In the early 1900s the Canadian Pacific Railway brought professional Swiss climbing guides to the Rocky Mountains to ensure CPR guests could travel safely in the mountains.
Along with doing their job with distinction, skill and ingenuity, the Swiss guides helped build a distinct Canadian mountain culture.
That in turn helped to create what has become a long-standing relationship between Canada and Switzerland.
To honour the centennial of official relations between Switzerland and Western Canada, the Consulate General of Switzerland in Vancouver, which opened in 1913, launched the project LIKE+++MINDED, in partnership with the CPR and the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies.
As part of LIKE+++MINDED the Swiss consulate, with support from The Banff Centre, is presenting the premiere of the 27-minute documentary Swiss Guides in the Canadian Rockies – Beyond Adventure at The Banff Centre in the Margaret Greenham Theatre Sunday (June 23) at 5:30 p.m. The premiere is free.
Stefanie Wunderlin, LIKE+++MINDED project co-ordinator, said the documentary tells the story of the Swiss guides — their history and legacy — through interviews with the likes of Rudi Gertsch, Ueli Steck and Rob Boyd, and also featuring the legacy of the likes of Bruno Engler. It also builds on the 2008 travelling exhibition, Swiss Guides — Shaping Mountain Culture in Western Canada.
“It wasn’t just mountain guides. Later on it was avalanche safety, skiing, mountain safety, all these things were influenced by the Swiss guides with their skill and knowledge, and they helped to train people here,” Wunderlin said.
“The Swiss mountain culture, that was imported, and of course it was developed here as well with the local people. A big part of it really came from Switzerland. People think Switzerland is very far away, but the history is very much connected and that is one thing we want to show with the movie.”
Along with Swiss Guides in the Canadian Rockies – Beyond Adventure, Wunderlin said the Swiss consulate in Vancouver is developing a book that will be released in the fall to tell the story of Swiss immigration to Canada.
“It is always important to us to show the connection between Switzerland and Canada, the ‘likemindness’ of Swiss people and Canadian people,” Wunderlin said. “One of the big things is we both cherish the mountain culture and we don’t want to exclude the Canadians and say this is our celebration. We want to celebrate the community and the good friendship Swiss and Canadians have.
“‘Like minded’ became our slogan, because we have had this ‘likemindness’ since 1913.”
During the premiere, Swiss consulate staff will conduct a symbolic passing of the documentary to the Whyte Museum.
“It’s a symbolic handing over of the to the Whyte Museum because they also take care of this legacy of the Swiss guides so it is not forgotten. It’s an important piece of the story in the Rockies,” she said.
For more information go to facebook.com/swiss100canada, swiss100canada.com or www.youtube/swiss100canada for a trailer of the documentary.
