This post should have been published last week. We meant to publish it last week. Really, honest to God we did. We started work on it, got about half way done, then something darn distracting stole us away for a couple working days. It’s only Chris & Connie holding down the fort, it’s crazy busy here and sometimes we get spread a bit thin. You know how it goes…
So here, after the fact, a few days after this country’s birthday, a post that was supposed to be published before in anticipation of that event and the build up leading to it, a look at a special “Canada” display.
Some random hillside: on display in the remote Alberta Rockies…“Happy Birthday Canada”. By Chris Doering and Connie Biggart.(BIGDoer/Synd)
On the sides of some hill, along some meandering forestry road, real remote and far from any civilization, a rock display, originally put in place to celebrate the nation’s Centennial, but recently modified to do the same for its 150th.
Better late than never, as the old saying goes. We missed it by thaaaaat much.
The location…it’s along highway #940, a gravel affair that runs north/south in the front ranges. Here, where it meets Maycroft Road, which comes in from the east, just beyond “The Gap”, not far from where the Oldman River and Racehorse Creeks join, below Thunder Mountain, is the display. On the flanks of “Fly Hill”, it’s visible from the road, if you know where to look and is situated right below a back country campsite.
Who made is not known. We called around and called around more, and while many locals were aware of it, no one seemed to really remember any details.
“It’s always been there…sorry no clue.” “Put in the summer of 1967” – but that part we sorta knew anyway. “Some hippies, I think.” So nothing solid, although everyone racked their brains as best they could.
So it remains a mystery.
Why didn’t we ask that fellow trimming the weeds around the display? You see him in the pics. At the time we had a lead on the history, which turned out to be a dead-end, unbeknownst to us I’m afraid, and we simply didn’t want to bother him. Was he the fellow who also rearranged the display? How is he connected to it otherwise? Or did he just want to do his part to spruce the place up for the big day? All good questions. No idea if they’ll ever be answered.
If you have some info on this display, we’d love to hear from you. We’ve rarely come up this short. And it’s bugging the heck out of us!
Joining us this trip were good friends Dan and Emily who are into this kind of weird stuff too – they got their own website which you can check out below. They brought their drone – a capitol idea. Short of climbing nearby peaks, how better to check out the display? Their footage is amazing. Scroll down below the photos to see the vid. You won’t regret it.
Shameless plug…be sure to check pay a visit to DanOCan.com. It’s Team BIGDoer recommended! Tell ’em Chris & Connie sent you.
Looks like hiking/scrambling legend Bob Spirko had the same idea as us and unknown to us at the time, was exploring the ridge above the display the same day of our visit. Small world. We only came for the display – he of course had to make the summit. That’s his style.
If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!
Date: June, 2017. Location: Crowsnest Pass Area, AB. Article references (and thanks): Dan and Emily Overes from DanOCan.com.
Yes, I saw that article about those two fellows. But yes, who originally did it? Check the comments for a hint from another person. Looking into it as we speak. Thanks for commenting!
Nice that this Centennial monument has been preserved and updated. I stumbled across this one in a reforestation area while browsing Google maps northwest of Barrie Ontario near where I live. I don’t think it will get a makeover. It’s located at 44.597917, -79.627259.
(A long read) After twelve years it's time to put a face to the name and come clean on something. That's rarely-seen Chris in the photo, one half of Team BIGDoer, my best friend for almost thirty years and orchestrator of everything you see here. For his entire adult life, he's battled a deep depression.
Mostly it's manageable, but there are extended bouts where it's crippling and his life comes to a grinding halt. Sometimes there are days or weeks where he's lost. Sleep does not come easy at this time and further aggravates the issue. As he ages, it's worsening and seems intent on destroying him from the inside.
If you see a lack of posts here, or ones poorly worded, confusing or simply off, it's from one of these periods.
Through all this, he remains as kind, thoughtful and loving as ever, but is somewhere else. To the family, it's just Chris and accepted as it should be. The kids and grandkids adore him no less. Until today, however, this has been hidden from the outside world, although closer friends and some readers were probably already suspect of his condition. I hope admitting this does not break the site.
He finds clarity when we're out and doing things, hiking or documenting something historic and it's only THE reason this page and our website exists. It's therapy. Then he's a new and passionate person, but the monster as he calls it always returns. The Beer Parlour Project has brought out a side I've never seen and when out in the field he's never been so on point and confident.
This post is not for sympathy but to inform. Just so you know where he is and here's what you can do to help (a last ditch request)...
If you see a missed comma or oddly worded sentence in a post, please be kind. You'll probably see his uncertainty when he's off and be nice there too. But if you like what you see, even if the write up could be presented better, post your encouragement. Say something and say it loud...it's important and will keep him sharing. Help Chris get better by cheering him on.
Other than some photos that are mine, everything else comes from him. All the tiring research and the writing (he admits he's NOT a writer), are his.
Chris puts every dollar he makes into this "project of a lifetime", and it's supplemented by donations from readers who enjoy the content. If you want to help...
Admittedly he was not thrilled with the idea of posting this but agrees it probably should be said, even if it makes him uneasy. He doesn't like appearing in photos either. He's so shy, thinks he looks goofy and hates his husky eyes. I love them and they're windows into a wonderful, complex and quiet, but tortured soul. It breaks my heart when he's in a bad space.
This image comes thanks to photographer Arturo Pianzola and was captured while exploring the historic Riverview Mental Hospital in Coquitlam BC. Chris thought since he was in the area last year, he'd stop by to visit with a grandfather he never really knew, who spent his last years at the facility and is buried on the grounds.
Thanks for listening and your understanding. Hopefully we'll see you next week. Johanna (Connie).
Journey of Natty Gann (Disney 1985) and the same location in the Crowsnest Pass 2014. We're visiting the Pass over the new year, as we often do, and this time we'll be staying at a house that appears (briefly) in the film. How cool, eh? Chris has decided it's time on this visit to reshoot this and other Natty Gann comparison shots we did from ten years ago. Stay tuned!
This scene was shot in historic downtown Coleman and shows the former Holyk's Grocery. It was built in the early 1900s and the store closed in the '60s. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
From 2015. Rob Pohl and his strange old-style view camera joined us in documenting the Laing House (with permission). Head down to the comments to see an amazing coincidence with something I found inside.
From the Crossley slides, it's an undated view of Towers School, out near Cluny Alberta. It was originally called Swastika School but that's before the word and symbol were ruined by negative connotations. Built 1922. Gone? _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
The same alley in downtown Calgary's west end, in the 1970s & today. You have to look hard to see the connection! The area was quite run down back then and is in stark contrast to all the shiny condo towers seen present day. Calgary Place West, an apartment block, appears in both images although it's barely a sliver in ours. Check the comments for more info.
Photo credit: James Tworow collection. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Lost highways (2022): a section of old #93 in Southeastern BC. That BIGDoer-mobile is gone now but quite famous and had a following of its own. Old mine roads, cow paths, 4x4ing across fields - no problem and people would recognize us out in remote areas just by this car. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Now that we know who spruced it up for the 150th, it would be interesting to know who originally put it there in 1967.
Yes, I saw that article about those two fellows. But yes, who originally did it? Check the comments for a hint from another person. Looking into it as we speak. Thanks for commenting!
Nice that this Centennial monument has been preserved and updated. I stumbled across this one in a reforestation area while browsing Google maps northwest of Barrie Ontario near where I live. I don’t think it will get a makeover.
It’s located at 44.597917, -79.627259.
Nice find…that is awesome! Google Earth is so cool when it comes to finding stuff like this. The 1867 is still quite clear. Thanks for commenting!
Kananaskis ,just south of the gap. My backyard as a kid.
Have not explored it near enough. Due back soon I hope.
Great working with you.
Ditto, it’s always fun to hang with like minded people!
Neat! Love that area!!
It’s gorgeous out there. Agree, it’s great.
When they had prisoner working in the Racehorse area they did the sign, I remember watching them.
Oh, now that’s some new info coming to light. A starting point…we’ll ask around and I’ll PM you too. Thanks!