Hail, you awesome human!

In 1883, wealth and riches captured their imagination. The luxury of the land, for them, the discovery, the awesome, awe-inspiring find. No more harsh work, no more scheduled hours, no more dictators and slave drivers. No more sunrise risings and sun set endings. The long and tiresome day has come to an end, and wealth now lies before their eyes. The glittering prize of dollars, cast in the heated pool of water, was immense wealth to these lucky, entrepreneurs. The back breaking toil of constant work, ends with this discovery.
Shall it be a hotel, a resort, a day spa? The hot pools of the Banff hot springs was a discovery like no other. Close at hand, and surrounded in beauty, the hot pools rested in the mountains, somewhat close to Calgary. A perfect place for tourists and yes, they would come. All the way out to the mountains of Alberta, to soak in the mineral rich waters of the hot springs. Health and wellness would follow as the mineral content of the pools was investigated for healing and curative powers. A superb discovery, a marvelous, accidental find. To explore, on a day trip and discover the very point of tourist marketing in that part of the mountains. A claim was laid, a plan discussed, the excitement grew and grew. Rich! They were rich! It’s all mine, they exhalted! Then, it was disputed.
Others came forward to lay claim to the riches and the joy and merry making became a dispute. The squabble was so loud it reached the heights of legislative power in the country. Hot springs in the mountains! Gold!
Curiously, the powers that be, stepped in to investigate the claim. Yes, it was real. The claim was laid, the co-ordinates were correct and the find was legal. Still, there was a dispute, so how to resolve it so that everyone would win.
For all Canadians, you say. Maybe more, for all of the world to enjoy. That part is obvious, but how to win the claim. They wouldn’t part with it.
To the legislator it went, and into the hands of the Canadian people fell the rights to the first hot springs discovered in the Canadian Rockies. For all of us to enjoy. Of course there would be an admission charge, but no one would be able to claim exclusive rights. The rights to this land, belong to the people of Canada, and hence, the first national park in Canada was formed in Banff, Alberta, in 1885.

http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/ab/caveandbasin/index.aspx cave and basin hot springs, Banff National Park.

Banff National Park is a milestone in Canadian history. Superbly beautiful, now a UNESCO site, this mountain national park is one of four mountain national parks in Canada. Glorious Banff, with it’s superb climbing, mountain huts, spectacular views, tourist destinations, hiking, mountain biking, rivers, boating and white water rafting. This gem marked the beginning of wilderness preservation, environmental conservation, wildlife protection , and it is still, a pure tourist delight. A fine example of the awesome splendor of the vast and wonderful nation of Canada.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDan4o8T04s Banff National Park, The Canadian Rockies, Tracker Productions.

written by Dr. Louise Hayes
May 16, 2014