Bow Valley Non-Profits 2026 Summit
On April 27 & 28, 2026, changemakers from across the Bow Valley gathered for two inspiring days of connection, collaboration, and collective impact.
Open to people involved with Bow Valley non-profits, charities and grassroots organizations, as well as socially responsible businesses, including those engaged in social enterprise or making a positive social impact in the Bow Valley. This was a space to exchange ideas, spark partnerships, and strengthen the heart of community work in our region.
Flexible Pricing:
Pricing for this event has given consideration to the variety of available funds for professional development organizations may have. Please select your registration fee based on your organization’s budget.
- Standard rate: $200
- Supported rate: $70
- Accessible rate: $40
If financial barriers exist, please contact: fcss@banff.ca.
Monday, April 27th – 6:00-8:30pm
Location: artsPlace Canmore, 950 8th Ave.
‘Spotlight on Stories: Local Non-Profits Take the Mic’
Hosted by Kristy Wolfe, Kristy Wolfe Stories
Celebrate our local non-profit community with a vibrant evening of storytelling and connection. Together, we will shine a spotlight on the inspiring organizations that make our community’s social impact network so strong. This work is fueled by creativity, courage, entrepreneurial thinking, and a kind of nimble magic that keeps things moving forward. Will you step up to the mic and share your story?
About Kristy Wolfe (she/her)
Based in Canmore with her family, Kristy Wolfe splits her time between serving as Executive Director of the Wolfe Pack Warriors Foundation and leading her business, Kristy Wolfe Stories. The Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Wolfe Automotive Group, works across Alberta to Give, Amplify, and Connect with charities supporting children and families, access to the outdoors and athletics, and women’s education and leadership.
Kristy’s storytelling practice lives at the intersection of education, advocacy, and lived experience. As a Level 3 Common Language digital storytelling facilitator and trainer, she helps individuals and organizations to co-create stories of impact that honour storyteller wellbeing while fostering connection, conversation and meaningful change.
Tuesday, April 28th – 8:45am-3:45pm
Location: Banff Rocky Mountain Resort, 1029 Banff Ave.
Morning Program
‘What’s Possible – A Pathway Forward for Your Organization’
Keynote address & workshop- Presented by Kristi Rivait
The non-profit sector is navigating increasingly complex challenges. Rising community needs, limited resources, and increasing costs put immense pressure on organizations. These challenges reveal the growing limitations within our traditional funding model. So, what can you do about it?
Explore how organizations can align and integrate their economic and social objectives to increase their own financial resilience and community outcomes.
You will learn about different revenue diversification strategies and the culture and mindset shifts needed to build strong, responsive organizations that can navigate and thrive in today’s changing world.
The workshop component will be participatory and engaging-designed to help you understand the revenue streams you may want to consider and generate tangible ideas you can take back to your organization.
About Kristi Rivait
Kristi Rivait brings 20+ years of executive-level experience in the non-profit sector. In 2014, she co-founded Scale Collaborative and is their Director of Partnerships and Programs.
Kristi is renowned for her expertise in organizational transformation, sustainable financial growth and building community wealth. Kristi has coached and empowered hundreds of nonprofits to achieve greater impact through diversified revenue, scaling programs, asset and real estate acquisition, social enterprise, partnerships, and investment.
Kristi co-developed Thriving Non-Profits, initially a local initiative in Victoria, BC. Over the past three years, she has scaled the Thriving Non-Profits Revenue Diversification Infrastructure across Canada. Thriving Non-Profits is social innovation in action. Participating organizations all across our country are transforming, creating secure financial futures, building community wealth, and supporting the workers who are on the ground every day doing the good work.
Kristi is the co-founder and Board Chair of the Thrive Impact Fund. This impact investment fund provides patient, flexible capital to non-profits, charities, and social enterprises across BC.
In 2022, Kristi was awarded BC Business’s Runner-up for Non-Profit Leader of the Year. She is also a TEDx Speaker, focusing her talk on how nonprofits are key to an economy that cares.
April 28th – Afternoon Program Selections
‘It’s About the People’
Panel discussion- Moderated by Kristy Wolfe, Wolfe Pack Warriors Foundation
Panelists:
- Ruth Pryor, Bow Valley Connections Centre
- Theresa Radwell, Bow Valley Palliative
- Jamie McCulloch, Rocky Mountain Adaptive
Join us for a human centered conversation as we share best practices, lessons learned, and unique approaches to building strong teams that help non-profit work thrive. Together, we will explore topics like volunteerism, board recruitment, employee burnout, and retention.
This panel creates space for honest conversations while also looking ahead to new possibilities, highlighting how resilience and adaptability can open the door to fresh ways of tackling challenges.
‘It’s About the People’ Panel
Ruth Pryor, Bow Valley Connections Centre
Bow Valley Connections Centre has been creating inclusive spaces where adults & kids with developmental disabilities have a sense of belonging and thrive for over 10 years. The volunteer run charity, mainly parents, realised that in order to be sustainable BVCC needed to evolve.
Ruth Pryor came in as their first Executive Director to bring leadership, guide the organization through transitioning from a volunteer working board to a governance board with staff and build public relations. Ruth’s focus has been on the strategic priorities of organizational & financial sustainability, intentional programming & communications and creating a new plan for 2026-2029. The role has included research, policy & process creation, board diversification, fund development, impact analysis, user input and awareness initiatives & events and more.
Ruth has drawn on her 35 years experience of community development & inclusion, non profit, municipal & social sector and family disability guardian role to work with everyone with BVCC. She believes in the magic and possibilities of working together to build communities that care and grow stronger through inclusion. Dancing, dress up & making connections through fun seems to also be essential parts of the ED role!
Theresa Radwell, Bow Valley Palliative
Theresa Radwell is the Chief Executive Officer of Bow Valley Palliative Care, where she leads with a deep commitment to compassionate, community-driven care. With extensive senior leadership experience across both nonprofit and private sectors, she brings a strong background in strategy, operations, and organizational growth.
Theresa is known for her ability to build meaningful relationships and guide complex initiatives with clarity and purpose. She is passionate about ensuring individuals and families living with life-changing illnesses are supported with dignity, connection, and care that reflects what matters most to them.
She is focused on advancing accessible, high-quality palliative care across the Bow Valley, working alongside partners, care providers, and the community to create lasting impact close to home.
Jamie McCulloch, Rocky Mountain Adaptive
Jamie’s enthusiasm, passion and experience with adaptive sport and recreation led him to co-found Rocky Mountain Adaptive, where he works in the position of Executive Director, developing the Charity, advocating for adaptive sport and recreation, and still making time for his main passion – working hands-on with individuals of amazing abilities. He also supports various Non-profits and is active on advisory committees around disability advocacy from the community to the national level.
April 28th – Afternoon Program Selections
‘Planning for Success’
Presented by Tara Gilchrist, Town of Canmore FCSS
A well-developed strategic plan provides a multitude of benefits for organizations of all sizes. By identifying where you want to be, determining how you will get there and creating the realistic steps to do so – strategic plans are a vital tool for those working within your organization and for partners in your work.
Dive into your planning journey as Tara shares practical and scalable tips for organizations to maximize the impact of strategic planning tools, processes and documents.
About Tara Gilchrist (she/her)
Tara Gilchrist is the Supervisor for the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) team at the Town of Canmore. She has spent most of her career focused on capacity building with individuals, organizations, and the community. She has been involved in strategic planning from the perspective of a non-profit Executive Director, as a learner with Alberta Community Development, and as strategic planning facilitator for grassroots and non-profit organizations.
If you have any questions regarding this event, please email fcss@banff.ca or call 403-762-1229.
Thank you to the 2026 Summit event organizers, funders, and sponsors!
