2018 marked the 40th Anniversary of Kananaskis Country, one of the province’s flagship outdoor destinations. Although Premier Lougheed introduced Kananaskis to Albertans as a provincial park back in 1978 this mountain paradise was around a long time before any official designation. As you can see from the following historical photos the Kananaskis area was inhabited by a variety of user-groups, each with their own vested interests, much like it still is today. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this trip down memory lane. Some things change, while others always remain the same.
Eau Claire and Bow River Lumber Company camp in winter, Kananaskis area, Alberta, 1880sColonel James Walker’s sawmill, Kananaskis area, Alberta, 1883Kananaskis Falls, Alberta, 1880sKananaskis Lake, Alberta, 1885Canadian Pacific Railway bridge over Bow River, near Kananaskis, Alberta, 1886Kananaskis River, Alberta, 1905Pack horses on Storm Creek, Alberta, 1911George W. Pocaterra’s camp on Kananaskis Pass, Alberta, 1911Upper Kananaskis Lake before the hydro project, Alberta, 1911Stoney camp with tipis, at White Man Flat, Kananaskis, Alberta, 1911Trapper’s Cabin, Kananaskis area, Alberta, 1911Headwaters of Cataract Creek, Kananaskis area, Alberta, 1912Suspension bridge over waterfall, Kananaskis, Alberta, 1913Mount Allen, Nakiska, Kananaskis, Alberta, 1913-1914Fishing in Picklejar Lakes, Alberta, 1921Walter Ing’s coal claim on Camp Creek, Kananaskis, Alberta, 1922George V. Eckenfelder driving a truck across Pocaterra Creek, Kananaskis area, Alberta, 1937G.A. Gaherty’s cabin on Upper Kananaskis Lake, Alberta, 1937Car on the Coleman-Kananaskis road, Alberta, 1952Three Imperial Oil geologists travelling on horseback beside Lake Kananaskis in search of rock samples between the Kananaskis and Opal ranges, Alberta, 1953Trail riders’ camp at Gibraltar Mountain, Alberta, 1957Packhorse train moving across the Kananaskis River on its way to a new base camp between the Kananaskis and Opal ranges, Alberta, 1953Fishing from a raft, Lower Kananaskis Lake, Alberta, 1930sView of Boundary Flat, Kananaskis area, Alberta, 1937Carving of a Stoney woman, Kananaskis Lakes, Alberta, 1880s
All of the above photos are published with permission from the Glenbow Archives. Additional information can be found for each photograph on the Glenbow website by searching the identification number that is printed on each photo. There is also the option to purchase a high resolution copy. Stay tuned for additional posts featuring historical photos from Alberta. Let us know what you think in the comment section below. We’d love to know what you think in the comment section below.
Tyler is originally from Saskatchewan, and yes he cheers for the Roughriders, but don’t hold that against him as Calgary has been his home for the past eight years. He is a teacher working at a wilderness-
based treatment program for youth working to overcome addiction. Tyler is also a volunteer with the GOT Parks initiative, which aims at reconnecting Canada’s youth with our national, provincial, and territorial parks. During his time away from work, Tyler enjoys outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, and snowboarding, team sports, travelling, photography, spending time with good friends, and being at home with his wife and German Shepherd, Rome.
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