Supports in the Bow Valley
If you have an urgent need you can contact the following :
Canmore: at fcssadmin@canmore.ca or call 403-609-3743
Banff: help@banff.ca or 403-762-1251
Lake Louise: info@improvementdistrict9.ca
MD of Bighorn: 403-673-3611
Dial 211 for 24/7 access to community and social support information. Alberta 211 is a free helpline with service in over 150 languages.
Bow Valley Food Bank - Canmore, Exshaw, Seebe, Dead Man’s Flats, Lac Des Arcs, Harvie Heights, and Kananaskis
Residents requiring emergency food assistance may use the food bank as often as needed for a maximum of 12 visits during a one year period and only once per month. Hampers provide both perishable and non-perishable nutritious food choices that are estimated to last a week.
To apply: Please call 403-678-9488
Monday & Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30pm
Banff Food Bank - Tuesday’s from 12:00 to 1:00pm
You can also enjoy a nutritious soup at Banff Park Church from 11:30 to 1:00pm on Tuesdays. Banff Park Church - 455 Cougar St, Banff.
Banff Food Bank is strictly volunteer and donations run registered charity operating since 1994 in Banff serving Banff and Lake Louise.
https://www.facebook.com/banfffoodbank/
banff.food.bank@gmail.com
Canmore Food Recovery Barn -
Tues & Thurs at 5:30 pm
The Canmore Food Recovery Barn is an initiative to recover edible food and divert it from the landfill to distribute to community members that will use it.
Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church (near Canmore Hospital), 1205 - 1st Ave
Please remember to bring a reusable bag, and arrive a few minutes early to draw your number!
Banff Little Free Pantry - Banff Public Library (open during library hours)
Food items in the Little Free Pantry are packaged and non-perishable.
On the Little Free Pantry shelf, we also stock hygiene products such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, and feminine hygiene products.
https://www.banfflibrary.ab.ca/Services/Community-Wellness-Programs/Little-Free-Pantry
Canmore Community Food & Friends Dinner - Mondays from 5 PM to 7 PM at St Michael Anglican Church, Canmore
Community Food and Friends Dinners offer a safe place for people from all segments of society, to come together every Monday evening, 52 weeks a year, to enjoy the pleasure of a nutritious meal in a beautiful setting, with friends and neighbours. This dinner serves 300 - 400 consumers per week, providing over 100,000 meals since being initiated in 2013. Dine in or please bring your own container for take out.
St Michael Anglican Church, 709 7th Street, Canmore
Banff Food and Friends - Mondays, 5-7pm
St. Georges in the Pines, 100 Beaver St., Banff
Community Food and Friend Dinners offer a safe place for people from all segments of society to come together every Monday evening to enjoy the pleasure of a free, attractive, nutritious meal with friends and neighbours.
https://www.facebook.com/banff.foodandfriends
Banff Community Table - Wednesdays from 12-1 p.m
https://banff.ca/1256/Food-Programs-for-Residents
Mountain Fire Foods - Available to Canmore, Exshaw, Dead Man’s Flats, and Mini Thni residents.
Mountain Fire Foods has partnered with the Bow Valley Food Bank to provide free weekly meals to those in need.
To receive a meal, please email your name, address, and the number of meals you need with the subject line ‘Community Meals’.
fire@mountainfirefoods.ca
Stoney Community Health Centre - Thursdays, 12 - 3 pm
Provide a variety of food services and programs to the Stoney Nakoda First Nation community members of the Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Wesley bands in Mînî Thnî
.
For more information on accessing food supports, please email or call 403-803-7601.
Please email or call 403-497-4483 to access a food hamper.
https://www.facebook.com/p/Filipino-Organization-in-the-Rocky-Mountains-100064757947189/
Canmore Filipino Canadian Society
Provide food hampers to families in the Bow Valley, including culturally-appropriate food items for Filipino-Canadian families.
Please contact via email or the Facebook group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/CanmoreFilipinoCanadianSociety/
canmorefilipinocanadiansociety@gmail.com
Îyâhrhe Nakoda Food Bank - Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 12 pm and 1 - 4:30 pm
Provides the Stoney Nakoda community members of the Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Wesley bands in Mînî Thnî with a nutritious and wholesome emergency food hamper program.
YWCA Banff
The YWCA supports clients looking for information and referrals around community resources, support, and housing. Programs and services are confidential and free of charge, and available to people of any gender who reside in the Bow Valley region.
102 Spray Ave, Banff
403-762-3560, info@ywcabanff.ca
https://ywcabanff.ca/programs-services/
Canmore Affordable Services Program
The Affordable Services Program is a coordinated community response that provides eligible residents with increased access to supports aimed at making Canmore a livable community for all.
With one application, the Affordable Services Program provides access to multiple community supports and services.
For more information: https://www.canmore.ca/your-community/community-supports-and-services/affordable-services-program
Banff Access Program
provides eligible Town of Banff residents* with discounts, Access Card on classes, programs, transit passes, purchases at participating businesses and more.
For more information: https://banff.ca/963/Banff-Access-Program
MD of Bighorn's Fee Assistance Program
The MD of Bighorn’s Fee Assistance Program (FAP) provides eligible residents with support to participate in recreational, educational and cultural programs approved by the MD of Bighorn.
For more information: https://www.mdbighorn.ca/713/Recreation-the-Arts-Education
Canmore Family Connection Centre (FCC)
The Family Connection Centre provides programs, services, workshops, and one-on-one support through our dedicated Family Support Workers. All programs and services are free.
403.678.2529, fccadmin@canmore.ca
https://www.canmore.ca/your-community/community-supports-and-services/family-connection-centre
Town of Banff Family Resource Network (FRN)
The Town of Banff receives provincial funding to provide free programs and services as part of the Bow Valley Family Resource Network. Offerings are available to residents of the Bow Valley.
Family Resource Networks (FRNs) deliver prevention and early intervention services and support for families with children aged 0–18. The Town of Banff, Town of Canmore and Closer to Home work together to provide services and programs for Bow Valley residents. The Town of Banff’s services will have a focus on caregiver education and capacity building, coordinating social connection, child development and wellbeing and offerings in collaboration with other partners.
Settlement Services In The Bow Valley
Settlement Services is funded by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and provided through the Town of Banff, in partnership with the Town of Canmore and local Bow Valley schools. We provide free and confidential services for Permanent Residents of Canada, Refugees and individuals who have received a Pre-Arrival Letter from IRCC and are in the final stages of becoming a Permanent Resident.
https://banff.ca/167/Settlement-Services-in-the-Bow-Valle
Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley
We offer an Outreach program (available year-round) and an Emergency Winter Shelter (seasonally operated) to provide support to individuals who are unhoused and housing insecure within the Bow Valley.
To access support:
Call (403) 493-3771: Our team monitors phone calls and emails daily up until 7 PM. If you reach our voicemail, please leave a message and we will be in touch within 24 hours.
Email: outreach@bowvalleyshelter.ca
Urgent Mental Health Services - Canmore and Banff
Banff Mineral Springs Hospital and Canmore General Hospital.
Seven days a week, 2-9pm
Urgent mental health services are available with no appointment through the Urgent Care department. Individuals need to go through triage and register with Urgent Care. Please note there is no psychiatrist on call and clinicians are not able to make medication changes.
Bow Valley Palliative
Nestled in the Bow Valley, we believe in the power of community. When you’re facing a life-changing diagnosis or experiencing grief, we’re here to walk alongside you, meeting you right where you are.
Our compassionate support is tailored to your needs, helping you live meaningfully, no matter the circumstances. We’re here for your loved ones too, offering guidance and care for those supporting you. And through it all, we’ll help you navigate the grief that comes with these moments of change.
Bow Valley Primary Care Network - Mental Health Clinicians
The PCN’s Mental Health Clinicians are available to meet with adults 18+ to provide short-term counselling to help improve overall emotional and mental well-being; for example, support with adjusting to life changes and transitions, coping with stress, healthy relationships, and lifestyle habits.
Call 403.675.3000
AHS Mental Health Services - Canmore
Mental Health counselling for individuals across the lifespan.
Provides programs and services for people experiencing mental health issues. Offers time limited and goal focused Mental Health Counselling that include:
assessing, treating and follow up
providing information
referring people to other mental wellness services
Call: 403-678-4696, 403-943-1500 (Access Mental Health)
Mental health helpline
24/7 support
For Albertans experiencing mental health concerns.
1-877-303-2642
Suicide Support Line
24/7 support
If you or you know of someone in crisis, call to connect to a crisis responder.
Call: 988
Health Link
24/7 support
For Albertans needing health advice.
Call: 811
Stoney Health Services
Chiniki First Nation, Goodstoney First Nation, Bearspaw First Nation
Mental Health Therapists offer confidential counseling to children, adults, couples and families. They support individuals who may be experiencing anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma, relationship issues, abuse, stress, crisis management and other life challenges. Therapists support healing and recovery.
To make an appointment, call or text 403-801-3484
Eagle’s Nest Stoney Family Shelter
Eagle’s Nest Stoney Family Shelter is a short-term emergency shelter for women and their children, located in Mînî Thnî, Alberta. Our objective is to provide a safe and supportive environment for women and their children who are experiencing violence. Our facility has communal eating and living areas, intake and counselling space, multi-sensory room, and smudging space.
403-881-2025
24-hour Crisis Line 403-881-2000
Indigenous Support Line
24/7 support
Confidential telephone service helps First Nations (status and non-status), Métis and Inuit peoples and their families
navigate the healthcare system.
1-844-944-4744 (toll-free)
Addiction helpline
24/7 support
For Albertans experiencing addiction.
1-866-332-2322
