It Starts With A Conversation

By Mike Kelly, Executive Director for BLLHA

It’s mid-summer 2026 and two years since I arrived in Banff & Lake Louise and I was thinking about writing something to mark the occasion.

At first, I considered sharing the wins or our accomplishments. But to me, that really doesn’t tell the full or the important story.

It’s the people. The conversations, that are meaningful.

Over the past two years, it’s been a privilege to pull up a chair at many tables. Some have been board tables. Some committee tables or advisory groups. Others have been over coffee or lunch… many, many of them at Downtown Sally😊. Regardless of where they happened, they all had one thing in common: people coming together to talk about this unbelievable place.

Looking back, I’ve come to realize those tables are where some of Banff’s most important conversations start. They’re where perspectives are shared, ideas are tested, trust is built and relationships are strengthened. It’s been a genuine privilege to be asked to sit, listen and join in those conversations.

So cheers to the people whose conversations have helped shape this destination and community.

Emergency preparedness isn’t really about plans. It’s about protecting people.

Over the past two years, I’ve watched Parks Canada, under the leadership of Francois Masse, Daniella Rubeling, Salman Rasheed and their teams, work alongside the Town of Banff, Banff & Lake Louise Tourism, BLLHA,  emergency responders, local businesses and many others share important conversations to strengthen how we prepare as a community.

What stands out is their cooperation and their willingness to keep bringing people together, communicating openly, sharing information and building trust long before it’s needed.

Thank you to everyone who continues to make our communities safer.

Communities don’t shape themselves. People shape them.

One of the experiences I’m grateful to have engaged with was the development of Banff’s Community Plan. It wasn’t easy, nor should it have been. Bringing together different perspectives and finding common ground takes patience, respect and a willingness to stay at the table.

I’d like to recognize Mayor Corrie DiManno, members of Council, Kelly Gibson and Town of Banff Administration, and the many residents, businesses, community organizations and partners who leaned into that process. I’d also like to recognize our former colleague Karli Fleury who, with the support of our advisory group and members, represented the hospitality community with professionalism, thoughtfulness and a genuine commitment to ensuring our industry’s perspective helped inform the discussion.

The result is more than a plan. It’s a shared direction that clearly articulates where we’re trying to go while leaving room for the conversations still to come as we explore the best path forward together.

Our hospitality mentorship and bursary programs exist because leaders before us believed that developing people matters.

David M. Bayne lived that belief throughout his career with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, investing in people and encouraging others to grow. Following his passing, former BLLHA Executive Director Wanda Bogdane initiated a conversation that would help to ensure David’s impact and legacy would be remembered. Together with the Banff Canmore Foundation and other community partners, they worked to create the David M Bayne Legacy Fund laying the foundation for a bursary fund and mentorship program.

The David Bayne Legacy Bursary annually supports educational career development, while the Banff & Lake Louise Mentorship Program connects experienced leaders with those just beginning their own journey.

Today, mentors continue to give one of the most valuable gifts they can offer: their time. Thank you to every mentor who chooses to invest in someone else’s future.

Long before I arrived in Banff, former BLLHA Executive Director Darren Reeder brought back an idea from a hospitality conference in Las Vegas: ‘Could we create a similar event for our workforce here in Banff?’ That idea started a conversation that became the Banff & Lake Louise Housekeeping Olympics.

Today, thanks to our colleague Melanie Brehon, many incredible volunteers, dedicated sponsors, and more than 20 participating workforce teams, that conversation has germinated into an annual celebration.

But what truly makes this event special is not the competition itself, it’s the opportunity to recognize the incredible people who make our hospitality community stronger every day. Our heart-of-house professionals are the unsung heroes of Banff and Lake Louise, working tirelessly behind the scenes with skill, care, and dedication. Their efforts often go unseen by guests, yet they are essential to the exceptional visitor experiences our destination is known for. The Housekeeping Olympics is our community’s way of saying, we see you, we appreciate you, and we couldn’t do it without you.

To every member of our housekeeping teams, thank you for the hard work, teamwork, pride, and professionalism you bring to your role every day. Your commitment helps define the hospitality that makes Banff and Lake Louise such an extraordinary place to live, work, and visit.

No organization accomplishes much on its own.

I’d like to thank our Board Chair, Yanni Karlos, and every member of our Board for their trust, thoughtful leadership and commitment to serving our members.

To our BLLHA Administration Team: Melanie, Katie, Sarah and Karen, along with past team members, thank you for your professionalism, passion and commitment to this community.

I’d also like to recognize our partners and the great professionals at Banff & Lake Louise Tourism led by Leslie Bruce. By spending time around the table together, getting clear on what matters most and aligning around shared priorities, we’ve strengthened our partnership and our ability to make a greater impact together.

The same is true of Parks Canada, the Town of Banff, TIAA, PAUW Foundation, our members and so many others. When people take the time to understand one another, agree on what’s most important and move forward together, good things happen.

For that, I’m incredibly grateful.