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Draft for History 396 Wikipedia Article- The Alpine Club of Canada

Outline

Molded after the prestigious Alpine Club in Great Britain, the Alpine Club of Canada was created to give environmental enthusiasts an opportunity to explore and experience the vast Canadian wilderness. Unlike the Alpine Club of Great Britain, the Alpine Club of Canada was created to promote equality between men and women within mountaineering and climbing, and to promote the conservation and preservation of Canadian wilderness. At the turn of the 20th century development in Canada expanded into mountain ecosystems, so founders Elizabeth Parker and Arthur Wheeler created the ACC to advocate for the prevention of human infiltrations such as electricity and housing in the Canadian wilderness. The ACC helped progress societies mindset towards nature, mountaineering and the environment. Established in the first club meeting in 1906, the committee created a charter with key points that would help progress the club and their vision.

This charter included:

1.To encourage Canadians to value the rich mountain environments. 2.The use of mountain wilderness as a recreational playground. 3.The conservation of mountain ecosystems, and the organisms that live in them 4.The exchange of wilderness literature with other environmentally focused organizations . 5.Encourage the development of scientific exploration and study of Canadian alpine glaciers. 6.Cultivation of artwork associated with the outdoors

These principles reflected the member’s goal to create a club that promoted the natural heritage of Canada while encouraging the urban classes of society to exercise in the outdoors.Beginning in 1906 and continuing until 1950, the Alpine Club of Canada developed a partnership with the National Parks of Canada to promote outdoor activities, mountaineering and conservation.After the two World Wars beginning in 1914 the ACC’s philosophy progressed from being centered around strict conservation of the environment, to encouraging outdoor recreation while maintaining a respectful appreciation of Canada’s wilderness. Together the ACC and the NPC worked together to expand the parks system for easier access to the public. During these formative years, the ACC surveyed much for the Canadian Rockies which had been previously unmapped. The club also acted as a management for the new National Parks board and aided with administration. The ACC simultaneously aided in restoration of natural areas that were to be integrated into the parks, while establishing the Park’s conservation policies. As the National Parks in both the United States and Canada gained popularity, outdoor recreation became a prominent activity for many Canadians, which continuously helped shape the ACC’s goal and mission. The mission of the ACC has altered slightly since its birth in 1906, but since the creation of the original charters the club has supported both the recreational use and protection of mountain wilderness.The ACC viewed the Canadian Rockies as a national asset, which should be used by the public for recreation, but also as a land trust to be preserved for future generations.

Our first 750 words: Arthur O. Wheeler who was born in 1860 in Kilkenny County, Ireland immigrated to Canada in 1876 at the age of 16 with his family. Beginning in 1883 he worked for the Dominion Government and Canadian Pacific Railway as a land surveyor in Canadian Rockies. His employment allowed him to experience mountaineering while exposing him environmental concerns about the future of Canadian wilderness. He was described as having “Irish emotions, Irish sensitivity, Irish grace and, more frequently than some would like, an Irish temper," wrote climbing enthusiast Andrew J. Kauffman.” Inspired by Britain’s prestigious Alpine Club, he was eager to create a Canadian climbing institution that focused on mutual appreciation of mountaineering and the environmental rather than importance of social status, as it was in Britain’s Alpine Club”.

Wheeler’s continuous pursuit of creating an Alpine club of Canada, led him to write many letters seeking support, which eventually ended up in the hands of columnist Elizabeth Parker. A native of Winnipeg, Parker was an avid nationalist and an environmental enthusiast. Having spent 18 months in the Canadian Rockies, her editor of the Free Press referenced her to Wheeler’s letters. Writing an article in response to his letter, Parker advocated for the establishment of an Alpine Club. However, she believed that it should be solely Canadian to encourage the development of national identity and reaffirm Canadian independence. Together they combined their efforts to create the Alpine Club of Canada, which was founded in 1906 in Winnipeg.