HI Canada in the community
Banff Elementary School Lunch Day
Here at HI Canada, we want to help the communities in which our hostels are in. It is part of our mission as a not-for-profit — being present and helpful for our communities helps our staff and our guests become more conscious as travellers.
We're always looking for opportunities to get involved with our communities. In Banff, home to our HI Banff hostel, we get involved in many ways - including our long-standing commitment (since 1993!) to providing food for the annual Elementary School lunch fundraiser.
"One of my favourite ways that we can connect in a meaningful way with our little town is through a tradition that started over 30 years ago."
"With the vibrant nature of seasonal life at the Banff hostel, it's easy to forget that Banff is a real town with a close-knit community", says our front desk agent and host James Ugray. "One of my favourite ways that we can connect in a meaningful way with our little town is through a tradition that started over 30 years ago.
Each fall, we pile into the café kitchen to make over 350 packed lunches to sell to the students of Banff Elementary School. The proceeds from this family lunch day go straight back to the students in the form of a future arts or activity day. This year, we helped the school raise money for a local fund providing support to families in need during the holidays. The students raised $100, and in addition to the lunches, we matched that donation.
An event like this benefits our staff as well. It's a unique opportunity to get together outside of work, to show everyone what a bit of "real life" in Banff looks like, and to have a good laugh. Most of us who work here are big kids, anyway — so we fit right in with the demographic!"
