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  • Bow Valley Inclusive Housing Survey

    Thank you for taking the time to share your housing experience.

  • Who is running this survey? This survey is a collaboration between the Bow Valley Pride Network (BVPN), the Bow Valley Immigration Partnership (BVIP) and the Rural Development Network (RDN). Our goal is to understand the housing realities of people living in the Bow Valley, especially those from communities that are often left out of housing conversations.

    What will the data be used for? Your responses will directly inform a “What We Heard” report and an Inclusive Housing Toolkit designed to help housing providers, employers, and policymakers create safer, more inclusive housing in the Bow Valley. The findings may also support policy recommendations to local municipalities.

    Is this anonymous? Yes. This survey is completely anonymous. We do not collect your name, email address, or IP address. Your responses cannot be traced back to you. If you are in employer-provided housing, your employer will never see your individual answers.

    How long will this take? About 10–12 minutes for most people, depending on your housing situation. Some people will see fewer questions based on their answers.

    Do I have to answer every question? No. Every question is optional. You can skip any question you are not comfortable answering. You can also stop the survey at any time.

    A note about sensitive topics: Some questions ask about safety, discrimination, and difficult housing experiences. These questions help us understand what needs to change. You are in control of what you share. If any question feels uncomfortable, skip it, no explanation needed.

    Want a chance to win a prize? After completing the survey, you will have the option to enter a draw to win one of the following prizes:

    $100 gift card to Snowtips-Bactrax
    $100 gift card to Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts (CRMR)
    One of three $25 gift cards to The Iron Goat Pub & Grill

    To enter the draw, you will be taken to a separate form where you can provide your contact details. This form is completely separate from the survey, so your survey answers remain anonymous and cannot be linked to your contest entry.

  • By clicking “Next” you confirm that you are 18 years or older and that you consent to participate. You may withdraw at any time by closing the survey.

  • Glossary of Terms

    Before you begin, here are a few terms used in this survey. We are sharing these definitions so questions feel clear and consistent for everyone. All definitions are written in plain language.

  • Inclusive housing
    Housing that is designed and managed so people of different backgrounds, identities, incomes, abilities, and family situations can live safely, comfortably, and with dignity.


    Staff accommodation / employer-provided housing
    A place to live that is provided, managed, or subsidized by an employer as part of a job. This is sometimes also called staff housing or tied housing.

     
    Housing tenure
    The type of housing arrangement you have, such as owning your home, renting, living in employer-provided housing, or another arrangement.

     
    Housing insecurity
    When you are worried about losing your housing, cannot afford it, or do not feel safe or stable where you live.

     
    Accessibility
    Features that make a home or building easier to use for people with disabilities, mobility barriers, or other physical needs. Examples can include ramps, wide doorways, visual alarms, elevators, or ground-floor units.


    2SLGBTQIA+
    An umbrella term that includes Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and other diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions.


    Newcomer
    Someone who has moved to Canada within the past 10 years. This can include permanent residents, refugees, international students, and people on work permits.


    Discrimination
    Being treated unfairly in a housing situation because of who you are or how others perceive you. This can relate to race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, source of income, language, religion, immigration status, or other aspects of identity.


    Bow Valley
    The region that includes Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise, and nearby communities in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

  • YOUR HOUSING SITUATION

    We’ll start with a few questions about your current housing situation. This helps us understand your day-to-day reality.
  • Which best describes your current housing situation?
  • What type of housing do you currently live in?
  • How many people live in your household, including yourself?
  • Did you move to Canada within the last 10 years?
  • If you could choose, what type of housing would you prefer to live in?
  • What is your preferred living arrangement?

  • FINDING HOUSING IN THE BOW VALLEY

    This section is about what it has been like to look for housing in the Bow Valley. We’re interested in how easy or difficult the process has been, and what people are relying on to find a place to live.
  • When you first came to the Bow Valley, did you have housing arranged before you arrived?
  • How difficult has it been to find suitable housing in the Bow Valley?
  • What is your primary reason for living in the Bow Valley?
  • How did you find your current housing?
  • How long did it take you to find your current housing?
  • Have you ever experienced a housing emergency in the Bow Valley? Select all that apply
  • Were you able to find support or emergency housing when you needed it?

  • AFFORDABILITY

    The next few questions are about housing costs and affordability. You can skip anything you would rather not answer. We’re asking because cost is a major part of whether housing feels stable and sustainable.
  • Approximately what percentage of your monthly income goes to housing costs (rent, mortgage, or employer housing deductions)?
  • How concerned are you about being able to afford your housing in the next 12 months?

  • HOUSING QUALITY & ACCESSIBILITY

    Now we’d like to understand the quality of your current housing and whether it meets your accessibility needs. This helps identify practical changes that could make housing safer and more usable for more people.
  • How would you rate the overall quality and condition of your current housing?
  • Does your current housing meet your accessibility needs?
  • What accessibility features do you need that are currently missing? (Select all that apply)

  • STAFF ACCOMMODATION EXPERIENCE

    The next few questions are about your experience in employer-provided housing. Your answers are anonymous and will never be shared with your employer. We ask these questions because many people in the Bow Valley live in housing tied to their job, and we want to understand how that experience can be improved.
  • Which of the following describe your experience in employer-provided housing? (Select all that apply)
  • Have any of the following affected your experience in employer-provided housing? (Select all that apply)
  • If you had a concern about your staff housing, how comfortable would you feel raising it?
  • If you would feel uncomfortable raising a concern about your staff housing, what are the main reasons? (Select all that apply)
  • Overall, how would you rate your experience in employer-provided housing?

  • You’re About Halfway Through!

    The next few sections ask about safety, inclusion, barriers, and a few optional background questions. Some questions may feel more personal, so please answer only what you feel comfortable sharing.Your responses are anonymous, and every answer helps build a clearer picture of housing experiences in the Bow Valley.

  • SAFETY & DISCRIMINATION

    This section asks about safety and whether you have experienced unfair treatment in housing. Some of these questions may feel personal, so please answer only what you feel comfortable sharing. Your experiences can help identify where change is needed.
  • Have any of the following affected your ability to find or keep housing in the Bow Valley? (Select all that apply)
  • How safe do you feel in your current housing?
  • How safe do you feel with the people you share your housing with (roommates, housemates, co-residents)?
  • How would you describe your housing stability right now?

  • INCLUSIVITY & CULTURAL NEEDS

    These questions are about what inclusive housing means to you. We want to understand what helps people feel respected, safe, and able to belong where they live.
  • How inclusive and welcoming does your current housing environment feel?
  • What changes would most improve inclusive housing in the Bow Valley? (Select up to 5)
  • Have language barriers affected your ability to find, understand, or manage your housing in the Bow Valley?
  • Are there cultural or religious practices that are difficult to maintain in your current housing? (Select all that apply)

  • BARRIERS & RESOURCES

    The next few questions are about any barriers you may have faced, the kinds of support or information that would be helpful, and how confident you feel navigating housing systems. This helps show where better tools, services, or communication may be needed.
  • What are your biggest challenges related to housing in the Bow Valley? (Select up to 3)
  • How confident are you that you understand your rights as a tenant in Alberta?
  • Are you aware of any housing support resources or services in the Bow Valley?
  • How helpful were the housing resources or services you used?

  • ABOUT YOU

    These final questions help us understand who is sharing their experiences. This information allows us to identify patterns and ensure that our recommendations reflect the needs of different communities. All questions are optional.
  • Which Bow Valley community do you currently live in?
  • How long have you lived in the Bow Valley?
  • What is your current employment situation? (Select all that apply)
  • What industry do you primarily work in?
  • What is your age?
  • Do you identify as any of the following? (Select all that apply)
  • What is your gender identity?
  • What is your approximate annual personal income before taxes?

  • Anything Else You’d Like to Share?

  • Should be Empty: