Stories From the Trails: How the Wim & Nancy Pauw Foundation is an Example of Regenerative Tourism
Stories from the Trails is a series that shares learning and insights from our community, members, and partners as we collectively take action towards the vision to Lead Tourism for Good. These stories inspire action, hope, and progress as we journey forward together in Banff and Lake Louise. This particular story embodies the Community Wellbeing trail.
Regenerative tourism happens when the industry’s ecosystem – businesses, residents, community stakeholders, and visitors – reinvests in the destination in pursuit of perpetual improvement.
Whether you’re walking across a bridge in Banff, working out at the Fenlands gym, or sending your kid’s school class off for an outdoor activity, you’ve probably heard of the Wim & Nancy Pauw Foundation. With the goal to inspire a thriving, active, and healthy community, the Foundation has supported many initiatives across the Bow Valley and is a perfect example of regenerative tourism in action in Banff and Lake Louise.
We caught up with Cathy Geisler, Executive Director at the Wim & Nancy Pauw Foundation, to learn more about what the Foundation does and how their work contributes towards the vision to Lead Tourism for Good.
Q. Can you give an overview of the Wim & Nancy Pauw Foundation and its mission?
Wim Pauw moved to Canada from Holland in 1969 and earned a Mechanical Engineering degree at the University of Manitoba. Always an adventurer, Wim ventured off to work and explore Canada. Like so many, Wim paused in Banff, fell in love with the mountains, and stayed. In 1985, Wim founded Banff Caribou Properties, a highly respected hospitality company in Banff, that now welcomes visitors at 15 different hotels, eight restaurants and two spas, and has several housing and commercial properties.
Early on, Wim and his late wife, Nancy, committed to sustain the town of Banff as a vibrant, resident-based, and visitor friendly community. They planned that Wim’s legacy would be the reinvestment of his wealth directly back into Banff and the Bow Valley.
In 2009, they established the Wim & Nancy Pauw Foundation with a pledge to give back to the community through reinvestment of their wealth earned from tourism business profits. This commitment is being realized through a wide range of philanthropic activities that make the Bow Valley a better place to live and work.
Our vision is to inspire a love for our mountain community, and to make it accessible for everyone. We support projects that promote active lifestyles, enhance education opportunities, and nurture strong connections within community. We want the Bow Valley to be the best place for people to live, raise families, build careers, and enjoy mountain life!
Q. How is the Wim & Nancy Pauw Foundation an example of regenerative tourism?
Wim’s philosophy to “keep Banff in Banff” – and his commitment to reinvestment – is an excellent model of regenerative tourism.
His hospitality company, Banff Caribou Properties, reinvests continuously to enhance Banff’s visitor experience. That includes building, renovating, and maintaining high-quality hotels, restaurants and spas that celebrate mountain culture.
Wim reinvests in employees, with innovative employee benefit programs and a long-term strategy to transfer ownership of the company to employee-owned via an impactful employee share ownership program.
Lastly, Wim’s significant philanthropic commitment to reinvest in our community and its people is regenerative tourism in action. The establishment of the Wim & Nancy Pauw Foundation has led to more than $14M in community investment to Bow Valley initiatives and organizations since its first gift in 2013.
From the Nancy Pauw Pedestrian Bridge, which connects and enhances Banff’s trail system, to the donation of adaptive sports equipment that enables individuals with accessibility needs to enjoy their favourite mountain activities, and outdoor educational programs designed to support local schools, Indigenous communities, and residents in the Bow Valley, the Foundation is making a tangible impact. The Foundation reinvests revenue and profit generated by tourism businesses straight into our local community.
How do you envision or hope that the new post-secondary hospitality centre at the Banff YWCA will impact our community?
We believe the hospitality centre will provide opportunities for all residents to participate in tourism-based educational learning. We don’t know what exactly that looks like at this moment, but SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) is excited about offering programs that will enrich lifelong learning for many right here in Banff.
The hospitality centre within the YWCA facility will help broaden community perspective and understanding of the opportunities and challenges faced by mountain resort towns. Our community is constantly welcoming new residents, who create the cultural fabric of our workforce. From affordability to housing to general wellbeing, our residents come to work in hospitality and there are pressures that may influence their ability to make healthy life choices. This unique partnership between the YWCA, SAIT and the Wim & Nancy Pauw Foundation will bring awareness to these aspects of the hospitality sector. It will create space for social agencies and business partners or organizations or businesses to work together all while amplifying the community wellbeing for all.
Q. How is the Pauw Foundation’s work related to Lead Tourism for Good?
Through our various philanthropic efforts, such as supporting recreation, community programs, and education, the Foundation aligns with the broad principles of responsible tourism. Reinvesting tourism profits back into the community demonstrates a model where tourism actively contributes to and empowers a thriving, vibrant, and inclusive community. These actions are a great example of the vision to Lead Tourism for Good!
Stay tuned for the next story with the Wim & Nancy Pauw Foundation where we’ll be learning more about their biggest donation yet - $30 million to establish a world-class tourism and hospitality centre at the YWCA Banff.
Wim & Nancy Pauw Foundation
Lead Tourism for Good
Share your story! What initiatives are happening in your business, organization, or in the community that support our shared vision for tourism? Email us! ltfg@banfflakelouise.com