Bow Valley businesses came together to share their perspectives on workforce challenges and help inform important conversations.
On August 25, 2026, the Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce brought together local business owners and employers from across the region for a business-focused roundtable with Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi and MLA for Banff-Kananaskis Sarah Elmeligi.
The Alberta NDP approached the Chamber to help connect them with local businesses, providing an opportunity for our members to share their experiences and perspectives directly with provincial decision-makers.
The conversation focused on the workforce challenges affecting Bow Valley businesses, including the impact of short-term work visa programs such as the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), and Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program. Members also discussed how issues such as childcare, housing and healthcare affect their ability to attract and retain employees and operate their businesses.
With participants representing sectors including tourism, hospitality, childcare, retail, healthcare, finance, arts and marketing, the conversation brought a range of experiences and perspectives to the table. While the challenges vary across sectors, the discussion highlighted the interconnected issues that affect businesses and the broader Bow Valley economy.
The conversation was thoughtful, open and respectful, with a focus on the realities local businesses are experiencing and how provincial policies are impacting them.
Amplifying the Voice of Our Business Community
Advocacy is an important part of how the Bow Valley Chamber supports its members. Our role is to listen to our business community, understand the issues affecting local businesses and create opportunities for those experiences and perspectives to be heard.
This roundtable was a meaningful example of that work. By serving as a connection point between our members and provincial decision-makers, we helped bring the experiences of Bow Valley businesses into a conversation that extends beyond our community.
Having our members at the table meant that a diverse range of local business experiences could be shared directly with both our local MLA and the leader of a provincial political party. It is an important opportunity to ensure that the realities facing businesses in the Bow Valley are understood as part of broader conversations about provincial policy.
Workforce challenges continue to be a significant concern for businesses across our region, making active advocacy and opportunities for direct dialogue particularly important.
We’re proud to continue building our role as a voice and connection point for the Bow Valley business community—and to create more opportunities for our members’ experiences to be heard beyond our region.
Thank you to the members who took the time to participate, speak openly about the challenges they are facing and contribute to a meaningful conversation.