“There’s no question about the role that nature plays at Banff. Because you are right up against the earth. It reminds you of what is really important.”

— Ann-Marie MacDonald, award-winning
author and actor, Banff Centre alumni

Respecting our environment at The Banff Centre

Since its inception in 1933, The Banff Centre has placed great value in its unique and spectacular mountain environment within Banff National Park. The Centre is committed to environmental leadership and performance in all its operations and has developed and implemented a wide range of environmental initiatives. Located within a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Centre supports education and environmental awareness for all staff, program participants, and guests.

For a downloadable pdf that summarizes The Banff Centre’s environmental policies, download pdf (216 KB).

Environmental Management System

Guiding the Centre’s environmental performance, The Banff Centre’s Environmental Management System (EMS) is grounded by the policy:

"The Banff Centre shall be a leader in environmental management practices by ensuring all of our programs, activities and operations have a minimal environmental impact and by seeking continuous improvement in our environmental management efforts, all with the goal of reducing the Centre’s ecological footprint, emission of greenhouse gases and overall environmental impact."

Approved by the Board of Governors, July 20, 2007

View the full text of the Environmental Management policy.

Environmental Officer

Since 2001, the Centre has designated a vice-president as environmental officer. This function is being fulfilled by Norbert Meier, vice-president, Hospitality & Conferences. Every three months, the environmental officer provides a written update of environmental initiatives, challenges, and results to the Board of Governors.

If you have questions or suggestions regarding The Banff Centre’s Environmental Management System please contact,

Norbert Meier
Environmental Officer
Telephone: 403.762.6254
Email: Norbert Meier

Environmental budget

The Centre has set aside $20,000 annually for specific environmental projects. This fund is managed by the environmental officer and is generally used for training and communication. Larger-scale environmental projects are funded by the Centre’s operating and capital budgets within the departments where those projects occur.

Environment Committee

The Banff Centre has established an Environment Committee consisting of members representing all operations areas. The mandate of the Environment Committee is to assist the environmental officer by providing support and advice in the maintenance and operation of the EMS. The Committee advises on a broad range of environmental topics, including environmental performance goals, environmental management benchmarks and standards, and Banff Centre environmental policies and procedures. It acts as a coordinating body for environmental activities and initiatives and it works to raise the overall environmental awareness of all staff, program participants, and guests.

Current members of the Environment Committee are:

• Financial Services and Purchasing — Nadege Luquet, Purchasing Manager
• Food & Beverage Services — Beat Hegnauer, Executive Chef
• Health, Security, Safety & Environment — Bert Goliath, Manager, Health, Security and Safety
• Hospitality & Conferences — Norbert Meier, Vice President, Hospitality & Conferences (Chair)
• Human Resources — Trevor Tyre, Recruiting and Training Manager
• Leadership Development — Lisa Fiske, LD Program Coordinator
• Marketing & Communications — Pam Challoner, Writer/Editor
• Mountain Culture — Laurie Harvey, Manager, Strategic Partnerships
• Physical Facilities — Mark Fuller, Grounds Supervisor, Physical Facilities
• Rooms, Housekeeping & Custodial Services — Brenda-Lee Upstone, Director of Rooms
• Staff Housing — Kim Silver, Assistant Supervisor
• Theatre Arts — Robert Rombough, Technical Director