1856-1858<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 The British led Palliser expedition explores the Canadian Rockies and the Bow Valley,\u00a0<\/span>following the Bow River past Johnston Creek.\u00a0 <\/span>Captain John Palliser, Eugene Bougeau, James Hector and Thomas Blakiston gathered information on what was then \u201cRupert’s Land\u201d \u2013 a decade before Canadian Confederation in 1867.\u00a0<\/span>Many of the peaks that surround the Canyon were named by Hector on this scientific and map making mission. Outside of a few missionaries and some Hudson Bay trappers, this is the first western glimpse and exploration of the Canadian Rockies.<\/span><\/p>\n 1885<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 CPR builds the railway through the Rockies to unite Canada. A gold seeking prospector named Johnston camps out at the creek head which now bears his name with the hopes of discovering gold while panning in the canyon silt. Johnston never discovers any gold and by summer’s end, moves on to the Columbia Calley.\u00a0 <\/span>Silver City (a gold mine town similar to Dawson in the Yukon)\u00a0<\/span>springs up at the base of Castle Mountain eclipsing Calgary with a population of 2000 people. 15 years later is a ghost town.<\/span><\/p>\n 1900-1915<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>Tourism in the Rockies has begun with wealthy Europeans and Alpine Swiss guides\u00a0<\/span>exploring many of the unclimbed peaks.\u00a0<\/span>A small log teahouse is built at Johnston Creek as a rest stop for the horse drawn tallyhoes on route from Banff to Lake Louise. 1926<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Walter and Marguerite Camp purchase the log teahouse for $3000 and develop a bungalow motor camp with small cabins.<\/span><\/p>\n 1927<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Every evening in the summer Walter provides interpretive talks to guests outlining all the scenic attractions, with amusing anecdotes.<\/span><\/p>\n 1928-1930<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Walter explores the Canyon above the lower falls and discovers 6 additional falls.\u00a0He t<\/span>akes the Parks superintendent, Jennings, up the Canyon who then approves Walter’s plan to build a pony trail to the upper falls so that guests can experience the full grandeur of the Johnston Canyon.\u00a0 <\/span>Pony trail to the upper falls officially opens to the public.\u00a0 <\/span>Walter names the various Falls \u2013 Stella and Marguerite most notably.<\/span><\/p>\n 1930-1944<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 The Depression and WWII take serious toll on tourism and business. Walter continues to expand the bungalow camp with direct permission from Prime Minister Bennett.\u00a0 <\/span>Bennett tells Walter expand now because “I\u2019m certain to lose the upcoming re election.”\u00a0 <\/span>Bennett does lose and Walter pushes forward with cabin expansion, increasing bungalows from 4 to 20 units.<\/span><\/p>\n Marguerite and Walter have four children: Bennett, Dolena, Stella, and JJ. All work at the Canyon since childhood, and in time so do their children and grandchildren.<\/span><\/p>\n 1949-1953<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Final expansion of bungalows for a total of 36.<\/span><\/p>\n 1950-1960<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Promise of a new transCanada highway to be routed past the bungalow camp encourages Walter to build a new lodge to accommodate the increased traffic. The government flips on the decision and HWY 1 takes a different route on the opposite side of the Bow River far away from the Bungalow Camp.\u00a0<\/span>Business plummets.\u00a0<\/span>However, sightseeing buses increase visitation. \u00a0<\/span>A young 21-year-old Englishman named Bill Nokes becomes a Brewster tour driver, meets Walter’s daughter Stella at age 21 \u2013 a waitress at the Canyon \u2013 and they marry in 1958.<\/span><\/p>\n 1960-1980<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Eldest son Bennett takes over the operation. Almost the entire family of children and grandchildren operate the canyon. Tourism increases steadily.<\/span><\/p>\n 1978-1979<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>Walter gives his final entertaining lecture (interpretive talk) to guests while in a wheel chair at 83 years old.\u00a0 <\/span>More than 50 years has passed since his initial presentation.\u00a0 <\/span>It’s been estimated over 1\/2 million guests attended these talks.<\/span><\/p>\n 1980<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Stella Nokes (daughter of Walter and Marguerite)\u00a0<\/span>and husband Bill take over the operation. \u00a0<\/span>All seven bridges are replaced with suspended catwalks up the canyon walls.\u00a0<\/span>The highway 1A is officially titled \u201cthe Bow Valley Parkway\u201d and Parks Canada lowers the speed limit as well as implements self-guided pulloffs.<\/span><\/p>\n 1996<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 A politically motivated report titled The Bow Valley Study<\/em> is created with over 500 recommendations for the mountain parks.\u00a0<\/span>Under Sheila Copps, the Heritage Minister, Parks Canada commits to 125 of the recommended actions. One action in particular is extremely controversial \u2013 without any supporting scientific evidence \u2013 it calls for the full winter closure of the Parkway and to close off all vehicle traffic in the summer.\u00a0<\/span>Transit buses would then be operated as the only access to the Parkway and Johnston Canyon. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 1999<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Tao Berman, a young kayaker, breaks the Guinness world record for waterfall drops by kayaking over the Upper Falls (98 feet) … and lives. 8\u00a0people have died in the Canyon over the past 9 decades in various tragic accidents.<\/span><\/p>\n 1996-2015<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>The Canyon actively fights the recommendation for a full Parkway closure in favour of a more moderate and sensible alternative to full closure to the public.\u00a0 <\/span>Parks Canada concedes to a seasonal closure (spring only \u2013 from 8 pm to 8 am March 1 – June 25).\u00a0<\/span>Out of the 125 actions dictated from The Bow Valley Study<\/em> of 1996 \u2013 this was the only one overturned and modified.<\/span><\/p>\n 2013<\/strong> \u2013 Massive flooding and mudslides in Alberta and the Rockies shuts down the Parkway for two weeks and the Canyon as well.<\/span><\/p>\n 2017<\/strong> \u2013 Huge Wind Throw<\/em> (wind storm) takes out ten hectares of forest 1\/4 km from the Canyon \u2013 splitting and felling trees and closing the Parkway and Canyon trail for 2 weeks.\u00a0 <\/span>Massive fires throughout the summer cause enough smoke in the valley to issue health warnings on Canada\u2019s 150 anniversary year.\u00a0 <\/span>Tourism is booming as Canada becomes a very safe a desirable location in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.johnstoncanyon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/JC-couple.jpg” alt=”1929 – Margueritte and Walter Camp at the Canyon Tea House” title_text=”1929 – Margueritte and Walter Camp at the Canyon Tea House” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ max_width=”70%” border_width_all=”9px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.johnstoncanyon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/jc-sign-and-geordie-wagon.jpg” title_text=”1962 – Walter’s grandson, Geordie Nokes, on the Johnston Creek bridge” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ max_width=”70%” border_width_all=”9px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.johnstoncanyon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/JC-rowdy-girls.jpg” title_text=”1932 – Canyon chambermaids and local park warden” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ max_width=”70%” border_width_all=”9px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.johnstoncanyon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/JC-image-11-BW.jpg” title_text=”1960 – New lodge grand opening with Brewster buses and pipe band” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ max_width=”70%” border_width_all=”9px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.johnstoncanyon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/50th_010.jpg” title_text=”1965 – Brewster Skyview bus number 56 at the Canyon parking lot” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ max_width=”70%” border_width_all=”9px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.johnstoncanyon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/JC-image-2-BW.jpg” title_text=”1932 – Wilf Carter at the Bow River with the Canyon’s first service vehicle” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ max_width=”70%” border_width_all=”9px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.johnstoncanyon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Couple-w.toddler.jpg” title_text=”1961 – Bill and Stella Nokes with son Geordie” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ max_width=”70%” border_width_all=”9px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_image src=”https:\/\/www.johnstoncanyon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/IMG_6597.jpg” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_image][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.14.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#000000″ custom_padding=”22px||0px|||” global_module=”1459″ saved_tabs=”all” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”1A Bow Valley Parkway, Banff 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constant_contact_list=”johnstoncanyonadm@gmailcom|1170614274″ first_name_fullwidth=”off” last_name_fullwidth=”off” title=”Newsletter Sign up” description=”<\/p>\n Sign up for our newsletter and exclusive offers from Johnston Canyon Lodge & Bungalows. Get 10%OFF your first stay with us.<\/span><\/p>\n ” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” form_field_custom_padding=”5px||5px||true|false” header_font_size=”18px” body_font_size=”12px” form_field_font_size=”12px” background_enable_color=”off” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”15px” button_text_color=”#000000″ button_bg_color=”#26cad3″ custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”15px||||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_signup][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" a brief human history of johnston canyon 1600-1870\u00a0 Indigenous people \u2013 the Stoney First Nations living on the plains would come into the Bow Valley on trapping and hunting expeditions – travel past Castle Mountain thru Vermillion Pass en route to the Columbia Valley.\u00a0They were considered fierce warriors and cunning hunters.\u00a0Many of the names in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.johnstoncanyon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/865"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.johnstoncanyon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.johnstoncanyon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.johnstoncanyon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.johnstoncanyon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=865"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.johnstoncanyon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/865\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1756,"href":"https:\/\/www.johnstoncanyon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/865\/revisions\/1756"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.johnstoncanyon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.johnstoncanyon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/IMG_6063-300x300.png\")
1910-1918<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 a meandering dirt trail with 6 log bridges spanning back and forth across the Canyon to the lower falls is constructed \u2013 partially by Hungarian\u00a0 <\/span>internment camp prisoners from WW1. The Internment camp was 7 km away located beneath Castle Mountain.<\/span><\/p>\n