Two Women Behind the Work
In a mountain town, the landscape is often what draws people in. But over time, it becomes clear that what sustains a place is not only scenery, but also the people who participate.
On a recent episode of Between Peaks, we spoke with two women whose work and service are helping shape the Bow Valley: Chelsea Cudmore Vloet and Kaylee Ram. Their personal histories differ, but their stories will resonate with many Bow Valley residents. Like others here, they build businesses, get involved, and strengthen their communities.
Chelsea’s story began in another small town. She comes from a fourth-generation retail family in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, where her great-grandfather opened a menswear store in 1914. Retail, community presence, and civic involvement were part of her upbringing. After working outside the family business early in her career, she returned to it, eventually becoming Co-president of the Cudmore Group alongside her brother.
When she and her family relocated to the Bow Valley, it marked a new chapter. Joining the board of Banff & Lake Louise Tourism was one of the ways she rooted herself in her new community and began contributing beyond her storefront.
Choosing to Participate
“It was a vulnerable moment,” she reflected. “Putting yourself out there and saying this might not feel very comfortable at the beginning, but I’m determined, and I want to learn from this experience.”
That decision placed her in rooms where regional strategy, visitor and community wellbeing, and economic priorities collide, and where they are discussed and debated. It is a reminder that shaping place often begins with choosing to participate.
Kaylee’s roots in the Bow Valley run deeper geographically, but her leadership path also evolved over time. Her family started Snowtips Backtrax in 1979 after identifying a need for ski rentals for visitors from afar. What began as a small operation grew into a long-standing downtown Banff business.
Today, Kaylee is the majority shareholder and is serving her second term as a Town of Banff Councillor. Municipal service requires navigating complex issues, from tourism pressures to housing and community wellbeing, while remaining accountable to neighbours and voters.
“It really is the love for your community,” she said of her decision to run. “I don’t think there’s any greater honour. It’s humbling.”
Her path into public office was not automatic. She stepped forward, accepted scrutiny, and invested time beyond family and business. Her advice resonates:
“Be comfortable being uncomfortable. It’s a leap of faith to try something new.”
“Be comfortable being uncomfortable. It’s a leap of faith to try something new.”
Business as Community Investment
What connects Chelsea and Kaylee is not an identical experience, but shared action. Both have chosen to move beyond managing their own enterprises to influence the systems around them. They sit on boards. They help shape economic strategy. They contribute to municipal governance. They design business practices that support both local families and visitors.
Kaylee described the philosophy behind her business clearly: “We really believe that we serve both community and visitors. Happy community, happy visitors. Happy visitors, happy community.” That reciprocal mindset reflects a broader understanding that long-term success in the Bow Valley depends on balancing economic vitality with local well-being.
Their stories are distinct in origin, yet they echo many others across the Bow Valley who participate, whether they arrive from elsewhere or grow up here. Some invest deeply in their adopted home, others assume responsibility as the community evolves. In various ways, they help shape the region's direction.
Neither woman defines her community involvement solely by family, yet both acknowledge that life experience influences how they contribute. Chelsea spoke about approaching her work with greater empathy and compassion as her children grow. Kaylee noted that family life sharpened her sense of boundaries and perspective. These experiences add depth to their impact without defining it.
Small Actions, Lasting Impact
In a small mountain town, decisions made at board tables, in council chambers, and inside local businesses ripple outward quickly. Workforce stability, access to recreation, and crisis response all shape daily life in tangible ways. Women like Chelsea and Kaylee are part of those conversations and those decisions.
When wildfires devastated Jasper, Chelsea and her team mobilized quickly, selling reusable bags by donation to support relief efforts. As she put it, “It might be small in the scheme of things, but we just have to do something.” That instinct to act, even in practical, local ways, strengthens the wider region.
Kaylee’s commitment shows up in programs closer to home. Through Snowtips Backtrax, her family business offers long-term seasonal ski rentals for local children at affordable rates, ensuring that Bow Valley families can keep their kids on the slopes. It is a business decision that doubles as a community investment.
These are the quiet ways in which places are shaped. Through participation. Through responsibility. Through choosing to contribute beyond your own bottom line.
At the end of the episode, Kaylee spoke about a pin she often wears, a small but meaningful reminder of why she stepped into public service in the first place. It represents community, accountability, and the responsibility that comes with taking part in community life. It is a personal symbol of commitment.
International Women’s Day in the Bow Valley
Both women show great stewardship—showing up, staying accountable, and making decisions that impact the Bow Valley’s future.
On International Women’s Day, we celebrate all women for their achievements, their resilience, and the many ways they enrich the Bow Valley. Whether bringing outside experience or local roots, they strengthen the community for the long term.
Get inspired by other
If you are inspired by women shaping our community, consider learning more about funds that invest directly in women and girls in the region. One of these funds is open for public donations.
Loretta M. Chaplin Memorial Fund
Supporting women in need across the Bow Valley. Read more about Loretta
YWCA Banff Endowment Fund
Strengthening programs and services that empower women and families locally. Read more about the legacy of Dr. Priscilla Wilson
The Bow Valley is shaped over time by those who choose to show up for it. This International Women’s Day, we recognize the women who are doing exactly that.
