About Us
For more than 50 years the Bow Valley Naturalists (BVN) have been engaged in education and advocacy for understanding, appreciating and protecting natural ecosystems in the Bow Valley and beyond. Our membership is open to anyone who supports our objectives and includes amateur naturalists as well as environmental scientists and ecosystem managers, many of whom live and work in the Bow Valley.
How we educate.
Our organization strives to educate the public about natural ecosystems and natural history in the Bow Valley through various means. Firstly, we believe that frequent, intimate contact with the natural world provides the necessary reminders that the conservation battles are worthwhile. Thus, we offer evening educational programming with guest speakers, support citizen science projects and coordinate the annual Banff-Canmore Christmas Bird Count among other special events.
All of these programs are free and open to the public. On a tri-annual basis, we also publish a digital newsletter with original articles on natural history, environmental research and current issues in the Bow Valley. Our education and research primarily emphasize ecological issues and topics that affect our regional community.
How we advocate.
For over half a century, our conservation activities have focussed on national park and protected area issues—particularly those affecting Banff National Park and the Canmore Corridor downstream of the park. We have participated in a multitude of public planning processes and prepared countless letters and briefs to the government and other stakeholders influencing park development. BVN will continue to present a consistent position in support of biological diversity and ecological integrity.
Our Story.
On 22nd February 1967, a number of determined residents in the Bow Valley hosted a public meeting at the Banff Firehall—this meeting was to discuss the possibility of establishing a natural history society in the area. Thirty-four persons from the communities of Banff, Canmore and Seebe expressed a willingness to join such a group. In the following month, an organizational meeting was held to officially establish the Bow Valley Naturalists.
Thus began an organization that has come to play an important role for the conservation movement in the Bow Valley, as well as in Alberta and Canada’s national parks. In January of 1994, BVN became an incorporated society. A great deal of BVN’s time and energy is devoted to the effort to slow, halt, and ultimately reverse the tide of destructive development which is sweeping through the Bow Valley. Although outside issues are not out of the picture, our central focus is on Banff National Park and the Bow Valley downstream to the Kananaskis River. We take on an activist, watchdog role for these areas which involves constant letter and brief writing, meetings with politicians and bureaucrats, and participation in an endless stream of planning and public consultation processes.
All BVN members are determined to find time to explore, enjoy and protect the place we call home—our backyard. Over the years, this core motivator has allowed us to make a significant impact and to extend our values to hundreds of nature lovers in the area. Our programs with expert guest speakers are well attended, many enthusiastic community members and visitors take part in special events such as the Christmas Bird Count, and we have helped to implement policies that help sustain the beauty and ecological integrity of Banff National Park and surrounding areas.
In the face of ever-increasing numbers and complexity of environmental issues, we are always in need of strong membership and active engagement by community members to sustain our efforts to protect the natural world. Please contact us if you are interested in joining our organization, or if you are interested in learning more about us.
