About
YWCA Banff is a community-based organization with more than 100 years of experience in the Bow Valley, Alberta. The organization’s mission is to shape a safe, inclusive community that empowers women and girls in support of its vision for a thriving, equitable society.
YWCA Banff is a leading provider of domestic and sexual violence prevention programs and services in the Bow Valley, and a leading provider of affordable housing in Banff. Its programs and services address a range of challenges impacting Bow Valley residents and aim to help everyone in the community thrive. Programs include:
- Emergency shelter;
- Services and supportive counselling for anyone who has experienced or been impacted by domestic or sexual violence;
- Community training and education about how to prevent sexual violence;
- Short-term housing options with crisis support for people experiencing homelessness or precarious housing; and
- Supportive, affordable housing for over 100 residents
The YWCA is undergoing two major capital campaigns to expand the reach of its integral community supports. The Higher Ground Project will expand YWCA’s range of services including shelter and transitional housing, counselling and violence prevention programs in the Bow Valley. The Courtyard Affordable Housing Project will provide 33 new supportive housing units to accommodate up to 74 residents, prioritizing families and individuals that face greater barriers to securing safe and stable accommodation.
To learn more visit www.ywcabanff.ca
Our Impact
YWCA Banff’s staff team are grateful to be able to do this work and see the positive outcomes for individuals, families and for the entire Bow Valley community. Here is what people accessing YWCA’s services are saying about our work:
“[YWCA Banff] has played a critical role in my recovery… from a respectful housing environment to counselling…and so many other actions…that have really paved my way to recovery and have had a critical impact in ways I did not know an organization like YWCA would have the capacity to provide.” – Client testimonial
“All the staff at the shelter were extremely kind, generous, helpful, understanding, and non-judgemental. It was so wonderful to have a clean, quiet, safe place to heal [and ] counsellors to speak to. I learned a lot about relationships, safety, self-love, and lots of great, healthy techniques to get me through the hard times in my life…You truly changed my life for the better, now and for the future.” – Client testimonial
