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thursday, november 15, 2018 // ISSUE 133
A FINE VIEW OF MOUNT ATHABASCA GREETED DOUG OLTHOF ON NOVEMBER 10 AS HE FOUND HIS FOOTING ON A HIGH SPUR ON PARKER’S RIDGE. // BOB COVEY
Local orgs combine to buy medical equipment Jasper has two new pieces of life saving medical equipment.
Thanks to generous donations from the Jasper Park Masonic Lodge and the Jasper Healthcare Foundation, the Seton Healthcare Centre was last week the recipient of a new ventilator and video laryngoscope. The machines will allow hospital staff to treat patients having difficulty breathing in critical medical situations. “Equipment like this makes it much less stressful for staff and safer for the patient,” said Dr. Declan Unsworth, who accepted the donation on behalf of the Seton Hospital. Harry Home of the Jasper Masonic Lodge was the driving force behind the Mason’s $75,000 donation—the largest the club has ever provided. The Jasper Healthcare Foundation contributed $9,100,
money raised from its partnership with the Jasper Half Marathon this past spring. Home said two years ago, his daughter came down with pneumonia. Suddenly, her health took a turn for the worse. She had to be rushed to the intensive care unit in the University of Alberta Hospital where she was treated, in part, with a ventilator and laryngoscope. “After her recovery we contacted Dr. Unsworth who was endeavouring to have this equipment placed in the Jasper Hospital,” Home said. A collaboration ensued, the result of which is the Seton Hospital’s latest donation. “This is equipment that in no way we’d be able to afford otherwise,” Unsworth said. “I’m sure it will save lives moving forward.” bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com
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page A2 // the jasper local // issue 1332 // thursday, november 15, 2018
editorial //
Local Vocal Most Novembers, the forest behind Jasper is an oasis of peace and quiet. Sure, there’s the odd bird call or ornery chirp from a ticked off squirrel—maybe you’ll hear a flock of geese overhead getting their act together after a late start on their journey south. But typically it’s pretty quiet back there. That’s one of the things that make it so special. This year, that’s far from the case. The buzz of machinery, the beeping of trucks and the crunch of trees being felled are harsh noises which rip through the crisp fall air. It’s pretty jarring for folks not used to the sounds and sights of a full scale logging operation. If you haven’t been living under a rock, you’ll know that Canfor, a forestry company, has been contracted by Parks Canada to remove 500 hectares of potential wildfire fuel which has been, or will soon be, killed by the mountain pine beetle blight. Parks Canada has presented this project as necessary for community safety, but the operation is still a tough pill to swallow for folks who have been told for the past 15 years that the best way to reduce wildfire hazard while respecting local ecology is to help return the forest to a natural state by thinning vegetation and putting fire on the landscape—not an outright clearcut. However, these are unprecedented times. Moreover, officials have assured the public that Parks Canada will act in a responsible manner, that the tree removal project will protect the other values that Jasper National Park holds in high regard—namely, ecological integrity. But is Parks Canada doing that? In their initial information sessions, Parks Canada assured the public that machines wouldn’t be in there before the ground was frozen, in order to mitigate damages to low lying and wet areas. Yet the project got started in mid-October, at least a week before the ground was fully frozen. Why? We also heard that to lessen their impact on the ground, machines would be fit with rubber tyres, rather than tracks. But keen observers know that hasn’t been the case. Why not? We think Jasperites deserve some answers to these questions, yet when we put them to Parks Canada, all we got back was silence. Usually we like the tranquility. In this case, however, that’s not our idea of peace and quiet. bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com
Bear Hugs and Moose Droppings Bear Hugs to the No Stone Left Alone organizers and students for putting a poppy on my grandfather’s, and all other veterans’ graves at the Jasper cemetery. - Jim McQueen Bear Hugs to the snowmakers, groomers, snow farmers and ski patrollers for getting Marmot Basin into shape for this weekend’s opening day! - Jasper riders Advance Bear Hugs to the staff at Canada Post for dealing with the impending Christmas rush. Hello! Bonjour! Don’t know how you do it! - BC
Moose Droppings to Ullr, the Norse God of Snow. It’s November for pete’s sake. Bring it on down! - BC Bear Hugs to Ullr. Sorry, I was out of line. Whenever you’re ready, sir. - BC Moose Droppings to that guy who had his Bear Hugs and Moose Droppings all ready to go then decided not to send the email. Help a brother out! - BC Got something to say? Send letters, bear hugs and moose droppings to letters@ thejasperlocal.com
The Jasper Local //
Jasper’s independent alternative newspaper 780.852.9474 • thejasperlocal.com • po box 2046, jasper ab, t0e 1e0
Published on the 1st and 15th of each month Editor / Publisher
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//community
thursday, november 15, 2018 // issue 133 // the jasper local// page A3
sharing is caring // Ryan Davis is one of six Grade 10 students who’ve salvaged a fleet of bikes with the intention of making them available to anyone who might need to get from point a to B a little easier. // bob Covey
Local boys boosting bike borrowing A group of high schoolers are encouraging Jasperites to borrow their bikes. Grade 10 students Ryan Davis, Miles Diduck, Byron Chiroldes, Evan Aguilera, Liam Bradley and Lance Dy have given new life to a fleet of beater bicycles. Why? Because they think some ramblers would rather ride. “Hopefully if people are running late or if they don’t have a bike, they can use one of these,” said Davis. Half a dozen bikes have been salvaged, fixed up and spray-painted hot pink to flag fellow footsloggers. A decal lets potential pedalers know this bike is theirs to borrow—no strings (or locks) attached. The idea was spawned in the boys’ Environmental Stewardship class—a four-day course which takes place at the Palisades Education Centre. “We’re keeping the bikes out of the landfill and hopefully encouraging people to exercise,” Davis said. The boys had some anti-bike theft ideas, but rather than try to inflict revenge on prospective poachers, their teacher, Mr. Bouchard, encouraged the students to bestow the bikeless the gift of equity. Davis
said he and his friends were on board—after all, it’s no fun being the odd one out. “This way you can bike with their friends if you don’t have one,” he said. The youngsters were intrigued when their parents recalled a similar initiative 20 years ago. They’d never heard of Jasper’s “White Bike” program, which started up for similar reasons but which subsequently petered out. The Borrow Me Bikes hope to enjoy a longer lifespan, Davis said, although the impending winter will present their first trial. Already, Davis has had to replace some parts. “Although the roads are slippery they still might be useful,” he added. So far, it seems the bikes have been getting around. Davis said after the boys left them in the downtown core, he’s seen the bikes parked at the Aquatic Centre, Cavell Court and in Cabin Creek. “They’re definitely being ridden but we don’t know by who and when,” Davis said. “It feels great that they’re being used.” If you hop on a Borrow Me Bike, help us let the boys know you appreciate the ride. Email thejasperlocal@gmail.com a photo or a note about your commute. bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com
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page B1 // the jasper local // issue 133 // thursday, november 15, 2018
Local cycling //
FOXY LADY// THIS CRITTER STOPPED HUNTING JUST LONG ENOUGH FOR SIMONE HEINRICH TO TAKE A QUICK SNAP. // INSTA: SIMONEHEINRICHPHOTOGRAPHY
Jasper mountain biker fundraising at altitude Straight off the successful defending of his World 24 Hours Solo Championship in Scotland and threepeating a first place finish in Nepal, Jasper-born
Soon after his Scottish foray, Wallace flew to Nepal, where on November 12 he defended another title: the fastest rider in the world’s highest mountain bike race, the Yak Attack.
On October 21, Wallace capped off an all-day-all-night sufferfest when he fended off the late charges of not only his 24 Hour competitors but the incoming blustery Scottish weather. After winning the World Championships last year in Italy, the 34-year-old said the 2018 win was all the sweeter.
Now, on November 20, Wallace is heading back into the Himalaya, where, in an effort to raise funds for a cycling centre he helped establish in Kathmandu last year, he’ll attempt to cycle the 220 km, 6,000 m elevation Annapurna Circuit in less than 24 hours. Last year, he did just that, taking just less than a day to bike what most cyclists do in 10. This year, he’s hoping to beat the 23 hour, 57 minute record he set and raise $6,500 U.S. in the meantime.
“It’s one of the most stunning and possibly the toughest mountain biker Cory Wallace is pitting himself against another 24 per-kilometre races out there,” Wallace has said. hour challenge.
“This one was the icing on the cake,” Wallace said. “Going back to back makes it feel complete, especially given the totally different conditions of each race.”
“They have a real passion for
CORY WALLACE IS RAISING MONEY FOR A NEPAL CYCLING CENTRE // SUPPLIED
cycling here,” Wallace said. “They of his 24 hour attempt. just need some support.” “I’ll probably have to leave the The people of Nepal have been first pair there,” he laughed. close to Wallace’s heart since he The main preparation to make, first came here in 2014 to race however, is acclimatizing his the Yak Attack. A stage race, the body. The extreme altitudes at event takes competitors up to which he’ll be riding will take
“It’s one of the most stunning and possibly the toughest per-kilometre races out there.” 5,416 metres above sea level as they traverse the world’s highest commonly-used pass, Thorong Phedi. For the fundraiser, Wallace will retrace much of the same trekking routes that the Yak Attack follows. In fact, he’ll have to—during the stage race he stashed food supplies and an extra pair of shoes in anticipation
their toll, as he found out last year when he wasn’t able to spend enough time at altitude leading up to to his 24 hour challenge. “Anything above 3,500 metres was hard,” he recalled. “I lost my appetite, was nauseated, and dizzy. I had to use my bike as a crutch just to stand up straight.” This year, he’ll try to avoid that scenario. To help generate interest in his Annapurna24 challenge, Wallace will sign two Kona Bicycle Co. jerseys—one for the supporter whose guess is closest to his finishing time and another for the highest single donation. Find details at www. corywallace.com, Facebook or his GoFundMe page.
bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com
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thursday, november 15, 2018 // issue 133 // the jasper local// page B2
Local tourism //
30 YEARS OF HOLIDAY PAMPERING: The evolution of Christmas in November For decades since its storied opening at the turn of the 20th century, the Jasper Park Lodge has been known as a luxury wilderness resort in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. Through its various iterations, the
hotel has always been a royal retreat for guests wanting to experience the splendour of Jasper National Park by day while being pampered by night. This opulent basecamp for exploration has helped put Jasper on the map in the summers, but up until 30 years ago, come November, the JPL was like the rest of Jasper in those days—a veritable ghost town. “The Jasper Park Lodge would close for the winter with the exception of three or four managers,” hotel historians have noted. “As Alberta only supplied a small amount of power to the Lodge in the winter, the lights were always kept off and the rounds were done by flashlight.” When the hotel was purchased by Canadian Pacific Hotels and Resorts in 1988, it “For most people, Christmas went from is all about others—there are a summer people to shop for, cook for and property to a host. Christmas in November four-season is a chance for our guests to resort. To make it all about them.” attract guests in the winter, managers of the day decided to do something a little different. Teaming up with the Edmonton Journal, the Jasper Park Lodge promoted a new event. It would
showcase the decor, fashion and ornamental designs of the holidays. Readers of the Journal knew it as Christmas in November. “It was crafts, make-up and spas,” explained Robin Linden, Director of Special Events and Partnerships at the Fairmont JPL. “It was nails and hair. It was about getting ready for the holidays.” Because of how it was promoted, CIN was predominantly attended by Albertans. It was also predominantly attended by women. While the winter business was a boon in what had historically been a vacant calendar month, when he started with the Fairmont in 2012, Linden felt CIN had room to grow. Six years ago, sensing an opportunity to leverage the visiting public’s appetite for culinary experiences and expertise, the promotion got a savoury spin. By incorporating wine tastings with notable
JASPER’S STEVIE MASSE TEACHING DYNAMIC HOLIDAY DECOR
IN RECENT YEARS, CIN’S DEMOGRAPHICS HAVE GONE FROM ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY WOMEN TO A MORE DIVERSE, 70/30 SPLIT
FOOD NETWORK ALUM GRETA PODLESKI HELPING CIN GUESTS SPICE UP THEIR HOLIDAY OFFERINGS. // BOB COVEY PHOTOS
sommeliers; cooking demonstrations by top chefs; and a generous dollop of professional knowhow from TV personalities and celebrity stylists and designers into their event schedule, CIN started seeing an uptick in interest. “Our numbers started skyrocketing,” he said. A year ago, Linden said, one of the three fourday packages was sold out—a first for the offseason promotion. This past CIN, the entire festival was booked out in April. People were still mostly coming from in-province, but there were significant gains nationally and even internationally. More importantly, men
have started to attend. Whereas 20 years ago, the make-up of the clientele was 95 per cent women, this year, it was more along the lines of 70/30, Linden said. “We’ve got things like the man cabin, beer tastings and scotch tastings,” he said. “Next year we intend to focus even more on guys.” For all their success in growing the festival, the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge was recognized last month by Travel Alberta. Taking home an Alto Award in the Tourism Event or Festival of the Year category is a nice pat on the back for staff who pull long shifts making sure CIN goes off without a hitch, Linden said. Whether its flipping banquet halls, shuttling tray after tray of canapés, delivering hundreds of amenity packages to attendees or making untold trips across the property as part of the in-room dining experience, the festival may be all about luxury for guests, but it’s all hands on deck for colleagues. “For most people, Christmas is all about others— there are people to shop for, cook for and host,” Linden said. “Christmas in November is a chance for our guests to make it all about them. “But to give them that experience, it takes an incredible effort from our team.” Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com
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page b3+B4 // the jasper local // issue 133 // thursday, november 15, 2018
FEATURE // STORY AND PHOTOS BY BOB COVEY
OPENING DAY BEHIND FOR WINTER ENTHUSIASTS IN JASPER, SKIING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. But for Rob Ellen, the 2018/19 season actually began began on May 7, one day after the last riders at Marmot Basin took their final runs of 2017/18. “In my world, preparation for the season starts the day after we close,” said Ellen, Marmot Basin’s Mountain Operations Manager. “The whole summer is geared for building towards opening day.” While the public is putting their skis in storage and dusting off golf clubs and mountain bikes, Ellen and the two dozen or so full time staff members at Marmot Basin are focusing on making sure the slopes will be ready to go for the winter’s opening date. Lift maintenance, vehicle conditioning and wastewater treatment take up much of the yearround staff’s time during the summer. It’s hardly the stuff of ski magazine cover shots, but without the gear boxes and shivs being inspected and the reservoirs getting filled with fresh water, come winter, there’d be no first chairs, no face shots and no ski races. “Most guests would have no idea of the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes,” Ellen says. Like the brushing work, for example, which takes place each autumn. To
keep the alpine scrub at bay and to help ensure a silky smooth skiing experience, every September crews mow, saw and cut the vegetation that would otherwise creep a little higher into the snowpack. This year, they tackled the runs underneath the Paradise Chair. “Somebody who’s never seen Marmot in the summer would be blown away by what it looks like under the snow,” says Jason Patterson, Marmot Basin’s VP of Operations and Maintenance. “You’ve got eight-foot high boulders, a lot of tall talus and creeks and small rivers that fill in
when the snow starts falling.” And about that snow… yes, it’s been falling— albeit as of Friday, November 9, not yet in great quantities. Even still, as Ellen surveyed the hill from the top of T-Bar Ridge, he was happy with the coverage and confident that come opening day, riders would have plenty of reasons to get excited. For although cold temperatures arrived a little late this year, the ace up Ellen’s sleeve is Marmot Basin’s personnel. Every day, a fleet of groomers are using their snowcats to trackpack the boot-top powder into what will become the winter snowpack’s base; a team of snow farmers strategically place
fencing to collect blo crew of snowmakers across the leasehold is at least 30 centime from the top of the Ea to the lower mountai “It comes down to wa Ellen said, pointing t the snowmaking staf output from one of th snow guns. “You nee proper moisture cont
crystals to bounce of coat.” On the upper mounta the snow is more plen and more natural. Avalanches have bee occurring for several sign the alpine is get shape, and also a sig patrol team to start r efforts in making sur rider-ready.
On November 9 red-j hauling big bails of s spools of rope and un of bamboo poles, all delineate terrain, ma otherwise direct the Some patrollers were padding to chairlift t others were ski cuttin in an effort to knock season snow.
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D THE SCENES AT MARMOT BASIN
owing snow; and a set up snow guns to ensure there etres of coverage agle Express chair in. ater equivalency,” to where one of ff was testing the he mountain’s 15 ed it to have the tent. You want the
“That initial snow is what we live with for the rest of the season as a base,” Ellen explained. “Patrol wants to knock the air out of it to help it set up properly.” At the upper and bottom terminal of each chair lift, staff in blue coats were setting up their respective stations properly, too. Wielding
are on the mountain. For Ellen, whose radio call sign is hailed for requests ranging from the mundane (“where should I put these shovels?”) to the urgent (“we’ve got a power stoppage on the Knob Chair and it’s twenty below”), he takes it all in stride.
JASPER
ain, ntiful,
jacketed staff were snow fence, great ntold armfuls in an effort to ark hazards and skiing public. e affixing thick towers while ng steep pitches down the early
shovels, brooms and rakes, lift operators were building, sweeping and scraping the platforms which, over the course of the season, will see hundreds of thousands of guests load and unload from the area’s six chairlifts. Indoors, staff were just as busy. In the lower chalet, floors were being waxed, rental equipment sorted and in the cafeteria’s kitchen, food was being prepped at a furious pace. “Delivery trucks started showing up last week,” Patterson says. “There’s a lot of moving parts right now.” When Marmot is in full swing, the hill employs more than 300 staff. On its busiest days, nearly 5,000 guests
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After six years in the mountain ops position, he knows that there are never enough hours in the day to feel truly caught up. Besides which, when it comes to kicking off the season, no matter how prepared the staff is, the final say rests with someone else. “We’re waiting for Mother Nature now,” Ellen said. “We’re ready for cold, we’re ready for snow.” Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com
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page B5 // the jasper local // issue 133 // thursday, november 15, 2018
local sports //
REMEMBRANCE DAY RUMBLE // A BOISTEROUS CROWD AT THE JASPER ARENA WELCOMED THE JUNIOR A HINTON WILDCATS WHERE HOMETOWN HOCKEY STARS BRENDAN AUGER (NO. 11) AND JAKE DELORME (NO. 15) WERE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF A 10-5 UPSET BY THE SEATTLE TOTEMS. THE WILDCATS STARTED STRONG, WITH AUGER NETTING THE GAME’S FIRST GOAL, BUT LOST MOMENTUM AFTER DELORME GOT THE BOOT FOR HIS PART IN A SCRUM. THE WILDCATS ARE THE NEWEST TEAM IN THE WESTERN STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE. // BOB COVEY
JAKE DELORME IN THE FIRST // KAREN PALASHNIUK, FLEETING REALITY PHOTOS
Fourth time’s a charm for Jasper cyclocross champ
Jasper’s Matt Staneland is the Canadian national cyclocross masters champion.
Racing in the 34-44 year-old category, Staneland, 38, snagged the November 10 victory in front of his family and friends while racing in his hometown of Peterborough, Ontario. “It was really cool to turn a goal and a dream into reality and then be able to share that experience with my parents, who had never seen me race before,” he said. Four times Staneland had raced in nationals. The first time, in 2013, he was leading until the second to last corner, when he crashed and was passed by the eventual winner. He said this victory vanquished that memory. “But I was still super cautious on the last corner this year, I didn’t want a repeat,” he said. Conditions were greasy. Snow and rain made for tough racing and frozen mud made it so competitors’ bikes only worked well for a lap or so before they needed to be
cleaned. Staneland said staying upright was half the battle.
“People were crashing all over the place being too aggressive,” he said. “I just got through the technical sections smoothly and then attacked hard on the flats and uphills.” Cyclocross racing consists of many laps on a short course. Courses can feature pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles requiring the rider to quickly dismount, carry the bike while navigating the obstruction, and remount. Staneland says Jasper is a great place to train. “Being able to have world class mountain biking and road riding at my finger tips has helped me develop a lot of the skills needed,” he said. The cold weather on race day helped his chances, too. Staneland had several chilly events under his belt during Alberta’s soggy September. “I knew I had a mental edge on some of my competitors,” he said. Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com
MATT STANELAND EN ROUTE TO VICTORY DURING THE 2018 NATIONAL CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS. STANER’S DAD, WHO HAD NEVER SEEN MATT RACE BEFORE, WAS HIS PIT CREW. // ANDREW STANELAND
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local history //
thursday, november 15, 2018 // issue 133 // the jasper local// page B6
--- Lest We Forget ---
The Victoria Cross is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system, awarded for gallantry in the presence of the enemy to members of the British Armed Forces. Five mountains in Jasper National Park are named for VC recipients. With help from Library and Archives Canada, The Jasper Local remembers the formidable namesakes of these formidable peaks. Private Cecil John Kinross Born in the village of Harefield, England, in 1896, Cecil John Kinross moved with his family to Lougheed, Alberta, in 1912. Kinross served with the 49th (Edmonton) Battalion during the Battle of Passchendaele. On October 30, 1917, Kinross and his company came under heavy German artillery and machine-gun fire. As casualties in his unit increased, Kinross advanced alone over open ground with only his rifle and a bandolier of ammunition, and destroyed a German machine-gun nest. His citation in the London Gazette states that his “superb example and courage instilled the greatest confidence in his company, and enabled a further advance of 300 yards to be made and a highly important position to be established.” For his actions, Kinross was awarded the Victoria Cross. Seriously wounded in the arm and head, he was sent to Orpington Hospital, England, and later returned to Alberta. Kinross died in 1957. Today, 2,487 metre Mount Kinross is named in his honour. Sergeant Raphael Louis Zengel Born in Faribault, Minnesota, on November 11, 1894, Raphael Louis Zengel was one of several American-born Victoria Cross recipients. As a young boy he moved with his mother to Plunkett, Saskatchewan. Before the war, Zengel worked as a farm labourer. In December of 1914, shortly after the outbreak of hostilities, Zengel enlisted in the 45th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He was later transferred to the 5th Battalion. On October 17, 1917, he was promoted to Sergeant. Zengel earned the Victoria Cross on August 9, 1918, during the battle of Amiens. In that action, Zengel was leading his platoon in an attack when he noticed a gap had occurred on his flank. Under a hail of bullets from German machine-gun fire, Zengel charged ahead of his unit and captured the German machinegun position. Later that day, a German shell knocked him unconscious. After coming to, Zengel continued to lead his men. Though wounded in September, Zengel would live to see the end of the war on his 24th birthday and his discharge from the army on
April 24, 1919. On February 27, 1977, at the age of 82, Zengel died in Errington, British Columbia. Private John Chipman Kerr, VC Prior to the war, John Chipman “Chip” Kerr of Fox River, Nova Scotia, worked as a lumberjack near Kootenay, British Columbia, and PTE. KERR, AT RIGHT homesteaded in Spirit River, Alberta. When war was declared in 1914, the Kerr brothers, Chip and Rollie, went to Edmonton to enlist, leaving a note tacked to the door of their cabin that declared: “War is Hell, but what is homesteading?” On September 16, 1916, Kerr was serving with the 49th Infantry Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) near Courcelette, France. During a grenade attack carried out by his battalion, Kerr was the first bayonet man in a bombing party advancing on German positions. Recognizing that his unit’s bombs were running out, Kerr ran along the back ridge of the trench under heavy fire until he was close enough to the German troops to fire on them at point-blank range. Thinking they were surrounded, the German troops surrendered. Chip Kerr survived the war, while his brother Rollie, also serving in the 49th Battalion, was killed in late December 1917. Kerr rejoined the army at the beginning of the Second World War, transferring to the Royal Canadian Air Force with the rank of Sergeant. He died in Port Moody, British Columbia, on February 19, 1963. 2,600-metre Mount Kerr is named after him, as is Chip Kerr Park in Port Moody, British Columbia. Private John George Pattison, VC Private John George Pattison became the fourth Canadian soldier at Vimy Ridge to earn the Victoria Cross. Pattison was born on September 8, 1875 in Woolwich, England. He immigrated to Canada in 1906, and at the age of 40, in 1916, enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Calgary. One hundred years ago, on the second day of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, Pattison and the 50th Battalion were under heavy fire from a German machine gun that was inflicting multiple causalities. Seizing his chance, Pattison went forward alone, moving from shell hole to shell hole, until he came
within 30 yards of the gun. His citation for the Victoria Cross reads: “From this point, in the face of heavy fire, he hurled bombs, killing and wounding some of the crew, then rushed forward, overcoming and bayonetting the surviving five gunners. His valour and initiative undoubtedly saved the situation and made possible the further advance to the objective.” Pattison was killed in action seven weeks later on June 3, 1917, during an attack on a German-held generating station near Lens, France. He is buried at La Chaudière Military Cemetery nearby. The Pattison Bridge in Calgary, Alberta, and 2,350 metre Mount Pattison are named in his honour. Lieutenant George Burdon McKean, VC Born on July 4, 1888, in Willington, England, McKean immigrated to Canada in 1909 and settled in Edmonton, Alberta. Before enlisting on January 23, 1915, McKean was a schoolteacher. McKean joined the 51st Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and arrived in England in April 1916. On June 8, 1916, McKean transferred to the 14th Battalion. Sometime in the night of April 27, 1918, while the 14th Battalion was stationed near Gavrelle, France, McKean earned the Victoria Cross, Britain’s most prestigious military decoration. During a scouting mission, the party of men led by McKean ran head-on into a strongly defended German position. While the rest of the unit was pinned down by machine gun fire, McKean charged into the German trench with “conspicuous bravery and devotion.” Upon reaching the position, McKean killed two German soldiers, held his ground and called for more bombs. After resupplying, McKean took another position and single-handedly killed another two German soldiers and captured four more. McKean’s example rallied his men and the mission was successful. Later, McKean was awarded the Military Medal and Military Cross on March 28, 1917 and February 1, 1919, respectively. He chose to remain in England after leaving the army and was killed in an industrial accident on November 28, 1926. McKean’s final resting place is Brighton Extra Mural Cemetery in Sussex, England. Today his Victoria Cross is kept at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. bob covey // bob@thejaspterlocal.com