this space to our collective advantage and how this new community foundation will serve the region in new exciting ways.”
Foundation board chair Bill Fisher said the work of the community foundation to establish new offices has created a space for the community to meet, play, debate, share, inspire and grow together.
“It is our gift to you and it comes through the generous donations from donors and the time and efforts of many volunteers, including our board members,” he said. “Our community is bigger than Banff and the 2013 flood made that obvious. Our community truly does stretch from Lake Louise to the edge of the mountains.”
He said with the help of the Bow Valley Community Foundation over the last six months, the two organizations have officially merged and will be based out of the new location at 214 Banff Ave.
“The Banff Canmore Community Foundation has indeed expanded its reach,” Fisher said. “Our work will now cover the whole Bow Valley and all its residents.”
Lieutenant Governor Lois Mitchell told the crowd that being in Banff for the opening of 214 Banff Ave. is a special occasion for her.
“Both Doug and I love spending time in Banff and it is a pleasure to be here at this grand opening for this very important community resource,” Mitchell said. “It does take considerable time, energy and commitment to create this kind of success.”
She said having a strong and cohesive community, like Banff has, does not happen overnight or with a single initiative, but through long-term efforts to build trust and foster common goals and values.
“I think the investment you have made will bless the people of Banff for many years to come,” Mitchell said. “It is a wonderful new facility and I know how long it has been in the making.”
Glen and Ann Sather, who have lived in Banff since the early ’60s, were integral in helping make the new facility a possibility through their fundraising efforts.
“I would like to thank the 45 donors that made this possible,” Glen said. “Nobody said no to me or Anne, everyone was generous. We were happy to do it because Banff has been our home all our lives and I think it is about time something like this happens.”
