About Us
Who We Are
See our past symposiums
2025
2024
Bow Valley Builders & Developers Association
The Bow Valley Builders and Developers Association (BOWDA) is a membership driven networking and advocacy group focused on the needs of the building & development industry and related business in Canmore and the Bow Valley. We are founded on the principle that a unified voice with a common purpose is of the utmost importance when it comes to advocacy.
We work to support our members by maintaining a positive reputation for our local industry professionals and advocating on their behalf. In terms of our community impact, we promote the responsible development of homes in the Bow Valley through open, fair, and efficient processes. BOWDA spreads awareness by sharing knowledge and bridging the information gap between local government, the business community, and the public.
Our passion-driven organisation champions building and development advocacy through an unbiased, balanced approach.
Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley
The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley empowers community leadership to address environmental challenges.
Our work addresses human-wildlife coexistence and climate change through four core programs:
WildSmart is a proactive conservation program that encourages efforts by Bow Valley communities to reduce negative human-wildlife interactions.
Through community-led projects, workshops, and newsletters, the ClimateSmart program inspires residents and businesses to take action on climate change and arms them with the tools to do so.
Our K-12 education program, Future Leaders, seeks to link curriculum-based wildlife and climate change education with peer-to-peer learning across First Nations and Settler communities.
We also serve as a Community Hub where citizens can access local environmental information, learn about how to get involved in conservation programs and build ideas for new community-led initiatives.
Symposium Advisory Committee
We are two community driven, not-for-profit organizations working to reduce the carbon intensity of our buildings.
Thank you to our 2026 Advisory Committee for sharing their time, expertise, and perspectives to help shape this year’s Symposium and ensure a relevant, engaging program.
Bobby Richardson, Owner, Woodlands Mountain Homes Ltd.
Caitlin Van Gaal, Supervisor of Environment and Sustainability, Town of Canmore
Chris Joy, Vice President, Jotson Energy
Dan Sandink, Senior Director, Resilience Programs
Graham Finch, Principal and Senior Building Science Specialist at RDH Building Science
Hannah Perry, Principal Architect, Beau Atelier Architecture + Design
Jenifer Christenson, CEO Built Green
Joseph Henke, Program Specialist, Alberta Ecotrust | ENBIX
Lance Trewartha, Owner, Brightside Mechanical
Lucas Colletta, Project Leader, Natural Resources Canada
Marissa Koop, Environmental Planning Strategic Lead, B&A Planning Group
Michael Hay, Manager, Environment and Sustainability, Town of Banff
Shane Jonker, Owner, Jonker Management
Stephanie Fargas, Associate Principal | Manager, Arcadis
Raphael Spinner, Owner, HSS Design Build
Wade Graham, Councillor, Town of Canmore
2024
