Ever since legendary Rocky Mountain explorer Mary Schaffer—guided by a hand-drawn Stony Indian map—picked her way there in 1908, Jasper’s Maligne Lake has captured the imagination of adventurers and wilderness lovers across the world.
And while Schaffer woke up the world to the wonders of Maligne Lake, it was pioneering tour guide Fred Brewster who made it accessible to the wider population.
The famed tour operator began leading pack trips to Maligne as early as 1915, and by 1927 had built the Maligne Lake Chalet to provide warmth and comfort to the brave souls who ventured there along with him.
Today Maligne Tours Ltd. operates the chalet on a lease from Parks Canada, but the building boasts a long and varied history that stretches far back from the present.
That history was recognized earlier this month when the National Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada announced that it had designated the Maligne Lake Chalet and Guest House a National Historic Site.
The two buildings are the remnants of what was once a camp surrounded by tents and hard-roofed guest cabins, the architectural form and function of which are examples of the golden era of national parks, when hearty souls like Brewster and Curly Phillips were uncovering the joys and secrets of Jasper’s wilderness.
The chalet itself was designated a Federal Heritage Building in 1988, but according to Alan Fehr, Parks Canada’s acting field unit superintendent, the more recent designation will make the chalet a more appealing destination for cultural adventurers.
“This just elevates it to a kind of national significance. And I think it gives an opportunity to Maligne Tours and Tourism Jasper to sell that piece.
“It might be a hook to bring a different clientele to a different area of the world.”
That hook is one baited with glamorous stories of Brewster and Phillips, the entrepreneurial spirits determined to explore and open up Jasper’s backcountry to the masses.
And while those men were among the first to set up shop at many of the trails and destinations famous in Jasper today, they didn’t do it without some help.
Brewster, for example, is famous for building the Maligne Lake Chalet, but he did so at the request of the Canadian National Railway, which was looking to capitalize on tourist interest in Jasper.
In fact, until the mid 1930s, most people referred to the chalet as the CNR camp.
It remained a popular destination among tourists for decades, but when the road to Maligne Lake was built its popularity gradually faded. By the late 1960s the cabin was hardly used, and in 1977 it was officially closed due to budget constraints.
For 43 years the building sat empty, and during those years the lease defaulted back to Parks Canada, which was forced to board it up to fend off cross country skiers with a penchant for breaking in to use the fireplace.
Its designation as a Federal Heritage Building in 1988 did little to spark an interest in the cabin, but in the mid 90s Parks did do stabilization work at the chalet to halt its deterioration
In 2003 Maligne Tours Ltd. was granted a lease for the property, but it wasn’t until 2011 that the company did a massive overhaul of the building, hiring a design firm to restore it to its former glory.
At the time, Pat Crowley of Maligne Tours told the Fitzhugh that the restoration would be “a special moment for Jasper National Park.”
“The Maligne Lake Chalet is an essential piece of Jasper’s human history and allows visitors from all over the world to learn about the legacy and history of the first adventurers to this area,” she said at the time.
Maligne Tours undertook the rehabilitation project with the intention of making the site’s interpretive messages new and accessible again, and allowing visitors to learn about the culture and history of the recreational development of Jasper National Park.
Maligne Tours did not respond to requests for comment on the most recent designation, but in a March 5 press release stated that it was “enormously pleased with the [National Historic Sites and Monuments of Canada’s] recognition of the site’s importance.”
From Parks Canada’s perspective, Fehr said that the designation means another opportunity for Canadians to gain a greater understanding of the people who helped build our country, and what role this place played in that process.
“Any time we recognize or designate a new national historic site ... it’s always a great moment in Canadian history because we’re recognizing who we are as a people and the significant places, people and events that have transpired over time,” he said.
“It’s an opportunity to reflect on the people who came before us, and the vision they had for the country and the accomplishments they had for the country in a particular region.
“I think it’s important for us to commemorate that and to celebrate those moments.”
Trevor Nichols
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