Wim Pauw moved to Canada from Holland in 1969 and earned a Mechanical Engineering degree at the University of Manitoba. In 1985, he founded Caribou Properties (Banff Lodging Company), one of Banff’s respected hospitality companies, building a collection of hotel, restaurant and commercial properties. Wim attributes his success to hard work, efficient management, and a bit of luck.

Wim and Nancy met while cycling on a 3,100-mile transcontinental trip from the East Coast to the West Coast of the U.S. For over 22 years, they biked, hiked, skied and explored the world. Together, they embraced a simple lifestyle, making healthy body and mind choices and encouraging others to pursue travel and adventure to broaden their compassion and perspective.

Wim and Nancy’s commitment to their community was unwavering. In 2009, they established the Foundation with a pledge to give back through reinvestment of their wealth earned from business
profits. This commitment is being realized through the transfer of company ownership to an employee ownership model, and a wide range of philanthropic activities that make the Bow Valley a better place to live and work.

Since its first donation in 2013, millions of dollars have been donated to projects and initiatives that inspire a love for our mountain community.