Mountains cover about 22 per cent of the Earth鈥檚 surface. To celebrate that fact, the United Nations General Assembly designated Dec. 11 as 鈥淚nternational Mountain Day.鈥�
As of 2003, it has been observed every year to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build alliances that will bring positive change to mountain people and environments around the world.
For the first time since the day鈥檚 inception, the Canadian Mountain Network hopped on board, hosting the first annual Canadian Mountain Network Festival from Dec. 9-15 at Edmonton鈥檚 University of Alberta.
Throughout the week, the university hosted several informative events including discussions about mountain wildlife and ecosystems to stories of mountain climbing adventures by Canmore local Sonnie Trotter.
To tie Canadian mountain communities together, the university hosted a live stream discussion with residents from Jasper, Banff and Haines Junction, Yukon, on Dec. 11.
Each town took turns describing bits and pieces of local culture and history.
First up was Jasper鈥檚 Erin Reade, the sales and marketing executive for Marmot Basin. From the ski hill, via webcam, Reade highlighted Jasper鈥檚 many sporting opportunities, its wildlife and its dark sky preserve status.
鈥淲e鈥檙e really lucky here in at Jasper National Park and Marmot because we鈥檙e so connected with wildlife and it鈥檚 so accessible,鈥� she said during the live video stream.
In town, Jasper Artists Guild (JAG) members Gregory Deagle and Michael Flisak tuned into the web conversation from the Jasper Library and Cultural Centre.
The two artists briefly discussed Jasper鈥檚 new cultural centre and the town鈥檚 growing art community.
When asked by the live stream鈥檚 host, Meg Wilcox, how the community plans to continue expanding the local art scene, Deagle said in the future he would like to see Jasper become home to an art festival, which would exhibit work by national and international artists.
鈥淭here exists this affinity between mountains and art, which already creates this regional network between mountain communities,鈥� Deagle said. 鈥淚 also think this (event) promotes a new link between Canadian mountain towns to promote and celebrate their communities.鈥�
The web conversation also brought viewers to Jasper鈥檚 southern neighbour, Banff, where employees from the Whyte Museum and Archives shared some mountaineering stories of days gone past.
In the north, Haines Junction local Ellen Bielawski shared tales about art, wildlife and the region鈥檚 Indigenous people.
Haines Junction has also been hosting a mountain festival focused on International Mountain Day for the past three years.
Angie Thom, Jasper鈥檚 director of library services, said the live discussion between Canadian mountain communities was a good idea, adding she is eager to see what will come from next year鈥檚 Canadian Mountain Network Festival.
鈥淲e always hear about Jasper鈥檚 mountains and wildlife. What I like about this is that you get to hear from the people and hear about their history and how their areas are changing,鈥� she said.
Kayla Byrne [email protected]
