Rooted & Rising 2026 gathered donors, grant recipients and supporters of Banff Canmore Foundation to celebrate the impact of community builders and change makers across the valley. It was a night to be inspired by what’s possible and energized by a vibrant vision for the future of our community.
The BCF team welcomed guests to the venue with a little extra flair, thanks to name badges on beautiful, beaded lanyards by Iyarhe Nakoda designer Michelle Wesley. Display boards featured snapshots of success in support of four core community priorities: Truth & Reconciliation, Wellness, Affordability and Environment. There were plenty of milestones worth celebrating, from 500 community meals served each week, to more than 1300 adaptive outdoor experiences offered in the past year. But beyond the headline numbers are many more personal stories; impactful moments created, and lives touched, through BCF grants and programs
In that spirit, five compelling speakers took to the stage. After an Indigenous welcome from Darryl Kootenay, BCF Board Chair Barbara McNeil welcomed these community builders to offer their distinct, heartfelt perspectives. Each had a tight three-minute window to share their story, which they filled with a lifetime’s worth of insight and wisdom.
Meet The Speakers
Matthew Corkum
A professional speaker and meteorologist, Matthew helps people see the Ability in disAbility. Through his passion for skiing and biking, he emphasised the impact of making outdoor recreation accessible for all.
“It’s like a bicycle wheel, where all the spokes need to be in place. And if one spoke is broken or bent, the community doesn’t work quite as well. But when we include everyone, that bicycle wheel turns easy as anything.”
Tanya Pacholok
Tanya brings an interdisciplinary approach to her work with the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, drawing on a background in science, arts and theatre. She spoke about her community-centred approach to environmentalism, and the power of personal connection when tackling bigger challenges.
“Some of the most meaningful community moments aren't particularly dramatic, they're planting seeds... For me, that's what rooted and rising means. Staying rooted in care, relationship and place. while being brave enough to imagine more connective, equitable futures together.”
Brooklynn McWilliams-Fraser
Brooklynn is a student of psychology, emerging community leader and Indigenous educator with The Howl Experience. She shared her experiences navigating systems that too often fail Indigenous youth, and her work helping younger generations connect with the land and find strength in community.
“It is through relationship that everything will change. The concept of a community is built on the foundation of our relationships with the land, our identities and each other.”
Olha Kulybanych
Olha leads Ukrainian Community Navigation for the Bow Valley, helping newcomers to Canada connect and access support. In her story, personal tragedy became a catalyst for advocacy; transforming grief into something beautiful.
“Community is not just a place where we live. It is people that choose to carry one another through the hard times and hard moments...When ordinary people like me or you decide that someone else’s success, belonging and well-being matter to them.”
Ruth Pryor
Ruth is the Executive Director for the Bow Valley Connections Centre, which supports families touched by developmental disabilities. She shared inspiration and lessons from life with her brother, Steve, as an example of the ways that persons with disabilities enrich our communities.
“[My brother] taught me appreciation for different people and different ways of life... So the question I ask myself is, who is really learning from who?... Who are you going to learn from today that's maybe different from you?”
Photography by Vitto Gammad : Gammad Photography | Capture Your Impact
Wrapping up the inspiring lineup, BCF Executive Director, Laurie Edward, reflected on the power of collective action:
“In challenging times, we need more than ever a diverse ecosystem of projects and organizations, doing the work that they’re called to do… It’s on each of us to do the best we can for one another, to contribute what we can, and in turn be empowered and supported by our neighbors and local networks.”
As the night drew to a close over drinks and nibbles, the room hummed with more than just conversation. It was the sound of new connections being forged, and a community growing even stronger.
The team at BCF are grateful to everyone who took part, and excited to see the new stories that will emerge in the year ahead.