Medical Information and Accessibility

Health insurance coverage is mandatory for all participants as a condition of acceptance at Banff Centre. Canadian and permanent residents currently residing in Canada are covered by their provincial health plan while studying or working temporarily in Alberta. Most services will be billed directly to the provincial plan, but an individual is responsible for expenses not covered by their health care plan.

Canadian citizens residing in a foreign country will be automatically enrolled in Banff Centre's emergency medical coverage unless they are able to provide details of private health insurance coverage upon confirmation. To do so, please request the Emergency Health Insurance Opt-Out form from the Office of the Registrar and submit it through the My Documents section in the student portal. The form must be completed and returned in 7 calendar days. There will be no exceptions or extensions.  

Note: residents of Quebec may have to pay upfront for services and be reimbursed. Consult RAMQ prior to departing for details. A participant residing in the province for longer than three months may be eligible for Alberta Health Care coverage. Phone 780.427.1432 or dial 310.0000 for toll-free accesss within Alberta, or visit here for more information. To register for Alberta health care visit the Alberta Health Care Insurance page.

For Banff Centre programs, comprehensive emergency health insurance coverage is mandatory as a condition of your acceptance and participation. Non-Canadians (or Canadians living abroad) who wish to opt-out of emergency health insurance coverage must present details of valid health insurance at time of program confirmation or they will be automatically enrolled in Guard.me International Insurance for the duration of their stay and charged the applicable fees. To opt-out, request the Emergency Health Insurance Opt-Out form from the Office of the Registrar and submit it in the My Documents section of the student portal. The form must be completed and returned in 7 calendar days. There will be no exceptions or extensions. 

Participants aged 65 years and older are responsible for securing their own health insurance and providing proof of coverage. Also please note that Guard.me does not cover any pre-existing medical conditions. Please visit their website and examine the information below for coverage details.

Banff Centre's Guard.me International Insurance group plan provides excellent coverage for less than $2/day and is available to participants and faculty. 

Guard.me benefits summary

Guard.me policy

Non-Canadians are personally responsible for covering the upfront costs of all medical and dental care while in Canada. This includes all costs associated with emergency medical care which are paid upfront at the hospital then reimbursed through filing an insurance claim with original receipts.

Emergency medical care costs in Banff at a glance:

• $250-385 to be transported by ambulance + $200 surcharge for all non-residents of Alberta
• $350 to be seen by a doctor at a walk-in clinic
• $842.50 to be admitted into the emergency room (including required lab work and x-rays) in addition to doctor's fees which start at an additional $200 and increase depending on diagnosis and treatment
• $1100 on average to visit the emergency room for a non-resident of Canada

Note: prices are subject to change without notice

It is essential to take proper precautions to protect yourself, your family, and your colleagues from illness.

Below are the Banff Centre's recommendations to help reduce respiratory illnesses on campus:

Masking

• Mask yourself at your own discretion and respect others who choose to wear a mask.
• If you notice symptoms of illness, it is recommended that you wear a well-fitted mask in public, indoor spaces.
• Bring a well-fitted mask with you to ensure you are prepared if you or others in your cohort become ill.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick whenever possible.

Hygiene

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes, then clean your hands.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer stations are available throughout the campus.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces in the workplace and at home (desks, phone, door handles, etc.) especially when you're sick.

External Resources

To learn more, please visit the Alberta Health Services website by clicking the link below:
https://myhealth.alberta.ca/topic/Immunization/Pages/respiratory-illness.aspx

Those who become ill during their program are encouraged to avoid eating meals in Vistas or MacLab while they are experiencing symptoms (take-out service is available from MacLab). We also recommend individuals self-isolate until symptoms resolve. If you choose to self-isolate, contact the Front Desk to arrange meals, necessities, and support. Banff Centre will deliver meals to your guestroom during your self-isolation.

Contact the Program Director or Program Manager for your program, who will work with you to arrange online access to program activities where possible.

If you need to self-isolate beyond the end date of your program, you may continue to stay in your Banff Centre guest room until you are able to travel. Individuals will be responsible for their own food and accommodation charges for the duration of their stay, on the same fee basis as their program acceptance.

For your own safety, and to avoid inconvenience and unnecessary expense, bring all essential prescription drugs in their original containers with documentation. Out-of-country prescriptions cannot be filled in Canada.

There are two pharmacies in the town of Banff:

Gourlay's Pharmacy located at 220 Bear Street. Call at 403.672.2516.

I.D.A. Neighbourly Pharmacy located inside Cascade Mall, 317 Banff Ave. Call at 403.762.2245.

Artist residencies at Banff Centre can be an intense experience both creatively and physically. Please ensure that you are in good physical and mental health with any pre-existing conditions in a state of management. The town of Banff is a small community with limited medical resources and accessibility in comparison to larger urban centres. To ensure a positive and productive time within your residency, please practice self-care and prioritize your work/life balance.

Banff Centre is located on the side of a mountain. Our site does present some challenges to people with limited mobility. There is ramp access to most buildings. Wheelchair or scooter access routes are shown on the campus map. Some bedrooms have been adapted for wheelchair access.

Banff Centre strives to support individuals to the best of our ability, and believe addressing accommodations is a collaborative process to establish the appropriate supports. If you have mobility or other accessibility requirements, please inform Participant Resources as soon as possible upon your acceptance into a program. Any delay in requesting accommodations will affect our ability to make arrangements on your behalf resulting in limited options and/or a delay in commencement of accommodations.

Once your information is received, we will be in contact to discuss available options to support accommodations required to ensure you can be successful in your program.

Banff Centre is not able to guarantee full accommodation of all needs due to the unique challenges our institution faces including: the mountain environment; limited practicum housing; age of buildings (both old and new); full service dining and hotel style guest rooms; and our isolated rural location limiting availability of specialty items.

Please note: If you are a conference delegate or organizer, please reach out to your Banff Centre conference contact for accessibility information.

Medical Documentation may be required to support the accommodation process. We recognise it takes time and effort on your part and appreciate your willingness to provide as it helps to confirm your needs and Banff Centre's ability to meet those needs. You are not required to provide a medical diagnosis. Once your medical documentation is received, it is stored securely in Participant Resources and will not be shared with any third party without your prior written consent.

If you travel with a certified service dog, please contact Participant Resources upon acceptance into your program to ensure you are assigned suitable accommodations. All service dogs accompanying participants and faculty at Banff Centre must be certified in compliance with Alberta Government regulations which require dogs to meet the Alberta Training Standard either through training delivered by a program that is accredited by or holding candidacy status with Assistance Dogs International (ADI), a training program delivered by an organization on the Qualified List, or successful completion of the Service Dog Qualification Assessment. 

The service dog must be with its handler at all times and in public the dog must wear a cape, harness, backpack, or other similar piece of equipment or clothing with a logo that is clear and easy to read and identifiable as a service dog. The Alberta Government currently does not require accommodations be made for emotional support animals and does not require public access rights be granted to non-certified dogs (or service dogs in training from non-certified training programs) in restaurants or any space where food is prepared or served.

Participant Resources takes your privacy very seriously. Any information or documentation provided to our office is confidential and any disclosure of your private information to another internal department requires your written informed consent.

To facilitate creating an accommodation plan, Participant Resources may need to communicate some of your accommodation arrangements to various Banff Centre departments including, but not limited to, Food and Beverage, Custodial, Guest Services, Security as well as your Program Coordinator, Program Manager, Mentor, and Supervisor where applicable.