Frequently Asked Questions

• How is The Banff Centre governed?
• How is The Banff Centre funded?
• What is the Centre's history?
• How many people are employed by the Centre?

If you have a question that is not addressed here,
please e-mail the communications office.

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How is The Banff Centre governed?

The Banff Centre is governed by a national board of governors composed of the president and chief executive officer of The Banff Centre, six members appointed by the Alberta Lieutenant Governor in Council, and nine members appointed by the remaining members of the board -- one of whom must be nominated by the federal minister responsible for the National Parks Act. The chair is appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

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How is The Banff Centre funded?

The Banff Centre is 75 per cent self-reliant, generating revenue from conference sales, donations, sponsorship, program grants, and tuition. The Banff Centre is supported by funding from the Government of Alberta, through Alberta Advanced Education, Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation, Alberta Innovation and Science, and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. Arts training programs are supported by funding from the Government of Canada through the Canadian Department of Heritage and the Department of Human Resources Development through the National Arts Training Contribution Program.

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What is the Centre's history?

Founded in 1933 by the University of Alberta, Department of Extension, with a grant from the U.S. based Carnegie Foundation, The Banff Centre began with a single course in drama. Its success generated additional arts programs and the Centre became known as the Banff School of Fine Arts in 1935. While arts programming continued to grow and flourish, conferences were introduced in 1953 and management programs in 1954.

In 1970, to acknowledge the broader educational role of the School as well as its move toward a centre of experiment and innovation, it was renamed The Banff Centre for Continuing Education (The Banff Centre for short). In 1978, Alberta government legislation granted The Banff Centre full autonomy as a non-degree granting educational institution under the governance of an appointed Board.

In the mid-1990s, The Banff Centre, along with most public institutions in Alberta, sustained cuts to its operating grant. The Centre responded in an entrepreneurial way and launched a successful capital campaign (The Creative Edge) to raise funds for state-of-the-art revenue generating conference facilities, as well as a new Music & Sound complex. The new facilities opened in 1996, the same year the Centre’s fourth division, Mountain Culture programming, was created. A few years later, in 1999, The Banff Centre was recognized as a National Training Institute by the federal government and was awarded $3 million over three years for artistic training programs.

Also see the Archives section of the Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives Web pages for more information about our history.

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How many people are employed by the Centre?

The Banff Centre employs a full-time staff of over 450 employees -- 66 per cent of the work force is unionized and represented by CUPE local 4318. We generate a payroll of over $17 million per year, returning over $3.5 million in income tax and source reductions. The Banff Centre is one of the largest employers in the Bow Valley.