Bow Valley Mental Health and Addiction Week

06/11/2026

A special thank you to the main financial sponsors of Bow Valley Mental Health & Addiction Week 2026!

Your support reflects more than generosity; it demonstrates visionary leadership and a clear commitment to building healthier, more resilient communities.

By investing in mental health initiatives, you are helping reduce stigma, expand access to support, and create environments where individuals and families can thrive. This kind of leadership sets a powerful example and moves the conversation from awareness to meaningful action.

Healthy communities are not created in isolation. They are built through collective responsibility, and your contribution shows what is possible when organizations choose to lead with purpose.

- Pauw Foundation
- Banff Canmore Foundation
- Covenant Health
- Banff Lake Louise Tourism
- Improvement District 9

To other businesses, organizations, and community leaders: this work is not finished, and there is a role for you in it. Supporting mental health is not only a social responsibility, but it's also a foundation for strong workplaces, sustainable organizations, and thriving local economies.

Whether through sponsorship, policy change, workplace culture, or community partnerships, there are tangible ways to step forward and be part of the solution.

06/09/2026

📢 New CMHA Report

Access to care and everyday realities can look very different in rural and remote communities.

CMHA National has been working with rural and remote communities across Canada to better understand the gaps, priorities and promising solutions in community mental health, culminating in the report, Going the Distance: Rural and Remote Mental Health in Canada.

Going the Distance presents a current national picture of mental health, substance use health and service access across rural, remote and urban communities, and examines who faces the biggest barriers to care.

The report finds that mental health services are less available and accessible to rural and remote residents, who often have to travel long distances to receive care. Indigenous Peoples, women and low-income residents in rural and remote areas experience some of the worst mental health outcomes and have higher rates of some mental illnesses.

Explore the report: 👇

Access to care and everyday realities can look very different in rural and remote communities. With support from West Fraser, a forest products company operating in four Canadian provinces, CMHA...

06/04/2026

Our vision is for this year’s events to humanize mental health and addiction while reducing stigma.

One of the most meaningful parts of the week was hearing from our six incredible ambassadors who courageously shared their personal mental health journeys and lived experiences.

Their stories created powerful moments of honesty, empathy, and understanding within the community. We are also excited that additional virtual storytelling from each ambassador will continue to be shared throughout the summer to help keep these important conversations going year-round.

06/02/2026

This year’s Mental Health & Addiction Week was really centred around collaboration and connection.

For people in the Bow Valley, those things are incredibly important because strong community networks play such a significant role in overall well-being.

Many people here are living far from family support, navigating seasonal work, precarious housing, low wages, etc., so creating opportunities for meaningful, low-cost opportunities to connect can have a real impact on mental health.

A major focus this year was exploring how nonprofits, grassroots initiatives, and community organizations could work together more intentionally to build programs, strengthen connections, and increase community capacity.

We also focused on relationship building between service providers and grassroots community members — creating space to share feedback, ideas, and conversations about how we can continue improving services and support for the Bow Valley’s diverse workforce and residents.

Another theme we saw very clearly was people wanting to reconnect with nature, the outdoors, and one another in more intentional ways. Many participants were looking for opportunities to disconnect from technology, slow down, and engage in gentle self-awareness practices in social settings.

By BMHAW Chair, Amanda Arbuckle

05/28/2026

Your voice matters! Share your feedback...

If you joined us for any events during Bow Valley Mental Health & Addiction Week, we’d really value your feedback. If you attended one session or several, your perspective helps us strengthen future programming and better support our community.

The survey takes about 5 minutes, and you can share as much or as little as you’re comfortable with. Honest feedback, both what worked and what could be improved, makes a real difference.

Thank you for being part of this week and for helping us continue to grow something meaningful for our communities.

Take the survey here: 👇
https://tinyurl.com/bvmhaw

05/27/2026

Mental Health & Addiction Week offered a powerful reminder of how deeply people in the Bow Valley care for one another. 🫶

What stood out most was not just attendance at events, but the way people showed up for each other. Long-time residents took time to help newer community members connect with local programs, services, and opportunities to build relationships.

At the same time, there were many meaningful moments, people intentionally reaching out to familiar faces they hadn’t seen in a while, recognizing that sometimes a simple check-in can make a real difference.

There was also a strong openness to having honest conversations about mental health. Many people were willing to share their experiences, learn from one another, and explore how to better support themselves and those around them.

These conversations highlighted an important reality: stigma still exists. For some, talking about mental health or asking for support remains uncomfortable, even when connection is needed most.

People in the valley need spaces where they feel safe, supported, and able to reach out without fear of judgment.

By BVMHAW Chair, Amanda Arbuckle
Photo: Speed Friending Event

05/15/2026

✨ New video 🎥

Listen and watch as Ambassador Avery Levesque shares his mental health journey. 🫶

Video captured by Bryan White, Bow Media

05/14/2026

Our community is grieving the heartbreaking loss of a young person.

When something like this happens, it can affect us all in different ways, whether or not you knew them personally.

You may be feeling shock, sadness, anger, confusion, or even nothing at all. All of these responses are valid. There is no “right” way to process loss, especially when it’s sudden and tragic.

Moments like this can also bring up our own struggles or remind us of past experiences. If you’re finding it hard to cope, please know you don’t have to go through it alone. Support is here, and reaching out is a strong and important step.

If you or someone you know needs support, you can find local mental health and wellbeing resources here: 👇
www.seethesigns.ca

Let’s continue to look out for one another, check in with friends and family, and hold space for compassion as our community heals. 💛

05/12/2026

Thank you to all the partners who hosted events and to everyone who attended! Stay tuned for some Ambassador videos...

05/09/2026

The expression “it takes a community” is never truer than with the individuals, ​groups and organizations behind this project.

We want to express our gratitude to the ​communities of the Bow Valley for their moral support, collaboration, and in-kind resources to make this grassroots week possible for our ​communities.

This week is not possible without the support of our funding partners. Your vision and efforts to make a difference in the well-being of locals today and into the future is appreciated.

Thank you to all of our generous sponsors for their support:

- Banff Canmore Foundation
- Wim & Nancy Pauw Foundation
- Covenant Health
- Banff & Lake Louise Tourism
- Banff & Lake Louise Hospitality Association
- Defending Awesome