Community Resources
Looking for support, connection, or reliable info in the Bow Valley?
This page shares community-recommended resources for 2SLGBTQIA+ people, allies, and families in Banff, Canmore, and the Bow Valley.
Gender-Affirming Healthcare
Gender-affirming healthcare encompasses a range of social, psychological, behavioural, and medical interventions designed to support and affirm an individual's gender identity, especially when it differs from the sex assigned at birth. It's a holistic approach that may include medical treatments like hormone therapy or surgery, alongside psychological support and social services. The goal is to help individuals live authentically and comfortably in their gender identity.
Skipping Stone (Calgary + Alberta-wide supports)
Skipping Stone in Calgary provides a wide range of services to support and empower trans and gender diverse youth, adults, and their families in Alberta. These services include group support, gender-affirming gear, community events, medical and mental health services, training, and education. They also offer peer support, system navigation assistance, and connections to social and community resources.
Foria Clinic (Virtual gender-affirming care)
Foria Clinic provides virtual, gender-affirming healthcare services, primarily focusing on hormone therapy and related support. They offer services like hormone therapy, surgical referrals, gender marker changes, and mental health support, including psychotherapy and medication management. Foria also provides resources and guidance on sexual and reproductive health, safer sex practices, and HIV prevention.
Trans Wellness Initiative (Alberta)
The Trans Wellness Initiative (TWI) provides a range of services focused on improving the health and wellness of trans and non-binary individuals in Alberta. These services include information and resources on topics like sexual and mental health, navigating pathways to surgery, and social and legal transition. They also offer the "Introduction to Affirming Spaces Training" for healthcare providers to enhance their understanding and delivery of competent care to trans and gender-diverse individuals
Mountain Maternity & Family Medicine (Canmore)
Mountain Maternity and Family Medicine is a gender affirming and inclusive care clinic. Dr. YiZue Wang runs the specialized clinic with additional training to support 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusive care.
Ridgeview Sexual Health Clinic (Canmore)
Ridgeview's Sexual Health Clinic, part of Ridgeview & Spring Creek Integrated Health in Canmore, provides a range of services including STI testing and treatment, birth control options and prescriptions, PAP and cervical cancer screening, pregnancy testing and support, IUD and Nexplanon insertions and removals, PrEP consultations, and safer sex education. They also offer 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusive care.
Mental Health & Addiction Support
Recovery Alberta — Canmore & Banff
Phone: 1-844-943-1500. Supports are provided by regulated professionals, with ongoing learning opportunities related to inclusive and gender-affirming care. BVSSWG links Living Library
Mental Health and Addiction supports are provided by Therapists who are regulated health professionals in either the field of Psychology or Social Work. Both professions’ ethical codes and core values require them to strive for inclusivity, justice and inherent dignity of all people they serve. Clinic staff have had opportunities to learn about gender affirming care and their support role in advocating on behalf of their clients and supporting their clients to access care, as needed. Additional training offered includes:
2SLGBTQ+ Basics – Building Safer Spaces in Health Care
Gender, Sex and Sexual Orientation and how to document in Connect Care
Patient & Family Centred Care
Welcoming & Engaging Practice
Some staff have taken additional training out of a personal interest or a recognition that their practice could benefit from it. If a client accessing services doesn’t find their care provider adequate or there isn’t good rapport, they can ask for a transfer of care because we know that rapport is crucial to progress and recovery.
Groundfire Counselling & Community Work (Online / Sliding scale)
Groundfire Counselling and Community Work (GCCW) provides a range of services, including individual and relationship counselling, as well as supervision and consultation for practitioners and community organizers. They specialize in narrative therapy and work to build community hubs and foster relational skills within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Canmore Counselling (Pride supports / Sliding scale options)
Canmore Counselling offers sliding scale counselling supports for the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community in addition to a variety of services, including individual, couples, and virtual counselling. They foster a community-focused approach with services like community care, reciprocity, acceptance, and heart-based connection. Some counsellors at Canmore Counselling also specialize in areas like trauma-informed yoga, psychology and heart-based business practices.
Youth Supports
Kickstand Connect (Ages 11–25 | Free virtual therapy)
Kickstand Connect offers a range of free, virtual mental health and substance use services for young people in Alberta aged 11-25. These services include mental health counselling, substance use counselling, peer support, and employment support. They also offer group activities and workshops. Kickstand Connect aims to provide accessible and inclusive support, particularly for BIPOC and 2SLGBTQ+ youth
Luna Child & Youth Advocacy Centre (Online resources)
Online mental health resources for LGBTQIA2S+ children and youth.
Health Care
Within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, healthcare needs can vary, so having services that acknowledge and address those differences is important. Banff National Park may welcome the world to visit, but services provided reflect the reality of living in a small rural community.
The Bow Valley Primary Care Network supports the local 2SLGBTQIA+ community and is working towards addressing the unique needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Link below relevant resources compiled by BVPCN Health Care Services Resources , Gender Related Resources
Additional local-ish resources:
First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line
Hope for Wellness Helpline is available to all Indigenous people across Canada. Experienced and culturally competent counselors are reachable by telephone and online ‘chat’ 24 hours a day, Open 7 days a week (and is also queer friendly).
Visit the Hope for Wellness Website
Alberta’s One-Line for Sexual Assault
Provides 24hr emotional support, resources, referrals to specialized Sexual Assault Services throughout Alberta.
Call or Text | 1-866-403-8000 (toll-free)
BVVSA – Bow Valley Victim Services
The Bow Valley Victim Services Association (BVVSA) provides assistance to people who have experienced trauma and loss due to a crime or a significant event. They also assist individuals such as friends, family and co-workers who have been impacted by a crime or traumatic event. These occurrences include domestic abuse, sexual assault, sudden deaths and serious accidents.
Visit | the BVVSA Website
Access Mental Health
Provides non-urgent information, consultation, and referrals for individuals with addiction and mental health concerns.
Call | 403-943-1500
Visit | Access Mental Health Website
Distress Centre Helpline
Provides 24hr crisis intervention services and emotional support, over the phone and via online chat sessions. Text or chat between 3pm-6am weekdays or 12pm-6am weekends.
Call | 403-266-4357
Visit | the Distress Centre Website
AHS Mental Health Helpline
Available 24 hours, 7 days a week, offering confidential support, information and referrals to Albertans experiencing mental health concerns.
Call | 1-877-303-2642
Visit | the AHS Mental Health Helpline Website
YWCA Banff
Empowers clients to make safe and informed decisions through awareness, prevention, and one-on-one support, with a primary focus of programs and services for people who are experiencing domestic violence, sexualized violence, and/or are unhoused.
24/7 Crisis Line: 403-760-3200
Visit | the YWCA Banff Website
2SLGBTQIA Resources
Trans Lifeline
Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline and non-profit organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community.
Visit | the Trans Lifeline Website
Call | (877) 330-6366
Calgary Outlink
Calgary Outlink is a community-based, not-for-profit charity dedicated to providing support, education, outreach, legal information, and referrals for the 2SLGBTQIA+ and allied communities in Calgary, Alberta. Including in-person and online social and support groups.
Call | 403-234-8973
Email | info@calgaryoutlink.ca
Visit | the Calgary Outline Website
You Matter!
Calgary Outlink Peer Support & Resource Hotline. You Matter is a non-crisis peer support and resource line for 2SLGBTQ+ community members, run by Calgary Outlink. You can call about anything you’re looking for support with, including identity, relationships, coming out, transitioning, community, resources, and more!
Call | 587-800-4121 (Monday - Thursday, 5:00 - 9:00 PM)
Visit | the You Matter! Website
LGBT Youthline
Youth Line offers confidential and non-judgemental peer support through telephone, text and chat services. Get in touch with a peer support volunteer from Sunday to Friday, 4:00PM to 9:30 PM.
Call | 1-800-268-9688
Text | 647-694-4275
Visit | the LGBT Youthline Website
New to Banff?
Banff is a strong and diverse community and newcomers play an important role in making our town a great place to live.
NewToBanff.ca is a dedicated website for newcomers to access a variety of programs, services, and community resources in one convenient location, in five different languages: English, Japanese, Tagalog, Tigrinya and French
Newcomer Guides
English Guide (PDF) | Tigrinya Guide (PDF) | Japanese Guide (PDF) | Tagalog Guide (PDF)