Bringing Joy and Support to the Bow Valley Community
Bow Valley Christmas Spirit is a community-driven initiative committed to spreading holiday cheer and offering vital support to families and individuals in Canmore and the MD of Bighorn.
Since our founding in 1997, we’ve been working tirelessly to ensure that everyone in our community can experience the warmth and joy of the holiday season, regardless of financial circumstances.
Each year, we help hundreds of local residents by providing grocery and toy gift cards, ensuring that the holidays are a time of celebration for all. With rising costs and increasing demand, our program is more essential than ever.
Every holiday season, Bow Valley Christmas Spirit reaches over 1,200 local residents — families, children, and seniors — with meaningful, community-driven support.
2025 Donations
Our 2025 Goal
$105,000
$105,915.00
Total as of January 9, 2026
Annually, we support over 1,200 people in the Bow Valley.
2025 Campaign
This year, our goal was to raise $105,000 to continue providing much-needed support. Every dollar donated helped us reach those who need it most, ensuring they had the resources to celebrate the holiday season with dignity and joy. With the increasing demand for assistance, we need your help more than ever.
2025 Applications Are Now Closed
Applications will open be November 1-30 2026
How You Can Help
-
Donate: Your contributions go directly towards grocery and toy gift cards for local families. Donations can be made online through our secure portal, via e-transfer, or by dropping off funds at designated local businesses.
-
Purchase a Gift: Our Bow Valley Elves Program is a wonderful way to get involved. Elves help purchase and deliver gifts to seniors and individuals in need, spreading holiday cheer throughout the community.
-
Spread the Word: Share our mission with friends, family, and colleagues to help us reach our fundraising goal and assist even more residents.
Our Impact
For over a decade, Bow Valley Christmas Spirit has been a beacon of hope during the holiday season. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and volunteers, we’ve made a significant impact in our community:
-
Supported over 1200 families and individuals in 2024 alone, a 20% increase from 2023.
-
Distributed grocery gift cards to help families purchase essentials from local businesses such as Save on Foods, Valbella, and Shoppers Drug Mart.
-
Delivered toy gift cards from Canadian Tire and Shoppers Drug Mart to ensure children experience the joy of gift-giving.
Get Involved
Whether you want to donate, buy a gift, or apply for support, Bow Valley Christmas Spirit is here for you. Together, we can ensure that everyone in our community enjoys a happy, healthy holiday season. Explore our website to learn more about how you can make a difference.
Let’s make this holiday season a bright one for everyone in the Bow Valley.
Current Campaign News
2026 AGM
📣 You’re Invited to the Bow Valley Christmas Spirit Annual General Meeting!🎄
Join us virtually on Tuesday, September 10 at 7:00 p.m. for our 2026 AGM.
Everyone is welcome to attend and learn more about the impact of our annual campaign, what’s ahead for the coming season, and how to get involved!
We’ll be sharing campaign highlights, reviewing our financials, electing new board members, and welcoming back our incredible Campaign Administrator, Janice Gilliland. 👏
🖥️ The virtual meeting link will be posted here on the day of the meeting.
📌 Agenda Highlights:
• Welcome and adoption of 2025 AGM Minutes
• Report from Co-Chair
• Financial report
• Election of 2026/2027 Board of Directors
• New board roles & approvals
• Open discussion + exciting campaign updates
Whether you’re a longtime supporter or just curious about who we are and what we do, we’d love to have you there. 💛
Stay tuned for the meeting link and more details!
2025 Campaign
With the incredible support of our generous donors, dedicated community partners, the amazing students and staff of Canmore Collegiate High School, and our phenomenal volunteer Elves, we’ve achieved something truly remarkable – reaching our 2025 goal of $105,000.00!
This past year, the Christmas Spirit Society touched the lives of over 1083 individuals in the Bow Valley by providing essential grocery and toy gift cards. Your generous contributions empowered the Bow Valley Elves to spread joy, delivering more than 290 gifts to our beloved community seniors and the Eagles Nest Stoney Family Shelter.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to each and every one of you who made this possible.
Your kindness brought immense joy to our community throughout the holiday season!
For a comprehensive list of our incredible donors, community partners, and the exceptional helpers behind the scenes, please click here 2025 Contributors.
Remember, the Bow Valley Christmas Spirit accepts donations all year round for this heartfelt event. Should you need a tax receipt for your contribution, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Businesses interested in sponsorship, please contact us at our email address.