Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley
Publicly funded institution · Canmore, Alberta · BN 889128625RR0001 · Research · website
Source: T3010 return, FPE 2024-12-31. Split of total expenditures ($581,632) as filed with the CRA.
Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley is a charitable organization based in Canmore, Alberta, classified by the CRA under research. It appears on the charity register the way hospitals, universities, and other publicly funded bodies do — to issue tax receipts — rather than as a donation-driven charity in the usual sense. In its fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, it reported $619K in revenue and $582K in expenditures.
Its funding that year was roughly 7% from donations, 62% from government, 29% from other charities. Government funding is the majority of its budget. In 2024, 10 other registered charities reported granting it a combined $179K.
Compared with 1,540 education institutions of similar size, its share of spending on mission — charitable programs plus grants to other charities — ranked above 27% of peers. Its highest-paid positions fell in the $80,000–119,999 range (2 positions in that band). The charity reported 5 permanent full-time positions.
Revenue has grown substantially over its filings on record here, from $404K in 2020 to $619K in 2024. Its filed list of directors and trustees shows 11 names.
In its own words
Our programs: (1) We deliver a suite of education and outreach programs connected to climate wildlife and other environmental topics guided by our engagement pathway. (2) We facilitate interaction networking and sharing as we work inclusively with different sectors seeking a collective impact in our work together as we galvanize and accelerate progress on environmental goals. (3) We provide people and organizations with tools resources and guidance that sustains them and builds their influence and efficacy. We act as a community hub connecting organizations and individuals to one ano…
Ongoing-program description from its T3010 filing, verbatim.
The ledger, 2020–2024
| Year | Revenue | Spending | Programs | Fundraising | Gifts out | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $619K | $582K | $436K | $30K | $0 | $171K |
| 2023 | $616K | $611K | $479K | $20K | — | $134K |
| 2022 | $497K | $495K | $396K | $24K | — | $129K |
| 2021 | $411K | $406K | $342K | $337 | — | $127K |
| 2020 | $404K | $400K | $331K | $299 | $0 | $122K |
Revenue printed in red where the year ran a deficit. Fiscal years by period end.
Money between charities, 2024
Received $179K from 10 charities:
- The Calgary Foundation$56K
- Alberta Conservation Association$31K
- The Alberta Ecotrust Foundation$27K
- Canadian Online Giving Foundation$26K
- Canadahelps Canadon$17K
- Banff Canmore Community Foundation$10K
- Aeonian Support for Humanitarian Charities Foundation$5,000
- Canmore Rotary Club Charitable Foundation$4,500
- Bow Valley Naturalists Society$2,000
- Community Foundation for Kingston & Area$253
As reported on the donors’ own T3010 qualified-donee schedules.
What it pays
Its ten highest-paid positions, by band:
- $80,000–119,9992 positions
- $40,000–79,9993 positions
- Permanent full-time positions5
- Total compensation, all staff$414K
Schedule 3 of its 2024 return. The CRA discloses bands, not names or exact salaries.
Directors & trustees (2024)
Hugh Notman (chair (start june 2021)); Lisa Rosvold; Christopher Joy (treasurer); Carine Salvy; Jessica Klaric (secretary); Paul McKendrick (board vice chair); Justin Finch; Audrey Pring; John Paczkowski; Graham Wade (director); Ted Christensen (director).
As listed on its 2024 return.
Check the source
Every figure on this page is from Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley’s own T3010 filings, published by the Canada Revenue Agency. Verify against the CRA’s charities listing (search BN 889128625RR0001), or read how we compute the receipt.