Search Results

Whyte Museum Tours Heritage Homes Tours This 25-minute tour visits two historic homes full of artifacts and art on museum property - the home of museum founders Peter and Catharine Whyte, and of notable locals Philip and Pearl (Brewster) Moore. Learn their stories and influences on this community, and get a true sense of life in the Canadian Rockies. Tickets now available! Daily tours starting June Buy Tickets Tour Times 11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. ​ Cost $15/person (tour only) Or $21/person (includes museum admission) Due to the nature of these being historic buildings, wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers are not permitted due to smaller spaces, narrow doorways, and stairs. Recommend for children 8+. Please arrive 15 minutes before the tour time to check in and purchase your ticket. Based on availability. Historic Banff Walking Tours The Historic Banff Walk gets people off the beaten path in Banff! During this 60-minute guided tour, visitors learn about the men and women who helped build and shape the town from its early days into what Banff National Park is today. We speak about the hot springs, the first hospital/spa in Banff, entrepreneurs, and adventurers. Enjoy the fresh air and views of beautiful Banff while learning some stories of this special place. Buy Tickets Tickets now available! Tours starting June Tour Times (Sundays only) 1:00 p.m. ​ Cost $20/person (tour only) Or $26/person (includes museum admission) This tour runs rain or shine. Please be prepared for all weather. ​ Please arrive 15 minutes before the tour time to check-in and purchase your ticket. Based on availability. Gateway to the Rockies Tour Free with Admission! Tours starting June Learn how the mountains were opened up to all through stories of some of those drawn to these peaks. This is a 25-minute guided tour and is FREE with Museum Admission. Tour times: 10:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. J.E.H. MacDonald: The O'Hara Era Tour Want to learn more about our summer exhibition? This short tour will take you through the exhibit to talk about some of the amazing works in our summer exhibition. Free with Admission! Tours starting July Tour Times 11:00 a .m. 2:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. ​ ​ ​ Self-Guided Tour Banff Walking Tour App 60 to 90 minutes - you choose the pace! Easy to use Scenic Accessible pathways Ideal for singles or couples Only $5.99 (USD$ +Tax) ​ Private Group Tours We'd love to welcome your group! Please contact Jennifer Royal, Manager of Education at 403-762-2291 ext. 326 or email at jroyal@whyte.org Private Group Tours available based on availability. Heritage Homes Tour ​ This 25-minute tour visits two historic homes full of artifacts and art on museum property - the home of museum founders Peter and Catharine Whyte, and of notable locals Philip and Pearl (Brewster) Moore. Learn their stories and influences on this community, and get a true sense of life in the Canadian Rockies. ​ Cost $100 (up to 8 people) $200 (up to 16 people) $300 (up to 24 people) $400 (up to 32 people) Museum Admission is extra ​ Due to the nature of these being historic buildings, wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers are not permitted due to smaller spaces, narrow doorways, and stairs. Historic Banff Walk The Historic Banff Walk gets people off the beaten path in Banff! During this 90-minute guided tour, visitors learn about the men and women who helped build and shape the town - from its early days, into what Banff National Park is today. We speak about the hot springs, the first hospital/spa in Banff, entrepreneurs and adventurers. Enjoy the fresh air and views of beautiful Banff while learning some stories of this special place. ​ Cost ​ $175 (up to 15 people) $350 (up to 30 people) Museum Admission is extra Women of the Rockies Slideshow Presentation* This 45-minute slideshow presentation speaks about some influential women adventurers, climbers, and those that blazed their own path in the Canadian Rockies. Presentation includes Charlotte Small, Mary Vaux, Mary Schaffer, Elizabeth Parker and more. ​ Cost ​ $200 (up to 24 people) $400 (up to 50 people) Museum admission is extra. ​ ​ *OFFSITE ONLY – Venue and A/V must be arranged by inquiring party ​ Indigenous Program Tour - Coming Soon! ​ Is your group interested in knowing more about the Indigenous programs and events that have been happening at the Museum? We'd love to welcome your group! ​ We are currently working on our Indigenous Program Tour. Check back for updates on when this will be available or subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know. ​ Please contact Dawn Saunders Dahl, Manager of Indigenous Programs for any other inquiries at 403-762-2291 ext. 318 or email at dsaundersdahl@whyte.org ​ Guests on this Indigenous-focused tour will visit the museum exhibits and the library and archives resource area. The 60-minute guided tour includes a brief overview of Indigenous content in the museum collections, and visitors will learn about previous and upcoming Indigenous initiatives. Cost: $100 (up to 20 people) Museum Admission is extra

Museum Hours Open Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Archives By appointment only. Tuesday to Friday 1 to 5 p.m. ​ Please e-mail your inquiries to archives@whyte.org VISIT US WELCOME HOME TO A MILLION MOUNTAIN STORIES Digital Library Discover the modern-day stories of our local communities and lesser-known tales of Canadian Rockies history, including: ​ Fireside Chats Indigenous Engagement Archival Research and much more! ​ READ MORE Apr 29 From Lake O'Hara to Lake Louise: A Special Sneak Peek at Summer Exhibitions Celebrating Local Landscapes The Whyte Museum upcoming summer exhibitions feature prominent early 20th-century artists capturing Lake O'Hara and Lake Louise landscapes. Apr 29 Spring Exhibitions In Photos: Ilana Manolson – Time: In the Mountains and Menagerie of Disappearance The Whyte Museum celebrates the opening of two spring exhibitions: Ilana Manolson – Time: In the Mountains and Menagerie of Disappearance. Apr 29 Friends of the Whyte: Whyte Museum Summer 2023 Interpreter Wendy Bradley Whyte Museum summer interpreter Wendy Bradley is a long-term Banff local and artist with deep family roots in the Bow Valley. Mar 7 New CEO appointed to the Whyte Museum in Banff Back to the Cairn Don Watkins, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Peter and Catharine Whyte Foundation, is very pleased to announce... Feb 2 Welcoming New Faces at the Whyte: Chris Hughes The Whyte Museum is pleased to welcome Chris Hughes as our new Chief Operating Officer. Chris joined the team on January 16, 2024. Feb 2 "Ya Ha Tinda: The Ranch" Featured as Whyte Museum's Winter 2024 Exhibition Visit the Whyte Museum's two winter 2024 exhibitions, Ya Ha Tinda: The Ranch by Arto Djerdjerian and A Natural Solitude by Hans P. Berkout. Feb 1 Friends of the Whyte: Whyte Museum Summer 2023 Interpreter Kiera Bandy Back to the Cairn Friends of the Whyte is a series celebrating community, featuring Whyte Museum members, donors, staff, and friends, to... Jan 31 Dr. Edward Sylvester Morse: Marine Biologist, Collector, and Scholar Back to the Cairn By Kayla Cazes, Librarian/Reference Archivist Many may not know, but here at the Whyte Museum, we have a rich and... #WhyteMuseum

Marlene Kelly Generations - My Story Artists Statement GENERATIONS - MY STORY Tansi, I am 4th generation Cree-Metis beadwork artist. My ancestral home is Ft. Chipewyan & Ft. MacMurray AB. I am privileged to live in the unceded territory of the K’omoks First Nation. As I sat drawing the design for my pandemic mask, I took comfort in the ease the pattern formed from my mind’s eye to paper. The flowers, the curves of the vines, the shapes of the leaves, every colour I saw transformed with a familiarity of generational knowledge. These are the patterns that my nikâwiy, nokôm and okômâw used and were now passed down to me. As I started beading, thoughts of convenience, even during this pandemic, floated through my mind. Thoughts of the struggles and hardships of the strong women who came before me. Women who persevered and survived with a lot less than I am blessed with today. Thoughts of the Dr’s orders to keep my 87 year old mom safe inside because she won’t survive this Coronavirus. I will protect her fiercely, lovingly, diligently, patiently until her last breath. One day I will be the matriarch in my family... but not today. Beading this mask connected me to these strong women. It awakened my soul memory, reminding me that I have the gifts, knowledge and resilience to overcome just as they did but with a lot more conveniences and resources. Mask: tanned deer hide, cotton bandana Ties: silk & elastic paracord, rabbit fur pom poms Beadwork: s11 silver-lined / frosted /metallic / opaque / neon czech glass seed beads, s15 charlottes, s6 glass transparent beads, 11mm multi coloured crystal teardrop beads Thread: size D white Nymo, 8lb smoke fireline, 6lb crystal fireline Return

PROGRAMS AND EVENTS The Whyte Museum offers a wide variety of public programming and events throughout the year, including artist talks, book launches, film screenings, workshops, exhibition openings, and much more! For complete event information, including registration, please scroll through our events below. Online registration is required for all programs and events unless otherwise stated; check descriptions for details. Purchase Event Tickets Here Note: Tickets disappear once the event is sold out! Interested in hosting a public event at the Whyte? ​ Contact Emma De Sousa at edesousa@whyte.org or 403-762-2291 ext. 315. ​

Joely BigEagle-Kequahtooway Buffalo, Resilience, Breathe Artist Statement I am a multi-disciplinary artist and I created this mask from buffalo parfleche. My husband, Lorne and I work with buffalo hides to create parfleche and robes. I painted my version of crocuses and buffaloes. I stitched the two parfleche pieces together using red sinew and ribbon. The inside of the mask is lined with red buffalo leather. Maria Linklater shared a story about how when a baby buffalo is born a crocus sprouts up in the spot where the baby buffalo belly button drops. I love this story and incorporate crocuses with my buffalo whenever I can. I love using red because it reminds me of strong, resilient Indigenous women and it is associated with passion and fire. Joely BigEagle-Kequahtooway, Nakota/Cree/Saulteaux from the White Bear First Nations in SK. Return

New Film to Be Premiered — The Pioneers of Waterfall Ice Climbing By Chic Scott Back to The Cairn Coming exclusively to the Whyte Museum on December 10th is a new historical film on Canadian ice climbers: The Pioneers of Waterfall Ice Climbing . Chic Scott and filmmaker Glen Crawford are making the film using the interviews that Chic recorded in 1996 and 1997 while researching his book Pushing the Limits: The Story of Canadian Mountaineering . This film will tell the story of the development of the sport of waterfall ice climbing during the 70s, 80s, and 90s and celebrate the pioneers of this activity. The Canadian Rockies are endowed with the three things that make for great waterfall ice climbing — big cliffs, lots of water, and cold temperatures in winter. Consequently, there are ample frozen waterfalls perfect for ice climbers. And Canmore and the Bow Valley are the centre for this sport. Gallery 1 During the 70s, the new sport of waterfall ice climbing was born. Around 1970, Scottish mountaineer Hamish McInnes invented a new type of ice axe with a steeply drooping pick which allowed climbers to hook into steep ice and pull themselves up. He called this new ice axe the "Terradactyl" and it revolutionized how mountaineers climb ice. It was now possible to climb even the steepest frozen waterfalls. In this film, Rob Wood tells the story of the first ascent of Borgeau Left Hand and while Jack Firth tells the story of the first ascents of Pilsner Pillar, Louise Falls, The Professor Falls and Takakkaw Falls. Laurie Skreslet tells his story of the first ascents of Helmet and Whiteman Falls and Jeff Marshall tells the story of his solo enchainment of Polar Circus and Weeping Pillar and of his ascent of Riptide. Guy Lacelle tells the story of his ascent of The Terminator while Bruce Hendricks tells stories of climbing Blessed Rage and Fearful Symmetry. These are the epic stories of the great waterfall ice climbs of Canada. Enhanced with historic photographs and linked with explanatory narration, the development of this sport, which is now popular all around the world, is explained. As well as telling the stories of the historic ascents, these climbers speak of their passion and their love for the sport. They speak of the beauty of the mountains in winter and of the hard work, suffering, and commitment required to do these climbs. Filmed 25 years ago, this film shows them in their prime. Pioneers of Waterfall Ice Climbing will be premiered at the Whyte Museum on the evening of Saturday, December 10th and we plan to invite some of the Bow Valley’s leading ice climbers. Then, on December 11th, International Day of the Mountains, the film will be posted on the Whyte Museum website where it will be available for people around the world to view. Tickets can be booked for this film screening at whyte.org/events . Gallery 1: Image 1 : (Left to Right) Tim Auger, John Lauchlan, Jack Firth, Bugs McKieth, and Rob Wood after the first attempt on Takakkaw Falls in 1974. Photo by Bugs McKieth. Image 2 : Bruce Hendricks climbing on Sea of Vapors. Photo by Barry Blanchard. Image 3 : John Lauchlan climbing on Weeping Wall. Photo by Ray Jotterand. Image 4 : An early attempt on Borgeau Left Hand. Photo by Urs Kallen. Image 5 : Jack Firth on the first ascent of Takakkaw Falls in 1974. Photo by Bugs McKieth. Image 6 : Jeff Marshall on the first ascent of Riptide in 1987. Photo by Larry Ostrander. Image 7 : George Homer leads while Rob Wood belays on the first ascent of Borgeau Left Hand in 1974. Photo by Tim Auger. Image 8: Two climbers on an early ascent of The Terminator. Photo by Tim Auger. Back to The Cairn

A Refresh for the Moore Heritage Home with Lynne Huras By Amie Lalonde, Registrar & Assistant Curator Back to The Cairn In early 2022, the Whyte Museum embarked upon cleaning various items in the Moore home (for a more detailed look at the Moore home, see my past series here ). We brought in Lynne Huras, a Collections Specialist who has been cleaning artifacts since 2012 with the Luxton Foundation and Parks Canada. Lynne allowed me to shadow her during her four-day cleaning session, and gave me the opportunity to clean the largest animal in the house: a bison bust that the Moores won in a raffle! As a historic home, the objects within the Moore home have largely been left in-situ (that is, where they were when Philip and Pearl Moore lived there). This means that, despite our best efforts, the objects within the home are subject to more agents of deterioration than objects stored within our vault. The main objects of deterioration to be concerned about are dust and dirt, pests, light, and humidity. Thankfully, due to the dry Rocky Mountain air, humidity is less of an issue here than in some other places. Light is controlled by special window film and by keeping curtains closed when tours of the home are not going on. Pests are controlled with traps and monthly rodent inspections. Dust and dirt are created by human traffic, such as tours. More frequent traffic requires more frequent cleaning. Due to the pandemic, tours of the heritage homes had been paused, so few people had been in the homes since September 2019 – this has minimized dust and dirt compared to previous years when tours occurred three times a day every summer. What's Dust Got To Do With It? Why is dust a problem for artifacts? It is not just unsightly, but can cause damage due to its abrasive nature and can attract insects or mold. [1] From the Canadian Conservation Institute: “[dust] is a major concern for mammalian and bird specimens because dust gets trapped in delicate feather structures or enmeshed within the hair. Removing dust deposited on furs and feather surfaces is a delicate, time-consuming process that requires special equipment and training to prevent damaging the specimen. It may be impossible to remove it completely. Surface colours may also become obscured, and specimens may end up having significantly reduced interpretative and research value. Oily bone or hide materials are also highly vulnerable because dust deposits will stick to the oils and darken the surface. Dust is typically abrasive and contains compounds that contribute to the oils' degradation, which in turn contributes to surface darkening and causes embrittlement. Dust also often attracts pests, compounding the problems for hides, furs, feathers and insect collections already quite prone to insect infestation.” [2] So how did we clean the artifacts? It is a slow, careful process that requires a variety of specialized tools, including a variable-speed vacuum with a natural hair brush nozzle, natural bristle paintbrushes, cheesecloth, distilled water, Q-tips, and lint-free Kim wipes. Gallery 1 A Step-By-Step Guide The steps to cleaning an artifact are as follows: Visually inspect the artifact. Look for any cracks or issues with seams. Look for signs of pests (cobwebs, areas of feathers missing). Take photographs for reference. For hardier artifacts like mounted taxidermy animals, use a vacuum to get the dust off. Keep a cheesecloth over the nozzle of the vacuum to capture anything that comes off. This prevents you from losing any large pieces that may come off and gives the added benefit of seeing your progress in how much dust/debris comes off and how much fur from the animal is lost. Every time you clean an object, some fur, feathers, etc. will be lost. Conservation is all about striking a balance between cleaning to conserve the object and leaving it alone. It is important to handle objects as little as possible – some are left in place on the wall to avoid potentially damaging them by handling. Don’t run the vacuum over the object. Place the nozzle, wait a couple of seconds, and then pick up and place again. It is very slow and methodical work. The bison is one of the hardier animals so you can move the vacuum around a bit after placing it to get at dust deep in the hair. For ungulates, hair is hollow and very easily broken so you have to be precise and gentle. For more fragile objects, such as feathered headdresses, use a small animal hair paintbrush to slowly brush off dust. Then use a vacuum to clean the dust off of the brush. Natural hair brushes (and vacuum attachments) are important because dust sticks to them just like it sticks to the animals. Natural fibres are all non-abrasive and won’t catch on the natural fibres of the animals and feathers. For beadwork and other objects, how they are cleaned depends on how they are hanging and how stable they are. Assess the object’s stability first: if it is fragile use a paintbrush. Stronger objects, especially those mounted on hide can be cleaned with a gentle vacuum brush nozzle. Use extra care on drums or anything with paint to avoid cracking and lifting. Use distilled water on Q-tips or lint free wipe to clean hard areas such as eyes, horns, and antlers. Do not rub, but place and lift. You don’t want to get the object wet, as that could invite mold and humidity, so sponge off the Q-tip after dipping it in water. Gallery 2 While we were in the Moore home we were kitted out in full PPE - N95 mask, nitrile gloves, and lab coats. This was not due to the pandemic, but because taxidermy done before 1960 was done with arsenic and other toxic materials that can fall from the animal during cleaning. Later pieces of taxidermy can be treated with preservatives and pesticides and it is good to also protect yourself from dust. Gloves are always worn while handling museum artifacts. Slow and Steady Progress Lynne advised that it is important to trust the process! It is not always immediately apparent that you are making any progress so it is important to remember that you are getting dust off even if you can’t really see it. The cloth over the vacuum nozzle and the dirt on the wipes and Q-tips show how much you’ve removed and can be useful ways to gauge if there is more dirt with one cleaning over another (so you can investigate why that might be). Lynne saved the bison for the end of the cleaning session so that I could have a go. Climbing up on the latter with the vacuum in tow, I was awed by the sheer size of the bison head up close. I started by going over the right side of the bison’s head, neck, and shoulders with the vacuum. Just as Lynne had said, it didn’t look like I was making much progress but when I checked the cloth over the nozzle before moving to the front of the bison, sure enough, there was a good amount of dust. The upper tuft of hair above the forehead produced even more – and cleaning the eyes and nostrils provided immediate evidence that I was indeed getting a lot of dust off. All in all, the bison took me about two hours to clean – my arms were definitely tired by the end! Gallery 3 Lynne’s verdict after her week in the Moore Home: the objects are in very good condition. We did not lose much hair and had minimal cracking around the eyes and ears. Some objects could only be given a partial cleaning due to their fragility and difficulty removing from the wall safely. She gave us valuable insights to help us understand the amount and frequency needed for cleaning the objects need going forward and how our current practices are affecting the stability of the artifacts. Thank you, Lynne! Want to visit the Whyte Museum heritage homes for yourself? Book a private tour on your next trip to Banff, or download the self-guided Banff Walking Tour App on Apple and Google Play ! Images: Image 1 : Lynne Huras cleaning a taxidermy artifact in the Moore home. Personal collection of Amie Lalonde. Gallery 1 : Left to right: tools of the trade; Lynne cleaning the nose of a deer (112.01.0009); Lynne photographing the bison (112.01.0007) before cleaning. Personal collection of Amie Lalonde. Gallery 2: Left to right: Lynne carefully using a brush to lift dust from a feathered dance bustle (112.01.0009); cobwebs between feathers; dust and dirt stuck to feathers. Personal collection of Amie Lalonde. Gallery 3: Left to right: My turn to try cleaning the bison (photo by Lynne Huras); removing dust and debris from the cheesecloth on the vacuum nozzle; the final pile of dust, dirt, and hair that was removed from the bison. Personal collection of Amie Lalonde. Sources: [1] https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/preventive-conservation/guidelines-collections/natural-history.html ) [2] ( https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/conservation-preservation-publications/canadian-conservation-institute-notes/care-mounted-specimens-pelts.html ) Back to The Cairn

Indigenous Voices in the Archives By Jacinda Brisson, Archives Indigenous Research Intern Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage (Career Focus) Back to The Cairn Our museum holds so much history. History that is not always fair or just but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to change our own practices. Late last year I moved from my home in Red Lake, Ontario to begin my internship here at the Whyte Museum for the winter. I’m a mix of Cree, French, Italian, and Ojibwe from Treaty 3 territory and a recent graduate from the University of Western Ontario with a BA Honours in Indigenous Studies and Visual Art. Image 1 When I started my position as the Archives Indigenous Research Intern, one of my first takes was a big one – changing how Indigenous peoples are being represented in the archives. Well, the actual task was to rename our Indigenous newsfile folders and sort through newspaper articles. But what it really meant to me was making a change to the way we see Indigenous representation in the archives. Evolving Trends in Perceptions These articles told many stories but almost always from a non-Indigenous perspective. It was interesting to see patterns in the articles throughout the years and how the topics changed based on what was of interest at the time. Between the ’20s and ’50s, many articles focused on Indigenous culture and preserving the spirit of the “vanishing Indian,” thinking these cultures were destined to die out within the coming years. Then as time went on, the articles began to focus more on politics, such as exchanges between the Canadian government and Indigenous nations involving concerns of funding and resources. Between the '90s and early 2000s there seemed to be a period where newspapers were fixated on certain social issues impacting First Nation reserves. Suicides, violence, poverty and addiction, the topics were grim and it was a disheartening chapter to sort through on my end. As I grew closer to the present, topics aired on a more political side once again, along with residential schools taking over a strong presence in the early 2010s then again in 2020. Gallery 1 The language and way Indigenous peoples were talked about in these articles were not always positive, but I couldn’t change that – it’s history and an important marker to show how our society has changed or in some cases stayed the same. What I could change, however, was how this material was being displayed in the archives. Representation of Material I started with 13 folders, filled with hundreds of newspaper clippings from upwards of the last 90 years. Most folders had ambiguous titles with outdated language such as “Indians-Canada” or “Stoney Indians 1,2,3…” and so on. I went through every article in each folder and by the end, I turned those 13 folders into 96. Image 2 You can now find articles on a several different topics such as the arts, businesses, health, language, youth and more, sorted individually by nation. For example, if you’re trying to find something about Indigenous relationships with the environment in the Banff area, you might look under folders like “Stoney-Iyârhe Nakoda Environment”, “Blackfoot-Siksika Environment” or “Indigenous Environment Alberta.” Not only is it going to be easier to find the information you’re looking for, but it gives each nation a voice and a place in our collections. It’s important for us to continue work such as this in the archives and across the museum to increase Indigenous voice and build on our relationships with the many Indigenous nations that reside in the Treaty 7 territory. Our work here isn’t done, so look forward to the future, because I know there will be much more to come. Images: Image 1: Jacinda Brisson with newsfiles in the Whyte Museum Archives and Special Collections. Photo supplied by Jacinda Brison. Image 2: The new newsfile folders vs the old newsfile folders of Indigenous-related news articles in the Whyte Museum Archives and Special Collections. Photo supplied by Jacinda Brison. Gallery 1, Image 1: Stoney-Iyârhe Nakoda Powwows & Ceremonies,1972. Library-Newsfile (Subject files) Gallery 1, Image 2: Stoney-Iyârhe Nakoda Inherent Rights, Treaty Rights & Land Claims, ca. 1940-1950. Library-Newsfile (Subject files) Gallery 1, Image 3: Indigenous Environment Alberta, 2014. Library-Newsfile (Subject files) Back to The Cairn

France Poliquin Standing in Line Artist Statement Standing in Line Third world war is declared and we are all at war against a Virus. It’s a Pandemic, which is what, what does that mean really. I start knitting to past the time, I read books, but this is not feeding my soul. I am watching the news, not understanding what is this all about. The first time I am expose to something similar is when I am in my early 20s and I teach in Constant Lake treaty no 9. Hepatitis C is among the children and the adults are scared. At the time the Federal Government runs the school and we are lucky since they send a group of two nurses that check each child. We are asked to get the vaccine for Hepatitis C I refuse I just don’t believe in it. I was learning bead working then and I remember that this practice had filled my soul while I did get sick with rheumatism fever, which is in the same family as Hepatitis C; I did beading to get my soul filled with colours and create different small beading projects. Now I am 67 years old all these memories come back to me and I am asking myself how did I deal with the situation almost 50 years ago. I start observing the people around me what is going on, the halls are empty we are not allowed to go to our common activity room, the door is wrap with a yellow ribbon boned with danger. At the beginning you are sort of paranoid about meeting someone in the hallway, especially a stranger. The only strangers coming in our 60 and up social housing are Home Care workers visiting three out of 31 persons twice or three times a day. I am watching these strangers with a critical eye what if, what if, what if? Why are they always different? After two weeks I am out of fresh produces, ok, now how are we suppose to get those if we are not suppose to go out? Ok I hear on the news that if we must go out shopping to do so early in the morning. To my surprise when I get to the grocery store there is a line up of white hair mostly women. We all have a worried face, some have a mask and some do not, but we are all in line waiting being patient. This makes me nervous because we do not know what this virus is all about. Are we lining up to get the virus, are we lining up to die? Is the virus here, right here creping up my pants or my sleeves where is it? In my hair, on my hands or on my shoes I pray to Mother Earth to help me cope with this enemy, this invisible enemy. April 07 Paula 85 years old passes away Covid 19. April 10 Judith 77 years old passes away Covid 19 April 15 Monique 79 catches Covid 19 is very sick I have to do something with my hands to keep them busy so I do not get scared and panic. Tout va bien allé, it will be fine. Beading, yes I have to start a project. I made some cloth masks for my brother and his partner and I sold a few at the residence where I live, but I must be part of something to help me cope with this Pandemic. I discover BREATH on CBC Indigenous but it is a close group and quite difficult to find. There is so much happening about breathing; I have asthma, this black man dyes because he cannot breathe. Wearing the mask keep me from breathing properly, I will survive this craziness. The Mask: I decided to make a mask that tells a story of three women of different nationality who wait in line since everywhere they go there is a line up. This is quite sad to see all these older people waiting in line for their meals, to take their weight and for their medication and to finally to pass. The colours I have use for the beading project is very symbolic to me. Pink that represents friendship, affection, harmony, inner peace, and approachability. My ladies are surrounded by the colour green, which symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, and fertility. And to finished we have the colour blue that symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven. Return

Pushing the Limits: The Legacy Anchor 1 In 1996 and 1997 while researching for his book Pushing the Limits: the Story of Canadian Mountaineering , Banff-based historian Chic Scott videotaped 84 interviews across Canada with the leading climbers of the era. They discussed their pursuits here in the great Canadian mountain ranges and also their climbs around the world. For 25 years those interviews were safely stored in the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies in Banff, Alberta. Through recent efforts of the Whyte Museum Archives, Chic Scott, and filmmaker Glen Crawford, they have been digitized and revitalized. These digitized interviews will be incorporated into a multimedia project entitled Pushing the Limits: The Legacy which will launch in various stages over the next several years. ​ Three main components comprise the legacy project. Non-edited interviews by Chic Scott recorded for his 1996 book Pushing the Limits served as the foundation of the legacy project and can be available to researches by appointment. Working with Canmore filmmaker Glen Crawford, 11 of the best interviews were selected to edit and enhance with supporting archival photos. Selected interviews culminated in a series of theme-based films relating to Canadian mountaineering, produced by Glen Crawford. Climbing Pioneers of Yamnuska was released in December 2021 and Pioneers of Waterfall Ice Climbing was released in December 2022. Theme-based films will continue based on funding availability. ​ This project is made possible through the generous donations of the Lake Louise Ski Resort and Dr. Bill Hanlon. Themed Mountaineering Films PIONEERS OF WATERFALL ICE CLIMBING This film tells the story of the development of the sport of waterfall ice climbing during the 1970s, 80s and 90s and celebrates the pioneers of this activity. The Canadian Rockies are endowed with three things that make for great waterfall ice climbing — big cliffs, lots of water and cold temperatures in winter. Consequently, there are lots of frozen waterfalls which are perfect for ice climbers. And Canmore and the Bow Valley are the centre for this sport. During the 70s, the new sport of waterfall ice climbing was born. Scottish mountaineer Hamish McInnes invented a new type of ice axe with a steeply drooping pick that allowed climbers to hook into steep ice and pull themselves up. He called this new ice axe the Terradactyl, revolutionizing how mountaineers climb ice. It was now possible to climb even the steepest frozen waterfalls. In this film by Glen Crawford with interview film footage from Chic Scott, Rob Wood, Jack Firth, Laurie Skreslet, Jeff Marshall, Guy Lacelle, Bruce Hendricks and Joe Josephson tell epic stories of their pioneering waterfall ice climbs. Enhanced with historical photographs and linked with explanatory narration, the development of this sport, which is now popular all around the world, is explained. As well as telling the stories of their historic ascents, these climbers speak of their passion and love for the sport. Filmed 25 years ago, this film shows them in their prime. CLIMBING PIONEERS OF YAMNUSKA Climbing Pioneers of Yamnuska is about Iyamnathka, the “flat-faced mountain” on the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains, overlooking the prairies, which has been sacred to the Stoney People for millennia. More recently, the mountain, also known as Yamnuska, has become special to thousands of rock climbers. Since the early fifties, many climbing routes have been established up the south face. Using interviews videotaped by Chic Scott in the 1990s, this film tells the story of those climbing pioneers and their adventures — Leo Grillmair, Hans Gmoser, Franz Dopf, Brian Greenwood, Don Vockeroth, Dick Lofthouse and Urs Kallen. Enhanced Interviews Glen Crawford and Chic Scott selected 11 of the best interviews to be edited and enhanced with added photographs from Scott's collection. These interviews are with Tim Auger, Sharon Wood, Hans Gmoser, Kevin Doyle, Brian Greenwood, Barry Blanchard, Leo Grillmair, Pat Morrow, Don Vockeroth, Charlie Locke, and Laurie Skreslet. ​ These interviews capture some of Canada's finest mountaineers telling stories of their adventures. The interviews vary from 25 to 90 minutes in length and will be released each month of 2022. EPISODE 1 - TIM AUGER LEARN MORE EPISODE 3 - HANS GMOSER Coming Soon: Episode 3 - Hans Gmoser LEARN MORE EPISODE 5 - BRIAN GREENWOOD LEARN MORE EPISODE 7 - LEO GRILLMAIR LEARN MORE EPISODE 9 - DON VOCKEROTH LEARN MORE EPISODE 2 - SHARON WOOD LEARN MORE EPISODE 4 - KEVIN DOYLE LEARN MORE EPISODE 6 - BARRY BLANCHARD LEARN MORE EPISODE 8 - PAT MORROW LEARN MORE EPISODE 10 - CHARLIE LOCKE Coming Soon: Episode 10 - Charlie Locke LEARN MORE EPISODE 11 - LAURIE SKRESLET LEARN MORE

Welcoming New Faces at the Whyte: Chris Hughes Back to the Cairn The Whyte Museum is pleased to welcome Chris Hughes as our new Chief Operating Officer. Chris joined the team on January 16, 2024. Chris comes to the Whyte from the Town of Banff where he has served for the past 15 years in progressive capacities, most recently as Director of Corporate Services. He brings an impressive knowledge of the community, financial and strategic planning, digital experience, policies and bylaws, and oversight of Town-owned assets. A well-known member of the community, Chris has lived in Banff for over 25 years and coaches minor hockey. He comes highly recommended by all who have worked with him and will be a great asset to the Whyte as we move ahead. Chris will be replacing the amazing Degju Suwal who has strengthened the Whyte’s operations in many ways over the past 12 years. Degju will be assisting Chris in the transition in the new year during budget and audit planning. Welcome to the Whyte, Chris! Back to the Cairn

There’s Nothing Here... We can’t find the page you’re looking for. Check the URL, or head back home. Go Home