Research and Discovery

I pulled up the first Wikipedia I found and started to devour the article. I came across the typical information I’m used to seeing; facts about the size, the geology and of course its history. But further down I found a section entitled “Castle Mountain Internment Camp“. I was shocked to read this line. I knew about the Japanese internment camps which were set up during WWII but I had never known anything about Internment camps during the first world war.

In researching more further, I began to scroll through dozens of articles focused on this widely unknown part of Canadian history. While reading, I saw that there was a memorial site dedicated to the victims of these internment camps. And it was located just down the road! Without another moment’s thought, we jumped into the car. We raced down the Bow Valley Parkway to see if we could make it in time to see the memorial before sunset.

As we drove, the smoke was rolling in as the sun began to set. This created the most beautiful red and pink sky in front of us. As we drove through the lush green forest around the roadside we were met by this incredible backdrop as we went, framing the silhouettes of the trees and the mountains perfectly. It was indeed one of the best drives of the entire trip.

Castle Mountain Internment Camp

When we arrived, we discovered the small memorial off the side of the roads. While the monument might have been humble, it was nonetheless affecting. Walking up, you are greeted by two large placards with information all about the Internment Camp. While there is no way to give all the details in such a short amount of time, the signs give visitors a snapshot of why the camps were established, what life was like in the camps, and the reconciliation efforts the government has undertaken with the Ukrainian community to address these war crimes.

Castle Mountain Interment Camp History

The Castle Mountain Internment Camp was established in 1915. It was made to contain a total of 660 “enemy aliens” of WWI. These were mainly immigrant prisoners from Ukraine, Austria, Hungary and Germany.

The Canadian War Measures Act

In 1914, at the start of World War I, Canada established the “War Measures Act“. The War Measures Act required that immigrants, who were settlers of countries at war with Canada, turn themselves in. During WWI, Ukraine was under the occupation of the Austro-Hungarian empire and so many of these so-called “enemy aliens” were primarily of Ukrainian ethnic origin. Austrian, Hungarian and German immigrants were also subject to the War Measures act. They were required to carry specific identifications papers with them at all times and were regularly stopped on the street or enforced to report to the police for no reason.

The War Measures Act suspended civil liberties. Immigrants from these countries at war with Canada could be arrested and detained without trial. About 80,000 “enemy aliens” were registered during WWI, and about 9,000 of them were sent to internment camps. Under the auspices of being prisoners of war.

Life in the Camps

Once they were arrested, they were stripped of all their land, wealth and forced to work for the profit of the Canadian government. The prisoners of war were in various camps across the Canadian hinterland. The centers were located in these areas to have the labourers increase accessibility by developing the park system’s infrastructure. By 1915 several internment camps in and around the Rocky Mountains were in full operation. But the largest of these camps was the camp at the foot of Castle Mountain. The primary purpose of the camp was to push the Banff highway, from the then uncompleted Banff-Laggan road, on through to Lake Louise.

Prisons were made to work 13-hour days, no matter the weather. They would build roads, construct bridges, cut down trees, clear the buffalo paddocks, quarry stones for the Banff Hot Springs and construct various fireguards. The camps consisted of simple tents where the prisoners slept, within a barbed-wire enclosure.

Once winter fell, and temperatures fell far below zero, the prisoners were moved to the military barracks at Cave and Basin. Abuse was rampant in these poorly run camps. And escapes were frequent. Six prisoners attempting to escape were killed, but many others did make it out to recount their experiences. Many of these escapees would never recover from their mistreatment in the camps. And the memories of their time there stayed with them for life.

In August 1917, the camps were finally closed when the internees were conditionally released. This was due to the need to meet the growing labour shortage post-WWI. After the camps were closed, they were entirely destroyed, leaving no trace of this dark history.

Establishing the Memorial

In 2008, a settlement was reached with the Ukrainian Canadian community, and a fund was created for educational purposes. In 1995, a statue was commissioned by the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association. It was erected close to the original Castle Mountain campsite, near the foot of Castle Mountain.

The sculpture, where we find the memorial today, was made by artist John Boxtel. He titled the piece, “Why?” The sculpture depicts an internee standing in his overall uniform and wide brim hat. He stands with his one hand outstretched. Inviting the visitors in. Below the sculpture are the words, “why?” in three languages (English, French and Ukrainian.)

While uncovering the darker parts of your countries history might not be the most cheery thing to talk about, it’s nevertheless imperative. Sometimes travelling and discovering means discovering things you might not have ever known about, which may change how you think about things. But maybe that’s a good thing. I know that throughout the rest of my trip in Banff, I often would take a moment to reflect. Not only about being on indigenous land but also taking a moment to think about the Ukrainian prisoners who constructed the road I was standing. Or the parkland I have them to thank for having access to seeing wonders like Lake Louise of Morain Lake. This is not the typical article you might expect to find on this site, but I think it’s very important to portray. Context is everything, no matter where you are.

Thanks for taking the time to read all about this mostly unknown part of Banff’s history. Let me know in the comments if you already knew all about these camps or if you, like me, were totally shocked to read about this discovery.

Good Luck with your Future Travels, Adventurers!

The post Discovering the Powerful Dark History of Banff National Park at Castle Mountain Memorial first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Table Of Contents

1. Location
2. Access
3. Castle Mountain Chalets History
4. About Castle Mountain 
5. Castle Mountain Room Options
   • A Word About the Train
6. Castle Mountain General Store
7. Activities around the Castle Mountain Chalets
   • Bow Valley Parkway
   • Storm Mountain Lookout
   • Castle Mountain Internment Camp
   • Castle Mountain Viewpoint
   • Rockbound Lake Trail
   • Johnston Canyon
   • Snowshoe Trails
   • Lake Louise & Moraine Lake Park and Ride

Location

Castle Mountain Chalets is located at the base of Castle Mountains in the Canadian Rockies. Castle Mountain Chalets is located just 1 hour and 40 minutes from Calgary, making it the perfect place to visit on a weekend trip. Their chalets boast panoramic views of Castle Mountain, Storm Mountain and the Sawback, Misty and Bow Ranges.

Access

From Castle Mountain Chalets, you have easy access to many of the most popular spots in Banff.

• Lake Louise Parking Lot: 20 minutes
• Lake Louise Park and Ride: 10 minutes
• Johnsons Canyon: 8 mintues
• Banff Village: 25 minutes
• Tunnelhead Mountain: 25 minutes
• Cave & Basin National Historic Site: 29 minutes
• Lake Minnewanka: 31 minutes
• Canmore: 35 minutes
• Radium Hot Springs: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Jasper: 3 hours

Castle Mountain Chalets History

One of the best parts of visiting Castle Mountain Chalets is the deep history locked into the property. The original Chalets were built in 1939 and named “Castle Mountain Bungalows.” The owners chose the location as it was the intersection of the roads to Radium Hot Springs and the main highway. In addition to the Chalets, they provided an essential gas station stop for travellers going through the park. Still to this day, this is one of the only places to gas up midway through the road to Banff. Spread throughout the property are various vintage gas pumps on display. Almost like a de facto museum.

About Castle Mountain 

Castle Mountain is the easternmost mountain of the Main Ranges in the Bow Valley. The mountain sits across the Castle Mountain Fault. The fault was responsible for thrusting older sedimentary and metamorphic rocks that formed the upper part of the mountains. These formations covered younger rocks, giving them the appearance of a castle. The mountain was named in 1858 by James Hector for that very palace-like appearance. 

One of the most famous historic landmarks is the nearby Castle Mountain Internment Camp. During World War I, any persons deemed “enemy aliens” or suspected enemy sympathizers were sent to internment camps. These prisoners were confined to mainly outdoor camps around Banff National Park. It was with the forced labour by these prisoners that much of Banff National Park was built. Whenever you drive along the road or walk through a hiking trail, chances are these areas were built by prisoners. A beautiful memorial to the victims of this internment camp can still be found just a 5-minute drive from the Castle Mountains Chalets. It is definitely worth a trip to learn more about this piece of unknown Canadian history.

Castle Mountain Room Options

Castle Mountains Chalets offers various different room types and chalets. The most popular option is their amazing one and two-bedroom chalets. These are perfect for large families as they are spacious enough to feel like a home away from home. These chalets marry rustic comfort and relaxing elegance. 

The chalets feature a full kitchen, an open living room with pull-out queen sofa, and a large wooden dining table. The dining table sits perfectly in front of the fireplace where you can sit and enjoy a warm burning fire. Fresh wood is brought to your room daily. Fireplaces are located in every suite as the Chalets are open year-round. Even in the summer, it can get pretty chilly in the morning, so these fireplaces are indeed a wonder to have!

The entire Chalet is made of wood, but it never feels too dark with the gorgeous skylights providing pool of light from above. And these skylights allow you to stargaze at night without ever having to brave the cold. All the chalets are all pet-friendly, so this means you can bring along your furry friends. Most of the trails allow for dogs on leashes. So it’s an excellent opportunity for a memorable trip with the pups.

Deluxe One-Bedroom Chalets From $267 | Superior Two-Bedroom Chalet From $311

The Mountain View Suites are located inside their large central lodge. These suites offer beautiful balconies facing the mountains where you can sit and enjoy your morning coffee. The bedroom has one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept in; it was like falling into a cloud! Plus, the bedroom is large enough to fit an entire dresser, so if you’re staying for a longer amount of time, you’ll really feel at home.

The soaker jacuzzi tubs were the selling point for me! Sittig in the tub after a long day of hiking was the perfect way to unwind. The suites come with a full kitchen with pretty much everything you need to pack your picnics or dine at home. The living room also features a pull-out couch to fit more people if you are a larger party. The Mountain View Suite is not suitable for pets, but this means if you have any allergies, they are perfect for you.

Mountain View Suites From $239

The Mountain Pine Chalet and the Classic Cedar Chalet are both fantastic options for couples. Unlike the other Chalets, which have separate bedrooms, these Chalets feature one open room. Much like a bachelor’s apartment with the bed right in the centre of the living room. They are much smaller in size but still contain amenities of the other Chalets. The only other difference is that the bathrooms in these suites are much smaller and do not have a large jacuzzi tub. But for those who aren’t into bathing, you won’t even notice the difference.

Mountain Pine Chalet From $238 | Classic Cedar Chalet From $210

A Word About the Train

Castle Mountain Chalets is located right beside the train tracks. While the trains run pretty infrequently, they do pass by and are extremely loud. We were definitely awoken by the trains as they passed at night. But if you’re not a light sleeper like us, you should be fine. Ask the front desk when you check-in for a Chalet father away from the tracks if you you’re a light sleeper.

Castle Mountain General Store

In 2020, the Chalets updated their amazing General Store. Although this facelift has modernized the offerings inside, they kept the adorable vintage and historic decorations. This makes the shop feel like an old-fashioned general store. If you’ve ever been camping as a child (or an adult), you’ll remember one of the best parts of the trip after is a visit to the Tuck Shop or General store. As a kid, I always loved taking my allowance to buy weird, obscure candy that only ever seemed to exist inside these campground general stores.

And the Castle Mountain General Store is truly one of the best ones I’ve ever visited. Not only is there a vast, eclectic candy selection, but there is also so much more! They, of course, have lots of essential camping and hiking items like bug spray, bear spray, gas cans, and firewood. But they also have a superb selection of fresh, raw meat to cook back at your Chalet. Or on one of their open BBQs.

If you don’t feel like cooking, they also have a vast selection of pre-made meals that can be eaten cold or require minimal reheating. These meals are also great picnic items to bring with you on a hike. I had their egg salad and am happy to say it was delicious and as fresh as homemade! They also offer these fantastic BBQ packages, including hot dogs, buns, marshmallows, roasting sticks and 4 handcrafted Grizzly Paw Sodas. Perfect for an instant campfire meal! All for just $25! 

Activities around the Castle Mountain Chalets

Although most people make their way to Lake Louise or Moraine Lake on a trip out to Banff, there is so much to see and do right around Castle Mountain!

Bow Valley Parkway

The Bow Valley Parkway is a 48-kilometre secondary highway that runs parallels to the Trans-Canada Highway. It connects Banff to Lake Louise. Before the construction of the Trans-Canada Highway, it was the main highway between the two towns. Many people choose to cycle along the Bow Valley Parkway as vehicle speed is limited to 60 km/h. Not only is it safer for bike riders, it almost means the noise is reduced as well. So all in all a more peaceful ride. There are several roadside pull-outs where you can enjoy stunning views across the Bow Valley and Bow River.

A bike ride to the Storm Mountain Lookout or the Ukrainian Internment Camp Memorial is just a short 16-minute ride down the road. So even inexperienced riders will see so much along the road without a tremendous amount of effort. The road is mostly flat and easy to navigate as you go. If you don’t have your own bike, the Chalet rents them out for just $15 for up to four hours!

Storm Mountain Lookout

As previously mentioned, just a short 5-minute drive or 10-minute bike road along the Bow Valley Parkway is the amazing Storm Mountain viewpoint. A handful of picnic tables are dotted above the beautiful Bow River, with the shadow of the great Storm Mountain looming across the river. There are a few interpretive signs along the edge which identify the different landmarks along the ridgeline.

Best of all is the train tracks which run along the river’s edge making for such an iconic photograph. Many people think you need to go all the way to Lake Louise of Moraine Lake to see the iconic turquoise waters but so many parts of the Bow are just as ethereal and saturated!

Castle Mountain Internment Camp

A further minute down the road in the car or 5-minutes by bike is the Castle Mountain Internment Camp Memorial. One of the most unspoken parts of Banff’s history was that early work to build the infrastructure of the park was done mainly by prisoners of the nearby Castle Mountian internment camp. The camp was established in 1915 and contained a total of 660 “enemy aliens” of WWI. This included primarily Ukrainian immigrants who were sent here due to their home country being a part of the Austro-Hungary empire. It was later proved that almost none of these prisoners had any collusion with soldiers on the other side of the world.

The primary purpose was to use forced labour to push the Banff highway on through to Lake Louise. The small memorial here is dedicated to the Ukrainian prisoners. While very small, it is a worthwhile visit if you’re in the area, as this part of Canadian history is too often overlooked.

Castle Mountain Viewpoint

Many people accessing Castle Mountain Chalets will cross the Castle Mountain Bridge, over the Bow River. Take a walk down the road to the bridge on foot as it is one of the most scenic places in the area. On the other side of the bridge, there is a gorgeous view of the Castle mountains framed above the turquoise Bow River. We loved coming down to the river after a day of hiking with our packaged sandwiches. Sitting by the river, relaxing to the sound of the rushing waters, is the perfect way to end the day.

Rockbound Lake Trail

3-minutes down the road from the Chalets is the entrance to the Rockbound Lake Trail. From the trailhead, you can take one of three hikes of varying difficulty. The easiest is the Silverton Falls trail which is only 1.8 km return. The track does switchback along some steep pathways, so you should still be wearing good walking shoes. And always carry bear spray even if you think the trail is not intensive. Bear can be found deep into the forest or just by the roadside. The Silverton Falls trail leads you directly to an incredible, two-tiered waterfall that cascades over a series of narrow ledges. From the peak of the path, you also get beautiful views out of the forest around you.

If you are looking for a more difficult day hike, you can take the Tower Lake Trail which is 16 km return. The Tower Lake trail offers gorgeous views of the forest and lots of great chances to see wildlife along the way. The first half of the path is pretty tough as you gain elevation, but as you reach the plateau the stunning backside of Castle Mountian is slowly revealed. Tower Lake will creep into view, surrounded by the shadow of Eisenhower Tower. If you are still full of energy, you can continue along the Rockbound Lake trail. The Rockbound lake trail is another 1.9 km and culminates at the beautiful Rockbound Lake glacial cirque. 

Johnston Canyon

Just 8-minutes down the road from the Chalets is Johnston Canyon. Johnston Canyon is an unbelievable hike with such an accessible trail. The elevated catwalk takes you into the canyon towards the mighty falls carved into the ancient limestone cliffs. You have the option of simply hiking to the lower part of the falls, which is a short 2.3 km return hike or continue on towards the upper fall’s viewpoints which is a 5.1 km hike. Thankfully, both options are very walkable for most people, even inexperienced hikers. The trail is also well-populated, with benches along the way if you want to stop and rest while enjoying the majesty all around you.

Snowshoe Trails

If you visit during the winter, the Castle Mountain Chalets provides visitors with 20+ km of groomed trails for snowshoers. Their dedicated professional grooming equipment produces a firm and immaculately groomed surfaces for anyone wanting to explore trails at the foot of Castle Mountian. If you’ve never been snowshoeing before, this is an excellent opportunity to give it a try! The General Store rents out snowshoes for just $15 for up to two hours. The perfect amount of time to get a taste of snowshoeing!

Lake Louise & Moraine Lake Park and Ride

The Lake Louise Park and Ride shuttle lot is located just down the road from the Chalets. The Park and Ride Shuttle will take you directly to Lake Louise or Moraine Lake in under 25 minutes! With no need to worry about finding that impossible to find a parking spot! So many trips to Lake Louise have been ruined when you show up and can’t find a parking spot. But no more! Tickets on the shuttle must be booked in advance to ensure you reserve yourself a place on the bus. But after you have your spot booked, your trip to these iconic destinations is bound to be stress-free!

All in all, there really is no better place to stay in Banff than the historic Castle Mountian Chalets! It’s the perfect place to get away from it all, relax, unwind and discover the incredible treasures which make up the Canadian Rockies. Let me know in the comments where you’re most looking forward to exploring on your next trip to Banff!

Happy Travels, Adventurers!

The post Castle Mountain Chalets, Best Place to Stay in Banff! first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.