Date: March 2025
Authors: Wells, L., Turner, A., Claussen, C., Rempel, E., & Montesanti, S.
Collaborators: Blackwell, S., McGinnis, W., Soldan, L., Macleod, R., Mah, J., & Demedeiros, S.
In rural Alberta, it’s the resilience and commitment of our communities that drive us toward a future free from violence.
To address the disproportionate rates of violence in rural communities, Shift has partnered with three women’s shelters — YWCA Banff, Big Hill Haven in Cochrane, and Rowan House Society in High River — to launch the Made in Alberta Rural Primary Prevention Collaborative.
As part of this work, the Collaborative is releasing two new reports focused on preventing sexual violence in Banff.
The first report, “Community Insights and Data-Driven Strategies: Next Steps in Preventing Sexual Violence in Banff”, summarizes key research and community trends that enable gender-based and sexual violence in Banff and outlines next steps for prevention.
The second report, “What We Found: Leveraging Open Data and Community Insights to Prevent Sexual Violence in Banff”, presents findings from community engagement efforts to understand the root causes of gender-based and sexual violence in Banff.
Together, these publications demonstrate the value of bringing hard data and local experiences together to understand patterns of violence in rural communities.
This first set of publications with YWCA Banff are helping to spark critical conversations, guide community action, and lay the foundation for a new approach to violence prevention in rural Alberta — one that is rooted in local leadership, informed by research, and co-designed to ensure lasting change.
Key Quotes
- “This Made in Alberta collaboration is grounded in the understanding that gender-based violence is not just about individual actions but is shaped by broader community structures, norms, and power dynamics. Effective prevention requires more than reactive responses — it calls for proactive, community-wide efforts that foster safer, more equitable environments.” – Ebony Rempel, report co-author and CEO, YWCA Banff
- “Banff’s unique context brings structural challenges that can increase the risk of male perpetration of violence. But these challenges also reveal the power of community, showing where, together – through intention, collaboration, and shared leadership – we can build a future where violence has no place.” – Lana Wells, lead report author and Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence
Key Findings
Community strengths and emerging trends that offer opportunities to prevent violence in Banff include:
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- A growing awareness of elevated sexual assault rates, creating momentum for action
- The strong influence of the tourism and hospitality industry, offering key leverage points for prevention
- A shared recognition of housing challenges, opening doors for innovative and supportive solutions
- A dynamic and engaged shadow and visitor population, with potential to strengthen safety efforts across sectors
- Increasing demographic diversity, bringing new perspectives and opportunities to build inclusive prevention strategies
Recommended opportunities to advance violence prevention in Banff include:
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- Strengthening violence prevention efforts within the tourism and hospitality sector, building on existing partnerships and leadership
- Co-developing a Primary Prevention Plan with Banff & Lake Louise Tourism and the Town of Banff to guide collective action
- Enhancing data collection and research to deepen understanding of perpetrator patterns and inform proactive interventions
- Expanding YWCA’s leadership and capacity to anchor and coordinate community-based prevention efforts
Quick Facts
- Nearly 1 in 5 Albertans live in rural communities, where the risk of domestic and sexual violence and femicide is higher
- In Banff, over 62% of the workforce is employed in the tourism industry, with a seasonal ‘shadow population’ of 800-1,000 people living in the town along with 4.3 million annual visitors ¹
- Across Banff, passionate leaders, service providers, and community members are stepping up to make prevention a priority. Their collective efforts, partnerships, and shared vision create real momentum for building a safer, stronger Banff for everyone.
References
¹ Lee, J. (2023, December 14). Canmore, Banff, Kananaskis key contributors to $25-billion tourism goal. St. Albert Gazette. Retrieved from https://www.stalbertgazette.com/beyond-local/canmore-banff-kananaskis-key-contributors-to-25-billion-tourism-goal-8354067
