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Memberships and Development Update Back to The Cairn As the new Manager of Development at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, I think it is important to introduce myself to our membership and donor base. Hello! My name is Courtney Maxwell-Alves. I am originally from Toronto, but I have been living in the Bow Valley for the past three years. I first came to Banff to speak at a conference while I was a graduate student at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information. I fell in love with the mountains and as they say, the rest is history! After relocating to the mountains, I committed myself to learn about and help preserve the local history and heritage in Banff. Working as the Graduate Heritage Planner for the Town of Banff in 2018 really inspired this commitment, eventually leading me to the Whyte Museum. In saying all of this, you might recognize me: I first began working at the Whyte Museum in May 2019 as the Archive and Library Assistant and have contributed to previous issues of The Cairn . Although I have been in the Memberships and Development department for almost a year, I am excited to take on the role and responsibilities as Manager of Development. I have extensive experience working for non-profit arts organizations, usually in a number of different roles but all incorporating some from of development. Much of my experience and skills development have been around grant writing, fundraising, and fostering membership programs, which I am excited to put to use here at the Whyte. My passion for heritage, knowledge and understanding of the various priorities an arts and heritage organization like the Whyte contends with, and my skills as a trained archivist make for a unique and exciting perspective to bring to the Memberships and Development department. Most of all, I am here for YOU – our members and donors! I would love to connect with you – please feel free to call, email, or visit me at the Museum. In these challenging times, the COVID-19 pandemic offers us the opportunity to change and adapt, and I am working diligently to create an even more dynamic and engaging Memberships and Development department at the Whyte. Courtney Maxwell-Alves 403-762-2291, Ext. 315 cmaxwellalves@whyte.org Back to The Cairn

File name: fonds: Title: Date: D escription: v692_pa_133c_1a Peter and Catharine Whyte Foundation Fonds Ground Breaking [Whyte Museum] summer, 1967 Left to Right: Pearl Moore, Sam Ward, Sydney R. Vallance, Catharine Robb Whyte, "Pat" Brewster, William A. Brewster.

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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

WildmanHoward Lafortune Wildman Howard Lafortune Wildman Artist Statement Been carving for 40 years and started these half masks out old yellow cedar and 2 almost 3 months ago but this one is the first I have done. Usually do a bear or an eagle. Thought I may change it up a bit. Took me about 20 hrs or more to do, it weighs 90 grams and starts out at about 900 grams. It is the wildman and I do like the way it turned out. Fits nicely with acrylic paint and oiled. Return

File name: fonds: Title: Date: D escription: v439_pa_228 Moore family fonds Pearl Moore on horseback [ca. 193?]

Friends of The Whyte: Meet Summer Interpreter Oksana Briukhovetska Back To The Cairn Friends of The Whyte is a series celebrating community, featuring Whyte Museum members, donors, staff, and friends, to get to know them a little bit better. We're nearing a close on our summer season here at The Whyte, with the interpreter team sharing the history of the area, engaging with visitors, and sharing what The Whyte has to offer. Let's get to know Oksana Briukhovetska ! In this Q&A, we learn more about her experience as an Interpreter. 1. Tell me a little bit about yourself! What brought you to the Whyte Museum interpreter team? Travel has always been a big part of my life. I’ve travelled solo, studied in France, worked in Austria, and visited dozens of castles and museums. When I made my way to Canada, I moved straight into the heart of the Rockies – the Columbia Icefield – and spent my first Canadian summer there. I’ve always been passionate about history, and some years ago I developed a love for the mountains. Everything came together perfectly when I applied for the position at The Whyte Museum – combining my passion for mountains, history, and connecting with people. 2. What has been your favourite moment or highlight of the summer so far? When you visit our museum, you’ll notice a photo from the day Catharine broke ground for the Whyte. There are a few kids in it — and funnily enough, I got to guide one of them through our historic homes this season! Guiding someone who had actually been part of that moment made the experience feel truly special. It brought the history to life for me in a way I hadn’t expected. We chatted about Banff and the surrounding area, the people who built their businesses here, and how this small town has grown and changed over the years. In Banff, you can really walk in the footsteps of the town’s beginnings and feel its roots all around you. 3. Are there any conversations with guests that have been memorable? One of my favourite moments was with a couple I met on their first day in the Rockies. They asked me what they should see, so I shared some of my favourite places around Banff and along the Icefield Parkway all the way to Jasper – where to go to avoid crowds and where to hike for the best view. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but a week later, on their last day, they came back to Banff, joined another tour of mine, and told me they’d followed all my suggestions. They were so thankful! I was so happy I helped them to have an amazing trip. 4. What have you enjoyed most about working at The Whyte? The best part of working at The Whyte is the people – both the team I work with and the visitors I meet every day. We have such a supportive team here, we’re always sharing stories, interesting facts from books, or things we‘ve found in the archives. Even on the busiest day, it’s a place that feels fun to work. What I enjoy most about guiding here is connecting people to the history of the Rockies – helping them see the area in a new way. If you’re looking to spend 30 minutes with some of the friendliest and most passionate guides (and maybe get few good local recommendations along the way), I’d definitely say: join one of the tours at The Whyte! Working with Joseph Sanchez on the Art Gallery tour has also been a great experience! He is a very kind and positive person, and it’s always easy to talk to him or ask for advice. He’s very knowledgeable, and it’s fun listening to his stories – they also add a lot to the tours! It’s clear he is passionate about what he does, and that makes working with him fulfilling. Want to learn more about Canadian Rockies history? Discover our private and public tours at the Whyte Museum this summer. Historic Homes Tour - a 25-minute guided tour of the historic homes of museum founders Peter and Catharine Whyte and notable locals Philip and Pearl (Brewster) Moore. Hertage Gallery Tour - a 25-minute guided museum tour. Learn how the mountains were opened up to all through stories of some of those drawn to these peaks. Historic Banff Walking Tour - get off the beaten path with a 60-minute guided tour through the Banff townsite, learning about the men and women who helped build and shape the town. The Ancestors Are Talking Summer Exhibition Tour - learn more about our summer exhibition at this guided gallery tour in the Whyte Museum. Check out our tours page for the most up-to-date information! Back To The Cairn

Whyte Home – Cataloguing During COVID-19 By Thea Sleight Back to The Cairn Above: Thea Sleight As part of my final year in Art History and Museum Studies at the University of Lethbridge I interned in the curatorial department at the Whyte Museum from September to December 2020. I’d often begin my mornings at the Whyte Museum with a symptom checklist and an infrared thermometer to the forehead, before heading to the Whyte Home for the rest of the day. There, I had my isolated makeshift office set up in the couple’s old studio, where I catalogued everything from vintage Kodak photography equipment and cute miniature Japanese figurines, to girdles, and glass cork-top medicine bottles. Left: Just one layer of miniatures, all catalogued, and wrapped in acid-free tissue for preservation. Right: Miniature ornate dishware. Pen for scale. Because this was my second collections internship, I was already pretty familiar with the general cataloguing process, which involves measuring the object, a physical description, condition reporting, photographing, labelling, housing (giving the artifact a permanent place to live), and filing of the physical catalogue. Of course I had to learn some new things, like how to use the Whyte Museum’s cataloguing software, but other than that, it was a similar rhythm I could fall into. Above: The upstairs bathroom was left just as it had been when the museum’s founder, Catharine Robb Whyte, lived there. The medicine cabinets were fully stocked with medications, toiletries, and, as seen above, first aid supplies that are very familiar today. My favourite part, besides the catalogue writing, was working with the artifacts themselves. Since the house was donated as is, it was like working inside a time capsule! There were objects I encountered that were familiar, foreign, and some of which I couldn’t even identify. I saw brand names that still exist today, and others that have since disappeared. It really made me consider cultural shifts through time, how much we’ve changed, and how much we really haven’t. I felt like I got to know Peter Whyte and Catharine Robb Whyte through their possessions, and it made me think about what kinds of conclusions people would draw about me from my own objects. Even though I didn’t get to the experience the Whyte Museum in its true unrestricted form, I’m still incredibly grateful to have been there. Not only was I was able to see and work with incredible artifacts and gain practical experience, but I was able to do so safely during these times. It was a blast! Back to The Cairn

A Fireside Chat with Sid Marty and Chic Scott Back to The Cairn "I have been trying to forge that bridge between humanity and nature for most of my creative life.” (Sid Marty) On Thursday, November 7, Sid Marty joined Chic Scott for a Fireside Chat. Poet, prose writer and musician, at 80 years of age Sid has become an iconic member of our mountain community. Born in England in 1944, he grew up in Southern Alberta where his family had resided for four generations. In 1966 he went east to Sir George Williams (now Concordia) University in Montreal to study English literature. Drawn to the beauty and wildness of the Rocky Mountains he began working as a seasonal warden with Parks Canada that same year. He published his first poems in 1966 but soon he abandoned his career in English literature to pursue the National Park Warden path. Although it has been a challenging path at times, over the last fifty years Sid has managed to combine his passion for wild places and his love for words. His career with Parks ended in 1978 with publication of “Men for the Mountains”, but he has continued to write about the mountains he loves so well. His website says, “His books are about family, rangers, cowboys, homesteaders, forest fires, grizzly bears, love, death, mountaineers and wildlife conservation.” Sid has published five books of poetry and five books of non fiction. He has twice been short listed for the Governor General’s Award and has won the Grand Prize at the Banff Mountain Book Festival. His latest book, Oldman’s River, New and Collected Poems (2023) was awarded the inaugural Al and Eurithe Purdy Poetry Prize. A fine musician with a beautiful singing voice he has also recorded two CDs of original music. Perhaps he will sing a song or two for us on Thursday evening. Since 1981 Sid and his wife Myrna have lived on a small ranch in the Livingstone Range in south west Alberta. He is a powerful advocate for wilderness conservation and is still writing poetry. Sid Marty is a story teller par excellence with a full life of experience to draw on and this chat will be a very special evening. Back to The Cairn