Supporting an active, vibrant, and healthy community.
Our donations support projects that promote active lifestyles, enhance education opportunities, and nurture strong connections within our community. These programs and initiatives make the Bow Valley a better place for people to live, raise families, and enjoy mountain life.
We will fund initiatives that:
• Create opportunities to embrace our mountain culture, education, and recreation
• Make our community a positive place to build a career, live, and raise a family
• Positively impact our social service and community networks
• Improve the visitor experience
• Enhance infrastructure to beautify public areas and promote active transportation.
Our Impact
Since 2013, the Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation has invested over $14,000,000
in the Bow Valley communities.
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Welcome to #BikeMonth! June is an opportunity to ride outside, learn new skills, and connect with the cycling community through events and workshops. This month, we’ll highlight the community organizations that are making bike riding easier, safer, and more fun in the Bow Valley.
📸: Mayor Corrie DiManno and Wim Pauw at the opening of the Nancy Pauw Pedestrian Bridge
We’re excited to announce our newest funded organization: Friends of Kananaskis Country. This non-profit is the behind-the-scenes steward of your favourite trails in Kananaskis Country. Their staff and volunteers maintain hiking and mountain bike trails, provide environmental education, and promote the sustainability of K-Country.
Our $15,000 donation will go towards several trail projects, including weekly trail care days at the @canmore.nordiccentre and on the north side of Canmore, including restoring the popular Montane and Meander trails.
Check out the @friendsofkananaskis to learn more about the great work they do.
As May comes to a close, students in the Through the Lens program are putting the final touches on their work. Josh Reeder, an alumnus from the 2023–24 class, captured the spirit of the program perfectly:
“Being part of the Through the Lens photography program was an experience I’ll never forget. Going into it, I was interested in photography, but I had no idea how much I would learn—not just about cameras and film, but about how I see the world. By the end of the program, I wasn’t just taking pictures—I was telling stories."
Stay tuned for more details on the Through the Lens exhibit, opening at the @whytemuseum in June.
The Wim & Nancy Pauw Foundation is proud to renew its partnership with the Banff Canmore Foundation through a $900,000 commitment over the next three years. This investment helps strengthen community programs, empower local nonprofits, and support long-term resilience across the Bow Valley.
Since 2013, the Foundation’s support has helped expand community grants, launch mental health initiatives, and increase the capacity of nonprofits. This funding ensures that, together with BCF, we meet today’s priorities while building a sustainable future for everyone in our community.
Learn more at the link in bio.
The Wim & Nancy Pauw Foundation, in partnership with the Bow Valley True Sport and Recreation Council (BVTSRC), is excited to announce $80,000 in grants for 19 local sports organizations across the Bow Valley. This is the largest donation since the fund began, bringing the total to $354,000.
These grants, ranging from $1,500 to $9,500, will help clubs make sports more accessible by removing financial barriers. This year, highlights include new equipment for the Banff Skating Club, training programs by Canmore Minor Soccer Club, and initiatives by the Canmore Wolverines Football Club to expand participation, particularly among girls and underrepresented communities.
With this funding, more kids in the Bow Valley will have the chance to experience the power of sport. Read the article at rmoutlook.com.
Congratulations to the Take Me Outside Conference team on their sold-out event in Banff this week, May 8-10!
This conference promises to be a transformative experience with 450 educators + 140 presenters gathering to explore the power of outdoor learning. All workshops will be held outdoors, rain or shine, embodying the very essence of experiential education.
A big shout-out to Colin Harris and his team in Banff. Working closely with schools in the Bow Valley, they are instrumental in helping local educators move their classrooms outdoors, fostering a deeper connection between students and the world around them.
Learn more at @take.me.outside 🌲
We’re proud to share that Wim Pauw has been awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Presented by Senator Karen Sorensen, the medal honours Canadians who have made meaningful contributions to improve the lives of others. Wim’s decades of building engaging tourism experiences, investing in the community, and supporting local organizations through philanthropy reflect his deep commitment to Banff and the Bow Valley and reflect the essence of this national honour.
“Hundreds and thousands of people have helped me to get where I am right now,” said Wim, specifically thanking the @banff.lodging.co team.
Senator Sorensen noted that the medal celebrates those who “have given much of themselves to this Valley, this province, and our country at large.”
Congratulations, Wim, on this well-deserved recognition. Your legacy continues to shape a stronger, more connected Bow Valley.
We`re proud to continue supporting the Banff Child Care Centre with a donation of $12,500 and Puzzles Daycare with $4,000. These donations help maintain day-to-day operations and ease the financial burden for families.
Access to affordable, high-quality childcare is a key building block in every child`s educational journey, helping lay the foundation for future success ✏️🎨🧸
Learn more about our funding at the link in bio.
