CANMORE ALPINE HOSTEL

The Alpine Club of Canada (ACC)’s Canmore Clubhouse rests on a sunny bench east of the bustling mountain resort town of Canmore, AB.

The hostel and clubhouse opened its doors in 1973, but its history began six decades earlier on a mountainside in Banff.

When the club was formed in 1906, the need for a headquarters and a place for members to stay, meet up and climb in the mountains became clear. The club resolved that this place should be built in Banff, a hub of early mountaineering. Upon opening its doors, the Banff Clubhouse very quickly became a meeting place and climbing destination. For more than 60 years, the clubhouse in Banff (seen here) was the hub of climbing in the Canadian Rockies.

Alpine Clubhouse, Banff, exterior. Byron Harmon Fonds, ref V263 / NA - 17. Courtesy of the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies.

For all of its advantages, there were also some issues with the clubhouse as time and use their toll. The original building had been put up quickly, and it lacked a solid foundation. There was no central heating or running water — outhouses served as toilets. It wasn’t insulated or winterized and could only be occupied in the summer months. It was closer to what we would recognize as a backcountry hut today than anything resembling a hotel or modern accommodation.

In the 1960s, the club, led by architect Philippe Delesalle, proposed a redevelopment of the site, however the proposal was declined by Parks Canada due to zoning restrictions. So in 1970, the club voted to sell the original property back to Parks and began building a new clubhouse in Canmore — then a relatively unknown coal mining town 20 minutes to the east.

This new building became the current site of the club’s headquarters, and the home of the Canmore Alpine Hostel.

With over 50 years of history now permeating the halls and walls of the Canmore Clubhouse, the club continues to imagine ways that we can carry on the tradition of providing a special place in the Rockies for our members and guests, one that is a welcoming base for mountaineers from all walks of life who wish to join us here and make their own mark on the club’s history.

This heritage story was crafted with the assistance of Chic Scott, who is presently writing a comprehensive history of the ACC.

The ACC Clubhouse and Canmore Alpine Hostel are located on the traditional lands of Treaty 7, home of the Îyârhe Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda) – comprised of the Bearspaw First Nation, Chiniki First Nation, and Goodstoney First Nation; the three Nations of the Blackfoot Confederacy (the Piikani, Kainai, and Siksika); the Mountain Cree; and the Tsuut’ina First Nation. This land is also home to the Rocky View Métis District 4 within the Battle River Territory. Before the signing of Treaty 7, and prior to the establishment of provincial boundaries, this region was also used by the Ktunaxa and the Maskwacis people.

For generations, these Indigenous Peoples have been stewards of this land, utilizing it for a variety of purposes that sustained their communities and culture. The rich lands and waters of the area provided resources for hunting, fishing, and gathering, supporting traditional ways of life. Additionally, these lands served as important pathways for trade and communication, fostering connections between different Indigenous communities across the region. We pay our respects to the elders past and present, and to all Indigenous peoples past, present, and emerging. As we gather on this land at 201 Indian Flats Road, Canmore, Alberta, we commit to honouring the ongoing struggles for justice, sovereignty, and self-determination of Indigenous Peoples.