Anne Williams was born to guide and breed curiosity.
Even as a child鈥攚ell before she completed a geology degree or before she became the Jasper Naturalist鈥攕he would guide her younger sister, Heather, through the ravine behind their family home in St. Thomas, Ont.
鈥淲e would go exploring down through the ravine system. We would build snow forts in the side of the hill and dig out tunnels so we could talk to one another and we built a little fort in a tree in this open field on the other side of the stream,鈥� remembers Heather.
鈥淓ven back then, she was guiding in her own way. I think it鈥檚 always been in her blood.鈥�
Anne, a staple in Jasper鈥檚 guiding world for nearly 30 years, passed away Oct. 2, after a short battle with breast cancer.
The naturalist, with a background in geology and history, was diagnosed in November 2012. She spent the last weeks of her life in Seton Healthcare Centre, after being admitted on Sept. 15.
She guided her last tour the day before, sharing her passion for the park鈥檚 rocks, trees, wildflowers and birds one last time.
鈥淎nne was the perfect naturalist,鈥� remembers Sue Cesco of the Friends of Jasper. 鈥淪he was always trying to get your sense of wonder going. People would ask questions and she was just like an encyclopedia; a walking computer in her knowledge.鈥�
Anne was an active volunteer with the Friends. She was even recognized as volunteer of the year for her contribution to the Cavell Meadows project, for which she wrote the trail鈥檚 interpretive signage.
If you ask Cesco, Anne was worthy of the award each and every year; she led full moon hikes and birding adventures, assisted with bird banding and wrote some of the historical and nature-based copy for the Jasper Discovery Trail. She is also credited for a number of the photos on those interpretive signs. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice that her name will always be on those,鈥� said Cesco, noting that there is no doubt Anne鈥檚 memory will live on in Jasper National Park.
Anne first came to Jasper as a university student. She spent her summer working at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. After that, she spent another summer here and then began spending time in the park off and on between other adventures. It was in 1989 that she settled in and began calling the community home.
During the last 24 years she worked on the trail crew for Parks Canada, as a ski patroller for Marmot Basin, as a columnist for the 51暗网 and as a guide.
It was in 1998 that she started her own guiding company, the Jasper Naturalist. Through her interpretive hikes, talks, school programs and birdwatching adventures, Anne sparked people鈥檚 curiosity and passion for the park鈥檚 natural features and creatures.
鈥淵ou certainly wouldn鈥檛 be bored if you were going out on a naturalist program with Anne,鈥� said Cesco. 鈥淪he would keep you entertained and then you鈥檇 come back thinking, 鈥業 want to go back for more.鈥�
鈥淪he always tried to leave you wanting more, while also leaving you satisfied with what you got. She wanted you thinking, 鈥榃hat鈥檚 next? What鈥檚 the next thing to learn about birds?
鈥淪he sparked passion in people, that鈥檚 what she did.鈥�
Anne鈥檚 mother, Catherine Williams, would have to agree. With every phone conversation the two would have, Catherine would be left dreaming of the mountains and the mountain lifestyle her daughter lived.
And when Catherine, who grew up in Canmore, did come to Jasper to spend the last few months with Anne, she finally got to enjoy some of that lifestyle.
The two went to Cavell Meadows together to chase the wildflowers, and as always, Anne was conscientious of her surroundings, telling her mom, 鈥淚 want you to be careful where you鈥檙e walking because that little tree had such a hard time developing itself. We鈥檝e got to be careful.鈥�
鈥淪he was always an environmentalist,鈥� said Catherine, 鈥渆ven from a young age.
鈥淎nd it鈥檚 always been hard to keep track of her comings and goings because she鈥檚 just so mountain hooked.鈥�
鈥淪he got the bug,鈥� said Heather. 鈥淚 would call Anne a modern day explorer. With her historical interest along with her interest in nature, she was drawn very naturally to exploring.鈥�
And explore she did. Anne spent time in the Arctic, in the Rocky Mountain parks and deep in Jasper鈥檚 backcountry, searching for old trails she鈥檇 found on Gord Ruddy鈥檚 80-year-old maps.
鈥淛asper and JNP has lost a true spirit,鈥� wrote Loni Klettl on the Jasper Trail Alliance Facebook page.
鈥淎nne, you enriched our lives in so many ways. Thanks for being wonderful you.鈥�
Anne is survived by her mother Catherine Williams, brother Jim Williams and sisters Nelda Reinhart and Heather Williams.
Nicole Veerman
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