“Never ask someone to do something for you that you wouldn’t do yourself.”
It was a simple lesson, but one that shaped Caroline Wilson’s perspective on leadership, generosity, and community. She was just seven years old when she asked her mother, Dr. Priscilla Wilson, why their cleaning lady, Mrs. Paulson, was sitting and having coffee with her instead of tidying up. Priscilla explained that investing time in conversation and kindness not only strengthened relationships but also created a better, more connected world.
Priscilla Wilson, known as the Queen of the Rockies, was more than Banff’s first female doctor—she was a mentor, a role model, and a fierce advocate for education and opportunity. She believed in the power of lifelong learning and in lifting up those around her. With a magnetic personality and an insatiable appetite for fun, she left an indelible mark on the Bow Valley.
To honour her legacy, Caroline Wilson and her siblings, Ted and Ian, established the YWCA Banff Endowment Fund in 2021, ensuring that women and gender-diverse people in the Bow Valley continue to have access to mentorship, education, and leadership opportunities for generations to come.
“Women believed in my potential and took a chance on me.”
Caroline’s own journey in Banff’s hospitality industry was shaped by strong female mentors—women like Marilyn Bell, who led by example at the Banff Springs Hotel, and Cheryl Hyde and Barbara King, who worked alongside her at the front desk. These women encouraged her to embrace new challenges, whether that meant leading teams or handling the “other duties as assigned”—which once included helping police search for a bomb and, at another time, hula dancing at Hawaiian Night in the Alberta Dining Room.
The YWCA Banff Endowment Fund is about paying that support forward. By investing in women’s leadership, mentorship, and training, this endowment ensures that the YWCA Banff’s work continues—not just today, but for decades to come. It is a long-term commitment to gender equity, ensuring that the next generation of women and gender-diverse leaders in the Bow Valley have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
A Legacy That Lasts
The YWCA Banff Endowment Fund, managed by Banff Canmore Foundation, is a lasting tribute to Dr. Priscilla Wilson and her unwavering commitment to education, empowerment, and the belief in people’s potential. As a permanent fund, it will continue to grow year after year, sustaining vital work in advancing gender equity.
Caroline and her family established this fund to create a lasting impact—and others can do the same. By donating to the YWCA Banff Endowment Fund or establishing an endowment of your own, an investment today will shape lives for generations to come.
In recognition of International Women's Day 2025 and its theme, "Accelerate Action," advancing gender equity remains both urgent and ongoing. The need is great today, and it will remain for years to come. Through this endowment, women and gender-diverse individuals will receive the mentorship, tools, and support needed to lead with confidence. A future can be built where leadership reflects the diversity and strength of the community—where opportunities are not limited by gender but driven by potential.
Join in shaping a future where women and gender-diverse people are supported to lead. Investing in women’s leadership strengthens the resilience and progress of the entire community.
Donate today and be a part of this lasting change.
