The Banff Housing Challenge:

Banff's housing crisis is not a new problem (have a read of Banff’s Conundrum). As someone who has lived here for years, I've seen it impact our community from the ground up. The combination of our land-locked boundary, high demand, and the crucial need to protect our national park has created a perfect storm.

The current Town Council has taken some positive steps forward, including modernizing bylaws to encourage more housing on existing lots and championing the new development on Wolf Street. The draft Banff Community Plan also acknowledges the urgency of the issue.

While the Wolf St Project will have meet the need for the younger workforce in Banff, the feedback I hear from residents, my neighbor’s, and my friends is consistent: the Town is still missing the mark for two of our most critical demographics—our seniors and our young families. As a parent who raised a daughter in this community and as a son who has two senior parents living here, I have a unique and personal perspective on their struggles.

This is not a theoretical problem for me; it's a lived reality. I've witnessed firsthand the challenges of finding affordable, stable housing for our young people as they start their careers, and the heartbreaking stress on our seniors who worry about being able to age in place. It pains me to see both pushed out of the community.

I believe this experience gives me a vital perspective to bring to the Town Council table. My commitment is to ensure that our housing strategy is not just about numbers, but about people. We must create solutions that truly serve the needs of our families and our elders, so that Banff remains a place where all generations can thrive.