125 Years Anniversary, Come Celebrate!

Edelweiss Village in Golden BC, Canada, is the historic home of the pioneering Swiss Mountain Guides in the Rocky Mountains. Thanks to the advocacy work by our foundation, the village is now saved from being demolished. We are working together with the new owner, Montayne, towards the preservation and restoration of the buildings to make sure the significant history is not forgotten.

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)

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

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

or online by sending an email to: museum.golden@gmail.com

 

Sat, Oct. 5
3:00pm - 6:00pm
Civic Centre, Golden

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

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!

32auctions.com/SwissGuides125