For some members of the ACC community the influence Swiss mountain guides had on mountain culture in Canada is well know. For others, the Swiss impact may be less clear, with a vague thought of Swiss style chalets and ski instruction. I recently had the privilege of attending the 125th Anniversary of Swiss Mountains Guides in Western Canada, an event held in Golden, B.C. and organized by the Swiss Edelweiss Village Association and Golden BC Museum. The weekend included tours of the newly renovated Swiss Edelweiss Village, a commemorative celebration event, and the first ever conference focused on 125 years of Swiss mountain guiding. Although I attended the event as a volunteer, displaying an exhibit from my MA research, I also attended as an ACC member keen on mountain culture and activities.
The event was well organized, bringing together a host of people connected to Swiss guiding; dignitaries, Swiss guides, academics from Canada and Switzerland, museum & archives staff, and local residents of Golden. A major focus of the event was the Swiss Edelweiss Village, a collection of houses built by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in the early 1900s to house the company employed Swiss guides. After being purchased by a Canmore based company Montayne, the village has recently undergone a revival in the form of a renovation, now being called The Edelweiss Village + Resort. The aged buildings and surrounding landscape have been given a new lease on life, while preserving the original look and feel.
The commemoration and celebration section of the event paid homage to the Swiss mountain guides, who were integral in the rise of mountaineering in Canada. Working for the CPR, the guides were instrumental as they led tourists throughout the mountain ranges of Western Canada. But it wasn’t just tourists who benefited from the knowledge and experience of the Swiss guides. ACC members, from beginners to seasoned adventurers, learned innumerable skills during their annual camps. Dr. PearlAnn Reichwein, University of Alberta professor and ACC member, told of the significance Swiss guides had in teaching and mentoring ACC members throughout the years. These guides played a key role in the growth of mountain sports in Canada, sharing their experience, expertise and keen eye for safety. We also heard from visiting scholars from University of Fribourg in Switzerland, who discussed Swiss influences in the Rockies. Dr. Peter Dawson from the University of Calgary shared his work digitally preserving the Swiss Edelweiss Village, a captivating and cutting-edge way to save at risk heritage resources.
A panel discussion explored stories, memories and legacies, while the Edmonton Swiss Men’s Choir entertained with their delightful singing. Reflecting on the event I am struck by the collection of mountain lovers that attended; young and old came together to learn and share. The Swiss Edelweiss Village provided inspiration for organizers who brought together people from all walks of life to talk about mountain history. A history that is intertwined with the ACC, making the event a wonderful way to pay homage to the Swiss guides who helped the ACC become what it is today. If you’d like to experience a little piece of Swiss guiding history, you can rent one of the Swiss Edelweiss Village chalets. But if you do, soak in the history and remember the Swiss guides who came before you.
– Lyndsay Conrad
