Behind the Scenes: First-Person Stories of Donor Impact at The Whyte
- whytemuseum
- Jun 18
- 6 min read
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By Lachlan Mackintosh, Fund Development Manager
Take a closer look at how donor support at The Whyte helps preserve stories, care for collections, support artists, and create meaningful connections across generations.
There are many ways to contribute to The Whyte. Some individuals have contributed family history in the form of artifacts or artwork; some have contributed through archival materials, such as books, letters, or photographs. Others contribute by making a monthly or annual financial gift to the organization. As the new Fund Development Manager, I wanted to hear from my colleagues about the real impact of donor support. Here are a few stories from behind-the-scenes that get at the heart of the “why” we do the work we do and how an ambitious art museum in Banff is making a difference in our community.
When you support The Whyte, you are supporting the daily work of individuals and departments caring for art, preserving stories, researching histories, building exhibitions, and creating meaningful visitor experiences. Below you will find a few highlights of the breadth of careful work across departments and disciplines. This summer, we ask you to become part of the community of donors who support our museum work.
Exhibitions: Meaningful Encounters with Art
Christina Cuthbertson
Curator and Chief of Operations
An exhibition is more than art on a wall; it is a conversation. Through the Lens is a powerful partnership between the community and the museum that began 30 years ago. This innovative program has introduced more than 600 students from Banff, Canmore, and Mînî Thnî to the art and technique of 35 mm film photography. When we invite students into The Whyte for the first time, we break down barriers and turn passive viewing into active community connection.
“Growing up in rural Alberta, I never considered art a serious part of my life. But that changed when I was in Grade 12 and my art teacher submitted one of my drawings to a program called Art is Alive and Well, an annual community outreach exhibition at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG). I went to the opening reception and was wandering around the SAAG’s upper gallery space when I came across a collection of tree branches hanging from the ceiling. Initially it looked completely random until I walked to the far end of the room and suddenly the suspended branches formed the outline of a gigantic floating boat!
Something clicked for me that day; it was the first time that I understood that my perspective – where I stood, where I looked, what I paid attention to – could matter. It was a transformative experience that ultimately led me on a path to being a curator. That is why I love Through the Lens so much, because I know what it could mean to some of those students. Art could be the thing that helps give them meaning, direction, and purpose like it did for me.”
– Christina Cuthbertson
If you’re interested in widening the perspectives of youth and community, consider donating to The Whyte. Your support makes it possible to run programs like Through the Lens and helps us bring world-class exhibitions to Banff.
Research: Cultural Memory
Chic Scott
Researcher, Writer, Donor
Chic is a legendary Banff-based mountaineer, ski pioneer, author, and mountain historian. Donors who have supported The Whyte have supported Chic’s highly acclaimed literature documenting the history of mountaineering in the Canadian Rockies. Many of his books have been thoroughly informed and researched here at The Whyte.
“I have had a wonderful 40 years of collaboration with the Whyte Museum. It is the heart and soul of Banff and the Bow Valley.”
– Chic Scott
Launching Artistic Careers: Indigenous Artists Mentorship
Emma De Sousa
Indigenous Artist Mentorship Program Manager
The Indigenous Artists Mentorship (I AM) program is incredibly important as it provides professional opportunities for Indigenous artists. This program was born out of The Ancestors are Talking, an exhibition featuring the Indigenous Group of Seven and curated by its last surviving member, Joseph Sanchez. It was important to Joseph that he pass on the kind of mentorship he had received early in his career by working with Indigenous artists to support their artistic and career development. When you donate to The Whyte, you’re ensuring that artists and curators are receiving the critical support they need during pivotal moments in their career development.
“As an emerging Métis curator, the I AM project offers me the phenomenal opportunity to curate within a wide array of artistic practice, medium, style, and conceptual frameworks. This project encourages artists to produce the works that have been sitting in their sketchbooks, waiting to become a reality. This project is a natural extension of the unique relationship that our Founders Peter and Catharine Whyte had with Indigenous artists throughout Western Canada and globally.”
– Emma de Sousa
Connecting Generations: When Archives and Collections Gain New Life
Dagny Dubois
Director of Archives and Special Collections
Last summer, Travis Rider of the Hosting Indigenous Community Relations (HICR) team found two souvenir plates in the Curatorial database that belonged to Peter and Catharine Whyte. On the plate was an image of his great-grandparents, Nat and Gertrude Hunter, with their horse, wearing a beautiful set of yellow and red regalia. He was curious whether we held that regalia in the museum collection, and through connecting with the Curatorial department, saw that yes indeed, we did.
Elaine and Stella Rollinmud, Violet Beaver, and Margaret Bearspaw restoring the regalia of their ancestors Nat and Gertrude Hunter.
As the HICR team had been asked to co-curate a new section of the Heritage Gallery, it was decided to include this regalia to tell the story of Banff Indian Days from an Indigenous perspective. HICR led a consultation engagement with members of the Hunter and Beaver families, during which we heard more about the making of the regalia and its importance. Some of the women in the family recognized that the regalia needed some care, and we were able to support Iona, Faith, Fawn, Michelle, Katelyn and Shikoda Beaver to come back to The Whyte to repair and clean the pieces over the course of a couple of days. The younger women brought their children to be present, so there were three generations of family caring for these belongings, getting them ready for display.
“It was so meaningful to be able to support the Hunter/Beaver family to engage with the regalia of their ancestors Nat and Gertrude Hunter, and to learn about the maker Mary Jane (Hunter) Beaver, who created this complex and large piece with the help of Elaine and Stella Rollinmud, Violet Beaver and Margaret Bearspaw. To take it a step further and be able to engage the daughters and granddaughters of Mary Jane to repair and clean the regalia for exhibit felt like completing a circle. It also felt aligned to what I feel like Catharine Whyte would have liked to have seen take place, to be in good relationship with the Stoney community in that way.”
– Dagny Dubois
Visitor Services: Welcoming the World
Mabelle Carvajal
Member, Donor, and Visitor Experiences Coordinator
Another way you can support us is by purchasing a membership, donating, and shopping with us! The Bookstore at The Whyte is Banff’s only locally owned bookstore, offering a curated selection of local guidebooks, Rocky Mountain history, art books, children’s titles, fiction, and ecology. Discover books by Indigenous, Métis, and Bow Valley authors, plus a rotating collection of contemporary and heritage-inspired artisan crafts and jewelry from Alberta makers. Perfect for visitors and locals looking for Banff books, gifts, and Rocky Mountain-inspired finds.
"Serving as a front-facing connection to our members and donors brings quiet joy. Whether processing a monthly gift or catching up with a long-time supporter in the bookstore, I have the privilege of witnessing the passion that fuels support for The Whyte’s artistic and cultural vision.
Every conversation, contribution, and tax receipt reminds me that many people share a belief in the power of art and storytelling. As a steward for our donors’ generosity, I am deeply grateful to the individuals, foundations, and organizations whose support makes The Whyte’s mission possible. I take great pride in knowing that together, we are building and sustaining this important gathering place for our mountain community."
– Mabelle Carvajal
Your gifts directly empower our staff to preserve, educate, and inspire every day. If you would like to make a special gift to support our work, please reach out to Fund Development Manager Lachlan Mackintosh at LMackintosh@Whyte.org. He would love to hear from you!
To learn more about the many ways donor support makes a difference at The Whyte, follow us on social media and keep an eye on The Cairn for updates on our collections, exhibitions, programs, and stories from behind the scenes.
The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 111 Bear Street, Banff, AB.
We invite you to visit, become a member, make a gift, become a member, or simply stay connected as we continue caring for art, stories, and cultural memory.
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