If you have lived in the Bow Valley for a while and know a fair bit about how to survive and what’s what and who’s who – your assistance is being requested by a new community organization.
Community Connections in the Bow Valley is a new program to help those settling in Banff, Canmore or Lake Louise feel more welcome and supported.
Coordinator Heather Bates said the program is recruiting longer term residents who would be comfortable volunteering to connect with new Bow Valley residents to help them learn about the area and feel welcome.
“The Bow Valley offers an abundance of excellent community resources and activities. Knowing what is available and how to participate is a big part of feeling connected in the community,” said Bates. “This program will help make that link, and Volunteer Connectors are an essential part of creating a welcoming, supportive community.”
Community Connections is a program offered through Settlement Services. Settlement Services providers throughout Canada have different areas they focus on to meet the needs of the specific populations they serve.
Bates said this is the first year that Bow Valley Settlement Services has received funding from the federal government for Community Connections as a program. But they also received additional funding from the Town of Banff, so that means Community Connections in the Bow Valley can offer programs to all newcomers to the area – whether they are from other parts of Canada, on a working visa, temporary foreign workers or permanent resident – if you are new to the Bow Valley the program is for you.
“(The funding) allows me to expand the services to anyone new to the Bow Valley,” she said.
Bates said she hopes to be able to match individuals who are new to the valley with people who have lived here for a while as well as families. She said the ability to connect whole families with each other is an exciting opportunity the program provides.
“I am really excited to see it get off the ground,” Bates said. “We are asking people to introduce people new to the community; to what it is that makes it a great place to live.”
More information on Community Connections can be found at Banff.ca/connects and those interested in volunteering for the program can contact Bates at [email protected] or 403-497-4471 for more information or to schedule an interview.
