Mission, Vision, Values

The Mission of the YWCA of Banff is to cultivate a thriving, healthy community for women and their families within available resources.

The Vision of the YWCA of Banff is that:

• Women will have the knowledge, confidence and inspiration to direct their own lives.
• Women will make informed and healthy choices.
• Industry workers will make informed and healthy choices.
• Women and children will be free from violence.
• Industry workers and travelers will have safe, affordable and comfortable accommodation.
• The community has greater awareness about women’s issues.

The long-term vision of the YWCA of Banff is to build a healthy community by helping to stop domestic violence, providing affordable housing and by serving people at critical turning points.

Y affordable housing & domestic violence?

You may never think of it, and you will probably never ask, but the likelihood that someone you know is suffering from domestic violence is high. Statistically, 1 in 4 Canadians will be directly affected by domestic violence in their lifetime, and Alberta has the highest rate of domestic violence when compared to other provinces. There is a tendency to look the other way, and say, “no, not in my backyard.” Look around you, at your colleague, your friend, your sister, your neighbor, the person you walk by every day on your way to work. Domestic violence isn’t someone else’s issue – it’s our issue, a community issue, and it affects every single one us.

You probably have a roof over your head. A warm place to sleep at night when the wind chill is high and the temperature low. But many of us don’t. Many of us in the Bow Valley lack a permanent, safe affordable place to rest our heads at night. When basic needs are compromised such as safety and shelter, the fabric of our community starts to tear.

The YWCA of Banff strives to address the essential needs of the community we serve. The area of most critical need has been and to continues to be the immense lack of affordable housing, as well as addressing the issue of family violence in the Bow Valley. As such, the YWCA of Banff has been one of very few organizations in the Bow Valley to address these specific needs of our community.

Domestic violence continues to be one of the most accepted forms of human rights abuse, yet is largely ignored. The statistics surrounding domestic violence are alarming, and instances of abuse continue to increase. The impact of domestic violence does not just affect the abused; it is an issue that affects the entire community.

Lack of affordable housing in Banff has been a critical issue on the forefront of discussion for years, yet community action has yet to come to fruition. In 2008 occupancy in Banff was at an alarming 93.38%. To date, our Gingerbread housing our Half-Storey Project is the only safe, permanent, affordable housing for low income residents in the Bow Valley. When basic needs are not met, such as; safety, security and shelter, the livelihood of our entire community is compromised. The YWCA of Banff is the only organization willing to address these issues within the Bow Valley.

History

For almost 100 years the YWCA of Banff has been the leading resource for women and their families fleeing from domestic violence and for providing safe, affordable housing for Bow Valley community members. It was with the YWCA National mandate in mind, that in 1912 we officially opened our doors to serve the critical needs of our community – housing and anti-violence prevention. In 1987, the old Banff Mineral Springs Hospital was acquired and renovated by the YWCA of Banff for the purpose of providing affordable co-ed accommodation. The building was awarded to the YWCA for $1 because of the YWCA’s successful 75 year history in housing and social services. Until 1995 when the organization became autonomous, the YWCA of Banff was under the auspices of the Calgary YWCA. We are still in the same location today. The organization continues to evolve and is now structured based on our three pillars; Housing, Programs, and the Banff Y Mountain Lodge, our hotel/hostel.

Board of Directors and Executive Director

Kerry-Lee Schultheis, Executive Director
Kerry-Lee has been at the helm of the YWCA of Banff for 22 years. All of the programs and services that the YWCA of Banff offers today have been developed under her leadership. Kerry-Lee brings to the senior management team close to 30 years experience in the area of social services in addition to exceptional entrepreneurial skills. Kerry-Lee was the first female member of the Rotary Club of Banff and she is the past-president. She also sits on several community boards and speaks on social and housing issues.

Board of Directors - 2010

Marjorie Huculak, President

Dr. Natali Schindler, Vice-President / Interm Treasurer

Natalie Rice, Secretary

Jacquie Guerts , Director

Dafne Appolon, Director

Susan Kennard, Director

Stephanie Powers, Director

Kerry-Lee Schultheis, Executive Director