Inclusion in Action in the Bow Valley
Over 100 community leaders joined BVIP’s 2026 Inclusion in Action Celebration on February 5th, at Banff Park Lodge.
On February 5th, 2026, more than 100 people gathered in Banff for BVIP’s Inclusion in Action event, a morning that brought together employers, community leaders, elected officials, service providers, and residents to reflect on what it takes to build workplaces, and communities, where people truly belong.
The event was both a celebration and a reality check.
We celebrated meaningful progress across the Bow Valley and also made space to talk about the barriers that still shape many people’s daily lives, at work and beyond. In a region facing high costs, workforce pressures, housing challenges, and increasing social disconnection, the message was clear: inclusion cannot be treated as extra. It is part of how we build a strong, healthy, and sustainable Bow Valley.
Listening for belonging
One of the most powerful parts of the event was the panel discussion, Listening for Belonging.
A big thank you to our Panelists:
Monette Esmeria (she/her), Immigrated to Canada from The Philippines and works with Settlement Services in the Bow Valley
Basma Doubaji (she/her), Immigrated to Canada from Morocco and is the General Manager at Murrieta’s Mountain Bar & Grill
Elia Lopez, Immigrated to Canada from Mexico and is proud to be the coordinator for The Shoe Project, Bow Valley chapter
Chinthaka Nambapanage (he/him), Immigrated to Canada from Sri Lanka and supports the digital marketing for Bow Valley Adult Learning Centre and Bow Valley Palliative
Cheryl Fraser(she/her), born in Canada and the Publisher at the Rocky Mountain Outlook, moderated the panel discussion.
Left to right: Cheryl Fraser, Monette Esmeria, Basma Doubaji, Elia Lopez and Chinthaka Nambapanage.
Their stories spoke to moments of welcome, times of exclusion, the invisible work many immigrants and newcomers carry, and the life-changing impact of even one inclusive decision by an employer or supervisor.
The discussion was candid, generous, and grounded in lived experience. Panelists spoke about the quiet calculations people make at work every day: whether it is safe to speak up, how much of themselves they can show, how often they need to explain, adapt, or prove themselves, and what it means when someone in a workplace chooses trust, respect, and care.
They also spoke about something BVIP continues to see across our work: workplace inclusion does not just stay at work.
When people feel respected and supported at work, it impacts family wellbeing, mental health, confidence, and connection to the community. It shapes whether people stay, whether they grow roots, and whether they see a future for themselves and their children here in the Bow Valley. That matters for all of us.
Progress and pressure
A strong theme throughout the event was that we can hold two truths at once. We can celebrate progress, and we can be honest about how hard this work still is.
Many organizations in the Bow Valley are trying to do the right thing in very challenging conditions. They are responding to staffing shortages, changing workforce needs, housing pressure, transportation barriers, and the daily demands of serving a fast-moving region.
At the same time, immigrant and newcomer workers continue to face inequities, bias, communication barriers, and systems that do not always reflect their realities.
The event did not shy away from that tension. Instead, it invited people to stay in it together, to recognize what is working, and to commit to practical action. That spirit of honesty and shared responsibility is part of what made the event feel so meaningful.
Celebrating the 2025 Workplace Inclusion Charter champions
The second half of the event turned to celebration, as BVIP recognized the employers participating in the 2025 Workplace Inclusion Charter. This year marked the fifth Charter program, and the results were significant:
24 employer champions
70 participating workplaces
449 actions collectively completed in less than 12 months
Close to 6,000 full-time equivalent employees benefiting
These numbers show important progress, and what matters even more is what they represent: real people, in real workplaces, making real changes.
Some changes may seem small from the outside, such as improving onboarding, reviewing job postings, supporting clearer communication, strengthening workplace policies, or creating better ways to address discrimination and harassment. But taken together, these actions shift workplace culture. They help create environments where more people can contribute, succeed, and feel they belong.
This work is never about ticking boxes. It is about building workplaces that value people and reflect the communities they serve.
This event would not have been possible without the incredible collaboration and dedication of our 2025 Workplace Inclusion Charter co-creators. Thank you for your leadership, your ideas, and your commitment to building a more welcoming Bow Valley.
In 2025, the Workplace Inclusion Charter was led by Bow Valley Immigration Partnership and co-created with AWES, Banff and Lake Louise Hospitality Association, Banff Pride, Canmore Pride, Bow Valley Pride Network. Settlement Services in the Bow Valley, Vecova, and YWCA Banff. With special thanks to Job Resource Centre, Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Alberta Human Rights Commission, and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.
A regional effort, built through partnership
The awards ceremony also highlighted something important about inclusion work in the Bow Valley: it is collective.
Municipal leaders joined the celebration to recognize champions by region, helping connect employers, public leadership, and community efforts. No one organization can do this work alone.
BVIP’s role is to convene, connect, and support coordinated action across the region. The Charter is one example of what becomes possible when employers, municipalities, community groups, and residents work from a shared vision.
Sarah Elmeligi, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta (MLA for Banff-Kananaskis)
Michelle Backhouse, Town of Banff Councillor
Jeff Mah, Town of Canmore Deputy Mayor
Momentum is growing
This event came less than a year after the launch of the Bow Valley’s new Immigrant Inclusion Strategy, and it showed that momentum is growing. At the same time, the need for this work remains a priority.
Inclusion is not a side project for a small group of committed people. Inclusion is central to the Bow Valley’s future. It impacts whether businesses can attract and keep staff, whether families can settle and thrive here, or whether public services reflect the people who rely on them. It impacts whether our community becomes more resilient, more equitable, and more connected.
In a small region, we feel the effects quickly when inclusion is missing. We also feel the benefits when it is done well.
Events like Inclusion in Action create space to pause, listen, celebrate, and recommit. They remind us that inclusion is not abstract, it is a daily experience. It lives in policies, relationships, leadership decisions, and small moments that tell people whether they are valued.
Looking ahead
As BVIP shared during the event, the next phase of the Workplace Inclusion Charter will build on what has been learned so far. The 2026 Charter will launch this summer, with an extended timeline through December 2027 to give employers more time to learn, act, and track progress. There will also be continued opportunities for peer learning, co-creation, and support, especially for smaller employers. While this work is urgent, it also takes time.
The Bow Valley is not starting from zero. Across sectors, people are showing up, learning, and trying new approaches. Together, we are helping to build a region where more people can participate, contribute, and know they belong.
The 2026-2027 Workplace Inclusion Charter is coming soon!
Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who joined us, shared stories, asked hard questions, celebrated progress, and helped make the morning possible.
More than 100 people came together for this event. That turnout tells us there is appetite for this work. It tells us people care, and that even in a difficult moment, there is real commitment across the Bow Valley to building a more welcoming and inclusive community.
There is still much to do, but this event reminded us that progress is happening, and that we are stronger when we do this work together.
2025 Gold Workplace Inclusion Champions
Employers leading in inclusion and establishing a framework for sustainable change. Gold Inclusion Champions completed at least 14 of 16 actions in 2025.
artsPlace
Banff and Lake Louise Tourism
Banff Jasper Collection by Pursuit
Banff Lodging Co.
Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts (Buffalo Mountain Lodge, Emerald Lake Lodge, Post Hotel)
Fairmont Banff Springs
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Mount Norquay
Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8
Rimrock Banff
SkiBig3
2025 Silver Workplace Inclusion Champions
Employers fostering a supportive, inclusive environment for all employees. Silver Inclusion Champions completed at least 10 of 16 actions in 2025.
Arctos & Bird (Juniper Hotel & Bistro, Wild Flour Bakery)
Basecamp Resorts
Fuji Starlight Express Co. Ltd (Banff Park Lodge, Bow View Lodge, Peaks Hotel & Suites)
Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley
HSS Design Build
Murrieta's Mountain Bar & Grill
Roam Transit
Town of Canmore
2025 Bronze Workplace Inclusion Champions
Employers taking foundational actions to create a more inclusive workplace. Bronze Inclusion Champions completed the 5 minimum required actions.
Ashton Construction Services
Banff Canmore Foundation
Bow Valley Adult Learning Centre (Banff)
HI Banff
Tourism Canmore Kananaskis
Workplace Inclusion Champions from Banff and Lake Louise. With thanks to Banff Town Councillor Michelle Backhouse for presenting the awards.
All Workplace Inclusion Champions from Canmore, Municipal District of Bighorn and Kananaskis. With thanks to Canmore Deputy Mayor Jeff Mah for presenting the awards.
Congratulations to all 2025 Workplace Inclusion Champions from across the Bow Valley!
Explore the Photo Gallery!
Relive the highlights of the 2026 Inclusion in Action event! Thank you again to everyone who joined us. Feel free to share these photos, and please credit Bow Valley Immigration Partnership (BVIP) where possible.
This event was funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.