Many events fell that week and the bench was placed, without a public announcement, a day before Brooks’ birthday and only two days before the anniversary of her passing on Aug. 24. In the spring a plaque will be fixed to the bench to inform passers-by of its significance. 

The bench overlooks the slow-moving Miette as it mingles into the Athabasca River. It is a place that Brooks took inspiration from – and painted throughout her career. 

One of Brooks’ many friends in Jasper, Eleanor Bye, said the artist spent a lot of time at the Miette and Athabasca Rivers. 

“It was one of her spots,” Bye says. “She would go and sit there.”

Brooks liked to help out her friends, and often she would sit at the spot and dictate books into a recorder for Bye to listen to. 

Before the bench was placed, there were only a few chairs provided by the Tekarra Lodge. Brooks would often bring her own seating for herself and sometimes her children. She began visiting the spot in the ‘90s. 

“It was always just a calming place for her,” Bye said. “She would take from the beauty.”

Other favourite spots included Lake Annette, Bye said. 

“Barb loved to swim.”

Brooks enjoyed painting in nature. She would often go to beautiful places and paint the scene in front of her. She occasionally used a photograph, and created her interpretation of it. Bye once brought her to Lake O’Hara, in Yoho National Park, and watched as the artist created a work of art around the scene. 

“She’s painted from everywhere,” Bye said. 

The location of the bench is a perfect spot for Jasperites to remember Brooks, Bye said, and share the inspiration her artwork was taken from. 

“Everybody can go and share in the beauty of the mountains and remember Barb.” 

Because the bench was placed without much announcement, Bye said there have been many questions about the origins and reasoning behind it. 

“People ask,” she said. 

When the bench was placed, 10-12 people were in attendance, including the six men it took to place the six-foot long, hand-crafted wooden bench. It was constructed by John Clark of Rocky Mountain Log Works. 

Bye is not only a friend to the Brooks family, she also helps them with the pieces that were left behind. She acted as a caregiver for Brooks in her final years as well as a dear friend. She also was Brooks’ accountant.

“It’s been nothing giving back to her, because she gave so much,” Brooks said. 

Brooks once gifted Bye with a beautiful piece that was inspired from a photo for Christmas. Her giving spirit will always be remembered by the people of Jasper.

“She’s missed by a lot of people.”