All events are open to the public
125 years of Swiss Mountain Guides in Western Canada
Join Us for a Historic Celebration
All events are open to the public
Program Schedule
Sat, Oct. 5, 8:00-8:30 AM
Sun, Oct. 6, 7:00-7:30 AM
Swiss Guides Mural
(side of the 407 Boutique and Golden Dollar Store)
Google Map
🏃♀️ The Feuz Morning Run
Kick off the 125 Years of Swiss Mountain Guides celebration with the FeuzRun, a morning run honoring the legendary Swiss guides!
No registration required!
Start at the new Swiss Guides Mural (side of the 407 Boutique and Golden Dollar Store). Whether you're a seasoned runner or just want to enjoy the atmosphere, the FeuzRun is for everyone!
Sat, Oct. 5
10:00am - 1:00pm
Edelweiss Village
376 Ottoson Rd, Golden
Google Map
🏘️ Guided Tours at Historic Swiss Edelweiss Village
Facilitators:
Brittany Newman, Executive Director Golden Museum & Archives
Samuel Boisvert, BA, CAHP, Director, Built and Cultural Heritage, Donald Luxton and Associates Inc.
By registration only!
Tour A:10am-10:45am | Tour B: 11am-11:45am | Tour C: 12am-12:45am
Registration & Tickets by minimum donation of $10/person. Children welcome!
can be purchased in-person at the Golden Museum & Archives, 1302 11 Ave S, Golden, BC V0A 1H2
oronline by sending an email to: museum.golden@gmail.com
Sat, Oct. 5
3:00pm - 6:00pm
Civic Centre, Golden
Google Map
🎉 Commemoration & Celebration Event
Featuring special remarks, an inspiring panel conversation and one-of-a-kind musical performances
3:00pm - 4:00pm | Remarks & Music
Dr. Ilona Spaar, Founding Member of Swiss Edelweiss Village Foundation, Historian
Olaf Kjelsen, Ambassador of Switzerland to Canada
Thomas Schneider, Consul General of Switzerland Vancouver
Ron Oszust, Mayor of Golden, BC
Musical Performance by Daryl Caswell, Alphorn
4:00pm - 4:20pm | Break
4:20pm - 6:00pm | Music & Panel
Musical Performance by Edmonton Swiss Men's Choir - Canadian Men's Choir with a Swiss Flair
Panel: Stories, Memories, Legacies: 125 years of Swiss Mountain Guides in the Rockies
Moderated by Stefanie Wunderlin, Consulate General of Switzerland Vancouver and special guest speakers:
Rudi Gertsch, Swiss Mountain Guide, Golden, BC
Jon R. "Colani" Bezzola, Swiss Mountain Guide & Mountain Safety Specialist, Golden BC
Dr. D.L. Stephen, Author and former client of legendary Swiss Mountain Guide Edward Feuz Jr., Calgary, AB
Elizabeth Kundert-Cameron, Director Archives&Special Collections, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Banff, AB
Joanne Sweeting, Executive Director Tourism Golden, BC
Closing Remarks
Fanfare by Daryl Caswell, Alphorn
Closing Musical Performance by Edmonton Swiss Men's Choir - Canadian Men's Choir with a Swiss Flair
Drinks and food available for purchase
Sun, Oct. 6
9:00am - 2:00pm
Civic Centre, Golden
Google Map
🎙️ Conference: 125 years of Swiss Mountain Guides in Western Canada, 1899 - 2024
First time ever conference with national and international scholars to present on the legacy of Swiss Mountain Guides in the Rocky Mountains - Don’t miss it!
9:00am - 10:35am | Session 1 From the Alps to the Rockies: Swiss Mountaineering Tradition in North America
Moderator: Nancy Knowlton, Connector, Conduit & Catalyst
Dr. PearlAnn Reichwein, University of Alberta, Canada: Swiss Guides and the Alpine Club of Canada: Mountain Adventure Landmarks and Legacies
Dr. Claude Hauser, University of Fribourg, Switzerland: Exploiting New Mountain Areas For Tourism and Sport between Canada and Switzerland in the 20th Century
Lucia Leoni, PhD candidate, University of Fribourg, Switzerland: The Canadian Rockies through the lenses of Swiss guides: how Swiss immigrants represented Alberta and British Columbia through photography and film after the 1940s
followed by moderated panel with audience Q&A
10:40am - 11:00am | Coffee/Snack Break
11:00am - 12:25am | Session 2 How to Save a Historic Swiss Village in the Canadian Rockies
Dr. Ilona Spaar, Historian, Switzerland/Canada: Saving a Historic Swiss Village in the Canadian Rockies: Challenges and Opportunities
Dr. Peter Dawson, University of Calgary, Canada: The Digital Preservation of Swiss Edelweiss Village: A Case Study
Samuel Boisvert, BA, CAHP, Director, Built and Cultural Heritage, Donald Luxton & Associates Inc: A Statement of Significance for the Swiss Edelweiss Village in Golden BC
Dr. Johann Roduit, Founding Partner, Conexkt, Switzerland/Canada: The Swiss Edelweiss Village in the Canadian Rockies: Who’s Cultural Heritage Is It?
followed by moderated panel with audience Q&A
12:25pm - 1:00pm | Lunch Break
Lunch available to purchase at outdoors food trucks
🎬 1:00pm - 2:00pm | Session 3 Documentary Film Screenings and Closing Remarks
Swiss Guides in the Canadian Rockies: Beyond Adventure (2013, 27min), by Josias Tschanz, Canada/Switzerland
Forgoing: The Future of Edelweiss Village (2021, 12min) by Camille Candia, Canada
Start: Sep. 21, 2024 7:00 AM MDT
End: Oct 5, 2024
7:00 PM MDT
🫕 Silent Auction (more items to be added)
All proceeds from this auction will go towards supporting the ongoing effort to promote the historic Swiss Edelweiss Village in Golden, BC. This includes vital efforts like the creation of a digital museum to preserve the legacy of the Swiss mountain guides, as well as public education programs that bring their remarkable stories to life for future generations.
Together, we can protect and promote the rich history of Swiss-Canadian mountaineering. Bid generously and help us reach our fundraising goal to promote and preserve this extraordinary piece of history!
🎉 Merch Drop Alert! 🎉.
We’ve just launched exclusive SwissGuides125 merch for the event! 🏔️
Get your posters, mugs, and tote bags now! 🎁
Limited edition!
