Meet the BVIP Team
Natasha Lay (she/her),
BVIP Coordinator
Imagine a community where everyone feels they belong. Where diversity isn’t just welcomed but celebrated. That’s the Bow Valley I want to help create.
I come from a Chinese Hakka background. "Hakka" means "guest." Our history is one of moving to new places and seeking belonging while holding on to our culture. My parents fled war-torn Timor-Leste, a small island nation in southeast Asia. They rebuilt their lives in Sydney, Australia, where I was born.
I came to Canada for a mountain adventure, but the reason I stayed was the people in the Bow Valley. Here in Banff, I found a sense of home.
The story of my family, of the Hakka people, is one of moving, starting over, and searching for connection. It’s a story that so many of us share. I know the uncertainty of stepping into the unknown, the frustration of finding your way, and the joy when you feel a part of something bigger than yourself.
I know the magic that happens when a community opens its arms and says, "you belong here."
That’s why I’m excited to be the new Coordinator for the Bow Valley Immigration Partnership.
I believe everyone deserves to feel at home, no matter where they’re from or what their journey has been.
Our strength comes from our diversity – from those who come looking for new opportunities and from those who welcome them.
Building a truly inclusive community takes all of us. It’s messy, imperfect, and sometimes hard – but it’s worthwhile and I’m here for all of it.
We’re stronger together. Let’s build a deeply engaged community that not only embraces diversity but thrives because of it. I would love to hear from you – email me at bvip@banff.ca or call me on (403)-431-0705.
Tineke v.d Merwe (she/her) Communications & Outreach
I believe deeply in community.
I have always believed in the power of community. This belief began in South Africa, where I grew up, and it has stayed with me as I have moved through various parts of my life.
At 22, I left South Africa for the first time. I moved to the Netherlands and lived there for six months. After that, I spent ten years in London, UK, where my love for the arts and bringing people together grew even stronger. From there, I moved to New Zealand and spent two years living among its rich Indigenous culture.
In 2019, I took on a new challenge. I traveled 30,129 kilometers on my motorcycle, crossing twenty-one countries. It was an incredible journey where I learned from every place I visited and every person I met. Eventually, my journey led me to the Bow Valley. I arrived on December 29, 2021, and now live in Canmore with my husband and our dog, Ozzie.
No matter where I go, I carry my South African roots with me. ‘Ubuntu’, the African concept that “I am only because we are,” is at the heart of how I live. I recognize that my colonial background gives me privilege, and I work to use that privilege to support work that builds equity for all. I have lived in three countries where Truth and Reconciliation work is taking place, and I do my best to honor that in my actions. I feel grateful to the Indigenous peoples who have welcomed me, even though I came as a settler.
In my work, I focus on the creative process. I think about what we are building together, not just the steps we take to complete a project. Collaboration and connection are key to everything I do.
One quote from Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Ubuntu guides me in life: “My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” It reminds me that no matter where I go, we are all connected through our shared humanity.
Let’s keep connecting, I would love to hear from you – email me at tineke.vandermerwe@banff.ca or call or text on (403) 497-4208.