| Page Views: 1,682 Last Visit to Banff National Park: - | BANFF NATIONAL PARK by Lady_Mystique - last update: Mar 3, 2005 |
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In 1885, the Government of Canada set aside an area of 10 square miles around
the Sulphur Mountain Hot Springs near Banff which promised
"to be of great sanitary advantage to the public",
thereby creating the country's first national park.
Since that time, boundaries have been expanded
and six more parks have been established in the mountains of Alberta and British Columbia, until today the mountain parks cover 8,638 square miles.
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"Oh Great Spirit,
whose voice I hear in the winds
and whose breath gives life to all the world,
hear me.
I come before you, one of your many children.
I am weak and small.
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes
ever behold the red and purple sunset;
my ears sharp so I may hear your voice.
Make me wise,
so I may learn the things you have taught my people,
the lessons you have hidden under every rock and leaf.
I seek strength, not to be superior to my brothers,
but to be able to fight my greatest enemy -- myself.
Make me ever ready to come to you
with clean hands and straight eyes,
so whenever life fades,
like the fading sunset,
my spirit will come to you without shame."
Chief Yellow Lark, a Blackfoot Indian |  | |
Here is a photo taken by my father on our first trip to Banff.
I don't remember much of this trip (and I'm sure my parents tried to forget most of it) except that we were taken to the centre of town where there was a large park with lots of flowers. There was an enormous and beautiful stone building on the grounds which I think this was the Motor Vehicles building.
Anyway, after my baby brother and I checked out the flowers and annoyed one another as much as possible, my mother plunked us down onto the stump of an old tree so my father could take a photo of us (probably to prove he had survived another outing with us!)
We weren't very cooperative models. My brother tried to monopolize the tree stump and take centre stage while I became rebellious, insisting on my share of the limelight and becoming a royal pain in the butt in the process!! (Come to think of it, our personalities haven't changed much since!) A big fight ensued soon after the photo was taken and I got a grand lickin'. I see this as my "initiation" and "rite of passage" into the competitive nature and harshness of life in the mountains. |
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 Comments for Lady_Mystique about Banff National Park | | | | |
DPando Thu Feb 14, 2008 22:48 UTC
such a great memories brings back to me!! treekings in summer looks so easy .. no snow like in early oct when i was there.. great shots!! | Redang Fri Aug 25, 2006 19:08 UTC
Your pages bring me so good memories!!!!!!! | percy961 Tue Aug 22, 2006 19:48 UTC
Superb photo's from Banff National Park | Darby2 Fri Jun 30, 2006 12:28 UTC
Had a nice tour along the Icefield Parkway last Saturday...it's just as beautiful as ever, specially in the early morning. |
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