Bow Valley See the Signs

09/17/2026

💛🌈 A reminder during Pride season: your mental health matters, and you deserve support 🌈💛

The backlash and hateful comments surrounding our local Pride festival can be painful, exhausting, and overwhelming. If you’re feeling hurt by what you’re seeing or reading, it’s okay to step away, mute notifications, take a break from social media, and protect your peace.

If you want to talk to someone and get mental health support, you can:
🏨 Visit the FREE mental health walk-in clinics at Banff and Canmore hospitals, every day from 2-9pm
📞 Call or text 9-8-8, available 24/7 and in 200+ languages
💻 Visit www.seethesigns.ca for more local, Bow Valley resources

CONTENT WARNING: This post includes examples of homophobic and transphobic comments directed toward our community, including references to violence. Please take care when reading and engage in whatever way feels right for you.

Yesterday, a third-party account shared a photo to promote the festival, and it quickly spread far beyond our usual audience.

Within 24 hours, the Instagram post reached more than 23,000 views, and the version shared on Facebook received more than 700 comments, many containing homophobic and transphobic hate.

A lot of the comments described q***r and trans people as mentally ill, used dehumanizing language, or repeated harmful and false accusations.

Others told us to leave, said q***r and trans people shouldn’t be in Canmore, or celebrated the fact that they would avoid the community during Pride. Some went much further, making comments that suggested physical harm.

Unfortunately, none of this is new for 2SLGBTQIA+ organizers. A similar situation happened to Banff Pride on social media last year. Posts like these can end up on the wrong side of the internet, creating fuel for discrimination and hate.

But this goes beyond what we see on social media. Alberta's Bill 25 introduces new requirements around flags displayed by public school authorities, which no longer permits pride flags. At a time when the visibility of Pride and the rights of trans Albertans are being disregarded, visible community support for q***r and trans people matters.

This is why organizations like Canmore Pride, Banff Pride and the Bow Valley Pride Network are still needed. It's also why the rainbow crosswalk is such an important symbol in our community.

Whether or not the people leaving these comments live here, their words still affect our community. They reflect attitudes q***r and trans people encounter online and in our town, where they come to recreate.

Combating hate takes a community effort. Here are some ways you can show your support:

• Come to Pride. Attend the Canmore Pride Festival, September 23–28—and especially join us at our Block Party on Saturday, September 26. The day will include community speeches and a flag raising, followed by our Pride March. Help make visible support louder than hate.

• Speak up and make your support visible. We're calling on community members, nonprofit organizations and businesses to stand with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Put up a Pride display during the festival. Print a festival poster for your staff room. Send your team information about Pride events. Share a public message of support.

• Donate to Canmore Pride or sponsor one of our programs or festival events. Donations can be made directly through our website, or send us a message.

• Check in with your q***r and trans friends, family and chosen family, and ask what support looks like for them.

We each have a role in shaping our community into a place where everyone feels like they belong.

Photo Credit: Camille Nathania
Learn more: canmorepride.ca/festival

09/10/2026

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day, a day to remember loved ones lost to su***de and raise awareness for su***de prevention.

We have free workshops, new resources, event and publications to share.

https://www.su***deinfo.ca/world-su***de-prevention-day-2026/

09/09/2026

Register today for a free mental health awareness and su***de prevention program! Learn how to help someone experiencing a mental health issue and about all the free resources in the Bow Valley.

Community Helpers One Day Wellness Program
Thursday, September 17
9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., The Fenlands

How to register:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 403-762-1119
More info: https://banff.ca/communityhelpers

08/20/2026

The upcoming change in seasons can also mean changes in housing for many folks in the Bow Valley! If you're in need of housing resources, there are a couple places to look:

🏠 https://www.seethesigns.ca/community-resources/ can link you to municipal and non-profit housing organizations
🏘️Social media pages like Bow Valley Home Finder can help you find private rentals

07/30/2026

Many in the Bow Valley community had been following the search for Parker in neighbouring Calgary and are impacted by his loss. If you need a place to go to talk, some options include:

🏨FREE walk-in mental health clinics are available every day from 2-9pm at Banff and Canmore hospitals.

☎️ There are many FREE, 24/7 mental health helpline that are available to call:
📞 9-8-8 Su***de Crisis Helpline
📞 403-266-4357 Distress Centre
📞 1-877-303-2642 Mental Health Helpline

Our hearts are with Parker’s family, loved ones and everyone grieving this heartbreaking loss. We are also thinking of the volunteers, first responders and community members who gave their time, energy and hope to the search.

News like this can bring up grief, sadness, anger and a profound sense of helplessness, even for people who did not know Parker personally. Give yourself space to process what you are feeling. Take a break from the news when you need to, connect with someone you trust and reach out for support if the distress begins to feel difficult to carry.

There is no single way to respond to a loss felt across an entire community. Please be gentle with yourself and with one another.

07/07/2026

Whether you’re Stampede-ing, hitting K-Days, attending music festival, rodeo or beyond – celebrate responsibly this summer! 🎉

• Drink slowly. For every drink of alcohol, try having one non-alcoholic drink.
• Don’t forget to eat before and while you’re drinking!
• If you don’t feel like drinking, don’t sweat it! These events can be just as fun without. Set a boundary and choose alcohol-free or low-alcohol beverages.
• If you choose to consume other substances, use a drug test kit to reduce the risk of unexpected ingredients.

06/16/2026

Mental health support does not come from a single organization. This year’s Mental Health & Addiction Week was a great example of how much can happen when a community comes together.

So many incredible organizations, grassroots groups, facilitators, volunteers, and individuals stepped up to offer meaningful programs, conversations, and opportunities for connection throughout the week.

One of our major focuses this year was strengthening community support systems by ensuring that people in leadership roles, frontline positions, and community-facing organizations were well versed in local mental health and addiction resources and services.

We worked closely with Recovery Alberta and many agencies involved in the SeeTheSigns campaign. The SeeTheSigns website is an incredible resource for the Bow Valley because it brings together a wide range of community supports and services in one place.

It recognizes that mental health support is never one-size-fits-all and helps individuals find options that may work for them — whether they are looking for early intervention supports, wellness programs, peer connection, counselling, or crisis services.

06/11/2026

How do you feel after the high water levels in the Bow Valley last week? Stressed about your home and safety, or, calm and prepared for any adverse events that come your way?

Experiencing anxiety during weather events that threaten our homes and safety is completely normal, however, we can reduce potential anxiety during emergencies by being prepared! Visit this site to learn about emergency kits and preparedness, https://www.canada.ca/en/services/policing/emergencies/preparedness/get-prepared.html

Emergencies like wildfires can take a toll on our mental health.

Coping strategies can help manage stress and improve mood. Here are some go-to tools you can put in place right away:

· Focus on what is within your control
· Stay connected with friends, family and supports
· Let yourself feel – grief and sadness are normal
· Limit exposure to distressing TV and social media content
· Use and share mental health resources

For more tips to manage stress: https://ow.ly/xNgq50ZacF7

06/09/2026

Seeing the signs that you are struggling with your mental health is always important, but in June we highlight how important it is to see the sign's that men in your life might be struggling as well.

If you're not sure what struggling feels like, head over to www.seethesigns.ca/quiz/ and answer the ten quick questions to check!

June is Canadian Men’s Health Month. Take a moment to check in with the men in your life.

Talking about su***de can be scary. If you’re worried about a loved one, it’s the most important thing you can do. Changes in someone’s mental wellness, withdrawing from others and increased isolation can all be signs that someone may be struggling.

If you notice your family member, friend, or coworker is acting differently, talk to them. You don’t need to have all the answers; lend a listening ear, or offer help finding further support.

Help is available 24/7 by calling 211. If you are in crisis, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department.

05/14/2026

Feeling overwhelmed when someone is in crisis and not sure how to help? Have you always wanted to take an in-person course like Community Helpers or ASIST but haven't had the time?

Check out the new ONLINE Psychological First Aid course offered for a low cost through the Town of Banff! This course offers great building blocks for learning how to help folks in crisis and can be self-paced to fit around your busy schedule.