The Age-Friendly Banff Committee is scheduled to appear before the Town of Banff council on April 28, 2026, to request that a council member be appointed to serve on their committee. The delegation, led by committee chair Sharon Phillips, aims to strengthen local advocacy as the community continues to implement its five-year action plan for seniors.
Formed in December 2021, the committee has been instrumental in addressing the needs of a rapidly growing senior population in the town. Between the 2016 and 2021 federal censuses, the number of seniors aged 65 and older in Banff rose by 52.3 percent, growing from 660 to 1,005 residents. In response to this demographic shift, the town council passed a resolution in May 2022 to support and work toward becoming an official age-friendly community.
The town achieved this goal on June 3, 2024, when it received official designation from the Alberta Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services. This provincial recognition also provides the town with pre-approval to join the World Health Organization Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities.
The committee’s current action plan, which runs from December 2023 through December 2028, addresses eight key areas including housing, transportation, and community health services. The plan was developed following extensive public consultation with 138 focus group participants and 161 survey respondents. These efforts have already led to the 2025 launch of a local Home Support Program, which is partially funded by a $45,000 annual contribution from the Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation.
By requesting a formal council representative, the committee intends to align its ongoing initiatives with the current council, which includes Mayor Corrie DiManno and Councillors Michelle Backhouse, David Fullerton, Marc Ledwidge, Barb Pelham, Kaylee Ram, and Brian Standish. The committee’s official terms of reference include a seat for a member of the local government to help guide the implementation of the remaining goals in their action plan.
