Canmore Winter Shelter Seeks Extension Through 2030 Amid Rising Demand

The Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley (HSBV) is asking Canmore council to extend its use of Scout Hall for emergency winter shelter operations through 2030, as new data presented to council shows shelter demand has grown sharply in recent years and increasingly includes employed residents struggling to afford housing in the Bow Valley.

During a presentation to council on May 5, the nonprofit said its emergency winter shelter operated for 151 nights over the 2025-26 season, serving 56 unique individuals while expanding from eight to 10 beds and recording zero turnaways. The shelter also provided 1,302 hot meals and reached or exceeded its nightly capacity on 24 occasions.

The organization is requesting continued free overnight access to Scout Hall between Oct. 1 and May 1 through May 2030, including overnight rent support from 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. nightly, valued at roughly $36,500 annually.

The presentation highlighted growing housing insecurity in the Bow Valley, with the organization reporting that more shelter guests than ever before were employed, recently unemployed or actively seeking work while using emergency shelter services.

“Five survey respondents indicated that they were employed on a full-time basis while using the emergency winter shelter,” said Jessica Klaric, executive director of the Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley. “We know that there were more who did not complete the optional survey.”

Klaric said shelter users worked in sectors ranging from tourism and manual labour to education, but many reported losing housing or being unable to afford local accommodations.

“Most of the individuals who were employed did note that they were struggling to find affordable housing, recently lost their housing, and/or could not afford local hotel or hostel rates,” she said.

The latest figures continue an upward trend in shelter demand that has accelerated over the past several years.

According to HSBV annual reports and council documents, the number of nights shelter beds were used increased from 104 in 2020-21 to approximately 1,283 during the 2025-26 winter season, an over 1,100% increase over five years. During the same period, the number of unique individuals accessing shelter services rose from 17 to 56.

The average number of guests staying at the shelter each night also increased, rising from 2.3 guests per night in 2022-23 to 5.9 in 2023-24 and 8.5 during the latest winter season.

Despite increasing shelter capacity from five beds in 2022-23 to eight beds in 2023-24 and 10 beds this winter, HSBV said demand continues to strain available space. Klaric told council every night of the 2025-26 season had at least four shelter guests, with some nights seeing as many as 14 people attempt to access the shelter.

“Every night we had at least four unique individuals come to access the shelter and at most 14,” she said.

The organization said the average shelter guest stayed 22.6 nights during the season, with several individuals accessing the shelter for more than 80 nights.

In a strategic plan released earlier this year, the organization identified establishing a permanent emergency shelter as one of its top priorities. HSBV has also repeatedly linked homelessness in the region to broader affordability pressures. A 2022 program review noted Canmore had Alberta’s highest living wage at the time, $37.40 per hour, while average advertised wages were closer to $20.70.

Klaric shared several comments from shelter guests during the council presentation, including one from an individual who said they had lived in the Bow Valley for decades.

“It's not as if I want to be in a shelter, but I'm on a limited budget and can't afford any of the housing units here or a hotel,” the individual said. “But this is my home, my community. I've lived here for decades and don't want to leave.”

HSBV said several shelter users moved on to employment, staff accommodation or other housing during the season, while the organization continues operating a year-round outreach program and community food cupboard.

“As HSBV works toward securing a long-term shelter solution, there remains an evident and ongoing need to maintain Emergency Winter Shelter operations at a minimum of the current level,” the organization wrote in its council report.

Council has yet to vote on the request, with Mayor Sean Krausert indicating the matter would return at a future council meeting.