equity, diversity and inclusion
In 2024, the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley was awarded Silver Status by the Bow Valley Workplace Inclusion Charter. This charter recognizes organizations within Alberta’s Bow Valley who are taking specific actions to create an inclusive and diverse workplace. We believe that diversity in our team not only enriches the lives of our colleagues, but also strengthens our community by uplifting all voices and working towards climate justice.
Bow Valley Pride Network
As part of our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley is proud to be a part of the Bow Valley Pride Network, a community of businesses and organization in Banff and Canmore who are creating safe and welcoming spaces for everyone.
Joining the Bow Valley Pride Network shows our commitment to the creation and maintenance of safe spaces for their 2SLGBTQIA+ community – whether it be staff, visitors, customers, or guests – in both visible and actionable ways.
EARTH TALKS
Earth Talks is a free program, in partnership with the Canmore Public Library that brings monthly environmental speakers and conversations to our community.
On one Monday evening each month, we host an Earth Talks event in the Friends Program Room at 7:00pm. Earth Talks will typically be held on the third Monday of the month, with a few exceptions.
COMMUNITY CLIMATE CONVERSATIONS
Join us for our monthly Community Climate Conversations! No prior experience or knowledge necessary – come out to find community connections, inspiration, and how you can get involved in delivering a climate solution in the Bow Valley!
Bow Valley Climate Action and the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley invite participants to share their climate concerns and questions. We will create a safe space where you can learn, share, be inspired - and work together to create climate solutions that address your concerns.
The Digital Hobo and Marten Borch performed their climate-themed music at the Canmore Brewing Company in June of 2024.
Community, Art and Climate
We continue to find ways of integrating arts and creativity into our climate action work. From climate concerts and storytelling to immersive paint nights at Artsplace, we have partnered with a variety of local musicians and artists to hold these events. Get in touch if you have an idea for a collaboration!
Artistic collaborations to date include The Digital Hobo and Marten Borch. Follow their work to learn more!
community workshops
The Biosphere Institute hosts a variety of workshops with our community to inspire local, tangible and high impact action! We recently hosted a sold-out herb garden workshop at the Canmore Brew Co. where participants learned about gardening in the Bow Valley, herb recipes and planted their own customized herb garden to take home! We enjoyed getting our hands in the soil, connecting with community and learning new ways to participate in our food systems!
community engagement contests
Did you know? One third of Canmore’s greenhouse gas emissions result from transportation.
Throughout the month of June of 2024, we encouraged community members to cycle, walk, scoot, take public transit or any other form of low-carbon, alternative transportation as much as possible! We gave out prizes to participants throughout the month from our generous prize contributors: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Basecamp Resorts, Canmore Brewing Company, Banff Hospitality Collective, Rocky Mountain Soap Company, and North45. With over fifty entries, we were inspired by our community’s eagerness and dedication to clean commuting!
FUNDRAISING AND PARTNERSHIPS
For the month June 2024, our friends at the Canmore Brew Co. donated half of the profits of their featured charity tap to support the Biosphere Institute! We hosted a variety of fun events throughout the month, including our Clean Commute Challenge and Herb Garden Workshop!
Other recent fundraisers include Wild Life Distillery’s “Rye in the Rockies” cocktail competition and our annual square dance fundraiser!
ANNUAL SQUARE DANCE FUNDRAISER
Please join us on Friday, November 15, 2025 for some boot stompin' fun at our third annual Square Dance Community Fundraiser! The most fun you can have with your boots on...
Doors open at 6:30 PM
Dance begins at 7:30 PM
Full details here. If affordability is an issue, please reach out to us. Get your tickets by clicking the link below.
Annual square dance fundraiser
We had an absolute blast dancing with 175 of our closest friends and wonderful community on Friday, November 17, 2023
We danced the night away to an 8-piece band (Single Ladies String Band joined by the Hip to be Square Collective) ... all led by our fearless square dance caller Leslie Gotfrit! Thanks again to Cornerstone Theatre and WIld Life Distillery for sponsoring the event as well as all of our amazing silent auction donors.
See you next year - we've already booked the Cornerstone theatre, so mark your calendars for Friday, November 15, 2024.
Check out the photographs and video below for some awesome snapshots and moments from the night! Thank you to Greg Monforton for the video and Anna Sellers (Burstall Media) for the photographs.
Photograph highlights
Thank you to Anna Sellers at Burstall Media for capturing some amazing memories. See the full 2023 Square Dance photo gallery below.