Building Higher Ground in the Bow Valley
A strategy for housing, safety and community support
YWCA Banff has long envisioned Higher Ground: a purpose-built initiative addressing housing insecurity and domestic and sexual violence in the Bow Valley. The Town of Canmore’s potential development of the Moustache Lands created an opportunity to explore how that vision could become a practical, sustainable reality.
J5 worked with YWCA Banff to assess the opportunity and develop a strategy for a flagship site that could combine affordable housing with wraparound community supports. Together, we refined the vision, clarified the people and communities the development would serve, established the organization’s non-negotiables, and connected the physical program to a financially viable operating model.
INDUSTRY
Non-Profit
CLIENT
YWCA Banff
WHY IT MATTERS
Housing insecurity and interpersonal violence are deeply connected. Without access to safe and affordable housing, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence can face impossible choices about where to go and how to rebuild their lives.
Higher Ground represents an opportunity to respond differently by bringing housing, safety, and support together within one community-integrated model. The strategy helped YWCA Banff protect the purpose behind its vision while making the choices required to deliver lasting impact across the Bow Valley.
PROCESS HIGHLIGHTS
We completed a strategic feasibility assessment to determine how the Moustache Lands opportunity could advance YWCA Banff’s long-envisioned Higher Ground initiative.
We developed a refined vision, site-specific functional program, financial model, strategic choices, and clear non-negotiables to guide future partnerships and development decisions.
Impact
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Resident Level
The strategy placed the safety, dignity, and long-term stability of residents at the centre of the development.
Expanding the population served created the potential for a more inclusive housing community, reducing stigma while ensuring people experiencing vulnerability could access appropriate support.
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Community Level
Higher Ground was positioned as a community-integrated development serving residents across the Bow Valley rather than responding to housing and safety needs in isolation.
The strategy connected affordable housing with wraparound supports, creating a stronger foundation for prevention, early intervention, and long-term well-being.
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Organizational Level
YWCA Banff gained greater clarity about its role, the conditions required for participation, and the principles it would not compromise as the opportunity moved forward.
The functional program and financial model provided a practical foundation for discussions with municipal leaders, funders, partners, and community stakeholders while supporting responsible long-term decision-making.