• COLLABORATE with K-12 teachers, Indigenous Elders and community members to provide formal and non-formal educational programming in the Bow Valley

• CONNECT students to environmental learning on topics such as ecology, climate change and wildlife. 

• EMPOWER youth through environmental action projects based in the community

Not the End of the World Concert/ Open Mic Night

May 4th, 2025

Plain and simple, the Future Leaders Youth Council was tired of the constant doom and gloom surrounding climate news. After hosting last year’s Not the End of the World as a youth-focused workshop series, the council wanted to shift gears to host an event that includes community members of all ages. After all, climate anxiety doesn’t just affect young people, it’s a shared experience across all ages.

After brainstorming sessions and months of planning the youth council hosted Not the End of the World The evening brought together 76 attendees for a vibrant mix of music, storytelling, and climate optimism. Local acts including Irene Poole, Digital Hobo, and youth band The Ducks lit up the stage, while council members shared inspiring updates on local climate initiatives, from circular economy projects to green living tips. To keep the crowd engaged and learning, the team hosted rounds of eco-themed trivia, blending fun with education.

The event proved that climate action doesn't have to be heavy, it can be hopeful, inclusive, and full of heart.

Not the End of the World Radio Segments

In a world full of climate doom and gloom, the Future Leaders Youth Council turned up the volume on something different, hope. Partnering with Rob Murray at Mountain FM, through a series of uplifting radio segments, these young changemakers shared stories of local environmental success, innovative green living ideas, and circular economy efforts happening right in their own backyard. Broadcast across the Bow Valley, their work sparked curiosity, pride, and meaningful conversations about climate solutions.

From researching and scripting to recording and sharing, nine youth took the lead, growing their confidence, honing communication skills, and becoming powerful advocates for positive change. Their message? This is Not the End of the World!

Listen to their Radio Segments below

future leaders youth council 2024: looking back & moving forward

Over the last two years, this group of Bow Valley youth have come together to network, learn about and address environmental topics. In all this learning, what comes next? With a few students moving onto post-secondary adventures (UVic, UofA, McGill University and Japan) and others continuing their high school pursuits, we gave the youth the opportunity to reflect on what they've learned and how they'll apply this experience in the future.

Learn more: biosphereinstitute.org/future-leaders-youth-council

Follow on Instagram: @future.leaders.biosphere

Congratulations! Recent graduates receive prestigious awards

As alumni of the Future Leaders Youth Council and valuable role models to so many (ourselves included!) we want to extend a heartfelt congratulations to Nami Dwyer and Miriam Purnhauser. Nami received the prestigious Schulich Leader Scholarship. More than an impressive leader and academic, Nami knows how to make change - which is exactly what this scholarship is about. Congratulations, Nami! Read more about her award here. Nami will be pursuing a Bachelor of Science at McGill University beginning in Sept.2024.

As a legacy award in memory of Marika Laub, we also extend our congratulations to 2024 recipient and Future Leaders Youth Council alumni, Miriam Purnhauser! The award is presented by the Banff Canmore Foundation to support ‘Bow Valley individuals striving to achieve big dreams and live inspirationally’. We are so inspired by your enthusiasm to contribute in positive ways in any circle you’re in. Miriam will be pursuing a Visual Arts and Computer Sciences at the University of Victoria beginning in Sept.2024.

All the best to these inspiring Future Leaders!

CONGRATULATIONS! Rotary Club of Canmore Award

June 26, 2024

The Rotary Club of Canmore recently awarded Heidi Widmer the ‘Citizen of the Year’ award for her work with the Future Leaders Youth Council. As the Environmental Educator and Future Leaders Program Coordinator, Heidi is thrilled with the honour and invited as many members of the Future Leaders Youth Council to join her in accepting the award. After all, although the award bears her name it’s the dedication of the students who give it meaning! Thank you to the Rotary Club of Canmore for their continued support of the Biosphere Institute and countless other community initiatives.

ways of the bison

May 28th, 2024

By following the 'Ways of the Bison', we discover we are stronger together.

On Tuesday, May 28th, 40 Grade 4 students from École Nôtre-dame des Monts and Nakoda Elementary discovered just that! Gathered at Star 6 Ranch, the students worked together to solve a scavenger hunt puzzle and learn new Bison games from one another.

The students strengthened their understanding by listening to Îyarhe Nakoda Elders' stories about Bison. Then, they learned from Parks Canada about the Plains Bison reintroduction in Banff National Park, devoured a delicious Bison stew, visited the Ranch animals and crafted a Bison necklace!

In creating space for learning and friendship, this curriculum-connected program is intended to foster students' cultural and ecological understanding. Thank you to Star 6 Ranch for hosting us and the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) for the support.

Îsniyes to Phillomene and Tracey Stevens and Virgle Stephens for sharing their knowledge. As Virgle said, "let's do more of this learning together."

Not the end of the world (youth event)

April 20, 2024

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the negative news and headlines? What about isolated? Do they have you losing hope?

The Future Leaders Youth Council feels this, too! With support from the Biosphere Institute, Banff YWCA and Calgary Foundation, they pulled off an incredible event of learning, connecting and celebrating all the solutions here on Earth. It was a fantastic afternoon of workshops, dinner and an open mic alongside over 25 youth from Banff, Canmore, Exshaw, Lac des Arcs and Mînî Thnî.

Rain barrels + Youth

March 2024

On Saturday, March 16, youth participants of the Canadian Rockies Youth Summit joined the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley for a rain barrel workshop. As part of the theme “Waves of Change”, the 30+ youth participants from across southern Alberta learned about water and sustainability in Alberta. Alberta continues to experience drought conditions throughout much of the province with a large region of Extreme (D3) to Exceptional Drought (D4) remaining in the southern portion of the province and we’re not even into the summer season yet. This heavy topic weighs on each of us to play our part. Rain barrels is one way we can support water conservation at home! Here are additional resources to support water conservation: Government of Alberta recommendations and additional tips (from south of the border, but still valid).

A huge thanks to Rocky Mountain Soap Co. for donating the barrels, Valley Decorating and Paint Supply Centre, Wild Life Distillery and Canmore Home Hardware for helping us with materials and services. If you’re interested in purchasing or creating your own rain barrel, check out this how-to link here or contact education@biosphereinstitute.org

Environmental Stewardship

January-May 2024

Since January 2024, we’ve been partnering with Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy to deliver a pilot ‘Environmental Stewardship’ course. It has been incredible to explore the course modules of “Fostering Stewardship” and “Living with the Environment”. Students have learned about everything from human-wildlife coexistence, vegetation identification and waste water treatment to energy production Îyethka traditional knowledge, Indigenous practices to care for the land and the Nakoda language. Thank you to Calgary Foundation for the support!

In May, the students will begin their Action Project, where they can apply their learning to community change!

Teens on Transit

October 2023

In the fall of 2023, the Future Leaders Youth Council visited the ROAM Transit Hub in Banff. The Transit Hub and ROAM Transit is an excellent example of sustainability in the Bow Valley. The youth learned about how the Transit Hub is heated from the biomass heating facility across the street in Banff’s industrial park, outfitted with a solar array of 680 panels that power 3 electric busses in the summer months. There were roughly 1.4 million visitors and residents who took local public transit in 2023! That’s more than the entire population of Calgary!!

In support of more people integrating the incredible ROAM public transit into their daily lives, the Youth Council created a fun video to promote Teens on Transit. Thanks to Pinetree Players and Snap Beauty Mirrors for the costumes! And a huge thanks to ROAM Transit for letting us tour the facilities and even try out the bus simulator!

buffalo dialogue

December 2023

A day of sharing and learning about tatâga/iiníí at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies with Mînî Thnî Community School and the International Buffalo Relations Institute.

In October, Future Leaders taught the Gr9s from MTCS about biodiversity and the role Bison play in the ecosystem; but this is only one side of the Bison’s story. To enhance the learning, the students visited the Whyte Museum archives in Mînî rhpa (Banff), learned about their family and community history, played in the snow, ate Bison stew and participated in a Buffalo Dialogue. During the Dialogue, Dr. Leroy Littlebear and Amethyst Firstrider of the Blood tribe, Blackfoot Confederacy, shared the importance the Bison play in both ecological and cultural health.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you, îsnîyes to Travis Rider of Stoney Nation for sharing his knowledge in history, land-based teaching and language. With hand over heart, we extend thanks to Amethyst Firstrider and Dr. Leroy Littlebear for sharing their invaluable smiles and stories. Thanks also to the support from the Whyte Museum and the International Buffalo Relations Institute! We have much to learn - stay tuned for more stew, stories and collaboration!