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. In 2023 alone, we supported over 1000 families and individuals, a 30% increase from the previous year, reflecting the growing need within our community.
2024 Donations
Our 2024 Goal
$105,000
$47,892.00
Total as of November 25, 2024
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Annually, we directly support 1,500 people in the Bow Valley.
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2024 Campaign
This year, our goal is to raise $105,000 to continue providing much-needed support. Every dollar donated helps us reach those who need it most, ensuring they have the resources to celebrate the holiday season with dignity and joy. With the increasing demand for assistance, we need your help more than ever.
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How You Can Help
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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.
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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.
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Spread the Word: Share our mission with friends, family, and colleagues to help us reach our fundraising goal and assist even more residents.
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How to Apply for Support
Are you in need of assistance this holiday season? Bow Valley Christmas Spirit is here to help. We are proud to support eligible residents of Canmore and the MD of Bighorn through our holiday hamper program. This year, to ensure our support reaches those most in need, we will be using the FCSS Affordable Services Eligibility Requirements for all applicants. This change is necessary due to an overwhelming increase in applicants and limited funding.
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Applications are now open! Apply by November 30th.
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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:
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Supported over 1000 families and individuals in 2023 alone, a 30% increase from 2022.
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Distributed grocery gift cards to help families purchase essentials from local businesses such as Save on Foods, Valbella, and Shoppers Drug Mart.
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Delivered toy gift cards from Canadian Tire and Shoppers Drug Mart to ensure children experience the joy of gift-giving.
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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
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 2023 goal of $105,000.00!
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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.
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A heartfelt thank you goes out to each and every one of you who made this possible.
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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 2023 Contributors.
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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.