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 $23,775,000
in the Bow Valley communities.
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Through our ongoing support, the Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation is proud to help the @bowvalleypridenetwork add its first Network Coordinator, strengthening its ability to serve communities across the region 🌈
The Network Coordinator will help grow awareness, participation, and programming.
James Demers (in the middle) has over 18 years of experience supporting queer and trans communities, with a practical, relationship-driven approach grounded in lived experience 🏳️🌈
The Bow Valley Pride Network connects @banffpride and @canmorepride to advance 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion across Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise, and communities throughout the Bow Valley, working with local partners to create safe, welcoming, and inclusive spaces.
📸 Bow Valley Pride Network
50 Wolf Street is the Town of Banff’s newest housing development, with 90 below-market studio, 1 bed and 2-bedroom homes.
We’re thrilled to provide $5 million towards a new 8,000 sq ft community space on the ground floor.
Imagine a place where:
Young people can gather for a BanffLIFE event 👥
A local community group can host a potluck 🍜
Families can drop their kids off at playgroup 🧸
The community space will be a multi-purpose area for every Banff resident to enjoy.
What an incredible night at the @ywcabanff VINEart Gala & Auction.
Thanks to the generosity of this community, the event raised more than $390,000, surpassing the fundraising goal. We were proud to donate $61,500, matching audience donations dollar for dollar during the evening 🎉
The match encouraged even more people to donate, supporting the YWCA’s residential programs. As a result, $123,000 was raised to help provide those in need within our community with access to support and counselling.
This is what community helping community looks like.
Today, we helped @banfftown raise the roof on 50 Wolf Street.
The 50 Wolf Street project will bring 75 affordable rental homes and 15 below market homes for purchase, managed by the Banff Housing Corporation 🏡
As part of the project, our $5 million donation will help create 8,000 square feet of community space open to Banff residents and community groups.
The community space will include flexible gathering areas, meeting rooms, and a community kitchen 🍽️
Supporting spaces like this is part of our mandate to nurture strong connections within our community and support initiatives that make the Bow Valley a better place to live, raise families, and enjoy mountain life 🏔️
We`re excited to share our new partnership with @cambaconnect.
The Canmore & Area Mountain Biking Association (CAMBA) builds and maintains trails and advocates for the trail community in Canmore 🚵
They`re the ones building the Drop Zone, grooming the fatbike trails, and finessing the features at the Nordic Centre.
Our donation to CAMBA is part of our mission to support active lifestyles and create meaningful community connection. They`re making the mountains a better place to live and play ⛰️
Imagine the possibilities for the new community space at 50 Wolf Street.
Our $5 million donation will build 8,000 square feet of community space open to Banff residents and community groups 🏡
Just a few of the ways the space can be used include:
• Flexible gathering areas, from casual seating to small meeting pods and meeting rooms
• A purpose-built Family Resource Network room for family programs and services 👪🏾
• Group meals and potlucks in the community kitchen and event hall
• A place to meet friends, finish homework, or take a work interview in privacy 👩🏽💻
The agreement between the Town of Banff and the Foundation is intended to make the space easy for community groups and non-profits to use while providing affordable options 🤝
Join us on March 17 at 1:30 pm for the groundbreaking at 50 Wolf Street.
Student well-being is foundational to learning.
We are pleased to continue our commitment to @crpschools, helping sustain and strengthen essential wrap-around mental wellness services across the division, including:
• divisional psychology;
• occupational therapy; and
• speech-language supports that assist hundreds of students each year 🧠
These supports ensure students and families have access to professional care, early intervention, and the stability needed to succeed 🩵
“Without the Pauw Foundation funding, CRPS would not be able to offer most programming with the majority of programs and all of the mental health and wrap-around support would be eliminated.” - Debbie McKibbin, Superintendent of Schools at CRPS 📚
📸 Canadian Rockies Public Schools
Outdoor learning is a core part of the Canadian Rockies Public Schools curriculum and central to our mandate of supporting an active, vibrant, and healthy community 🌲
Through Outdoor Pursuits, WimWE, WILD, athletics, and programming through the Canadian Rockies Outdoor Learning Centre, students build confidence, resilience, leadership, and connection to the Bow Valley.
More than 1,000 students participate in outdoor experiential learning each year, gaining skills that extend well beyond the classroom 👐
We are pleased that our donation helps make these programs possible by supporting the staff who bring them to life and helping ensure new and expanded nutrition and outdoor learning opportunities are accessible to all students 🧗🏽
By helping remove barriers to participation, we support students in staying active, having fun, and feeling more connected to their school and community.
📸 @outdoor_learning_centre
