$1 Million Donation Advances Banff Wellness Centre Plans

Banff’s long-standing gaps in primary care and mental health support moved a step closer to being addressed this month after a major donation pushed the community’s long-planned Wellness Centre toward construction. The project, which aims to consolidate services that are currently scattered across the town, now has enough funding to advance into its next stage of design and planning.

Covenant Foundation announced the $1 million contribution from the Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation on National Philanthropy Day. It is the largest gift Covenant has ever received for Banff and one that supporters say will reshape how residents access care across the Bow Valley.

The Pauw Foundation is a Banff-based charitable organization funded by the primary shareholder of Banff Caribou Properties, Ltd., and it focuses on reinvesting tourism dollars into community initiatives ranging from education to health and recreation.

“This extraordinary gift helps us ensure that patients and families can more easily navigate and access the care they need, when and where they need it most,” said Cathie Calarco, director of development at Covenant Foundation. “It is about breaking down barriers and creating a clear path to accessing services in the community.”

The Wellness Centre is planned for the second floor of the Banff Public Health Building at Banff Mineral Springs Hospital. At 4,100 square feet, the new space will house family physicians, mental health support, addictions services, and social programs that are now dispersed across multiple offices. Treatment rooms, coordinated service areas, and space for visiting specialists will bring much of the valley’s essential care under one roof for the first time.

Banff’s current system is stretched. Clinic hours are limited, and the region has faced mounting challenges recruiting physicians. One of Banff’s two family practices is at risk of closure by 2027. Residents must often travel to Calgary for cardiology, psychiatry, pediatrics, and eye care. For those with complex needs, navigating between providers rarely feels seamless.

The Wellness Centre’s design attempts to respond to that reality. New “system navigator” roles will guide patients through care pathways, including mental health and addictions. Covenant says these positions will provide warm handoffs to existing services and reduce the friction that patients regularly encounter between agencies. The Centre will also host visiting specialists in areas where residents currently face the longest travel.

“This donation will create a more seamless experience around health and wellness needs,” said Cathy Geisler, executive director of the Pauw Foundation. She described the project as an example of regenerative tourism, noting that tourism dollars are being reinvested into critical community infrastructure.

If built as planned, the Centre will expand evening and weekend access and offer same-day appointments and limited walk-in availability, easing the load on Banff Mineral Springs Hospital. Covenant anticipates the space will serve all Banff residents as well as seasonal workers and visitors, with thousands using primary care and mental health services annually.

Planning is already advanced. Architectural drawings, feasibility assessments, and functional programming are underway. Procurement and permitting are scheduled for early 2026. Construction is expected to begin in April 2026 and finish in December 2027, a schedule adjusted for Bow Valley winter conditions and material delivery challenges.

Inside the Centre, roles will be shared across multiple agencies. Recovery Alberta, Assisted Living Alberta, Primary Care Alberta, and Covenant will all play a part in delivering services. AHS will retain responsibility for acute care at the hospital. Community partners including the YWCA, Bow Valley PCN, newcomer agencies, and Indigenous Knowledge Holders are expected to collaborate through referrals and shared infrastructure.

The project’s full cost is estimated at about $2 million, with a more detailed budget expected early next year. The Pauw Foundation’s donation brings the Wellness Centre closer to breaking ground, but Covenant says additional support will still be needed to complete construction and equip the space.

“This gift will have a lasting impact on our ability to care for those we serve,” said Margie Smith, site administrator at Banff Mineral Springs Hospital. “It will allow us to provide innovative programs and create a space that promotes healing and wellness for everyone who walks through our doors.”

Calarco agrees that the donation marks a milestone, but the work is not finished. “This generous contribution marks a pivotal step forward, but our journey is far from over,” she said. “With continued support, we can fully realize this vision. When community, compassion and philanthropy unite, extraordinary change is not only possible, it is inevitable.”