BREWSTERS HAVE LONG HISTORY SERVING VISITORS
TO THE BOW VALLEY
BY JACKIE GOLD
BANFF CRAG & CANYON
This year will mark 113 years of service in the Canadian Rockies
for the Brewster family. When John Brewster arrived in
1886 in Banff, which was at the time called Siding 29, he decided
to establish a dairy having recognized a need in the growing
community and surrounding areas for fresh dairy goods.
The dairy not only serviced the community but the Banff Springs
Hotel, establishing a connection between the two families that
would serve to strengthen both parties’ businesses later
on down the road.
As the dairy was not as busy in the winter months John decided
to establish his homestead at the base of Yamnuska Mountain,
which would later become the Brewster's Kananaskis Guest Ranch. The
Brewster family was quick to grow, and in total John had six
sons and a daughter who grew to adulthood, to become prominent
members of the Banff community.
Not fulfilled with their weekly duties of delivering milk
Bill and Jim Brewster enlisted the help of William Twin, a
Native family friend, to teach them the ins and outs of exploring
and hunting in the mountainous terrain that surrounded
them. By 1892 three of John's sons, though all
under the age of 12, had made a name for themselves in the
community as natural backcountry guides, convincing the manager
of the Banff Springs Hotel to recommend them as guides
to the hotel’s guests.
By the time Bill, the oldest son, had reached 21, the boys
had established an outfitting company run under their
own steam. As the sons' business grew so did their families,
the two older brothers having married sisters, Sylvia Bagley
to Bill and Tess Bagley to Jim. Bill and Sylvia had a
daughter Sydney and two sons Claude and Jack, while Jim and
Tess had a daughter, Fern.
Their company was highly successful and in great demand,
providing contract packing, guiding and livery services
throughout Banff. Their business proved so successful
that they opened up the Brewster Trading Store, and also started
up outfitting and livery services at Lake Louise and Field,
B.C. Soon after that they purchased the original Mount Royal
Hotel in Banff.
As Bill had moved down into Glacier Park Montana for a few
years to help establish an outfitting operation he recognized
the demand for the kinds of services they offered, and when
he was recalled to Banff to take over as manager for Brewster
Transport he began advertising all across the United States.
Sixteen years after opening up their original outfitting company
they decided to move away from the horse‑drawn carriages
which the Brewsters had previously used for their sightseeing
tours and towards Overland motor coaches.
By 1922 they began building the Main Lodge, which was open
to customers in 1923. Many of the visitors that came out
to the area hailed from Midwestern United States, having been
impressed by Bill’s outfit in Montana.
They continued to make expansions, even throughout the
depression, constructing Columbia Icefields Chalet,
the first lodge at Sunshine ski area and began taking
tours up to the Athabasca Glacier.
When Jim Brewster died in 1947 Brewster Transport was delegated
to appointed directors, and then later purchased by Greyhound
Lines of Canada, and later became the property of VIAD Corp.
Brewster's Kananaskis Guest Ranch however, continued to be
maintained by the family. Claud, Bills son, had married childhood
sweetheart Ruth and two sons, Bud and Jack. Under their guidance
the ranch flourished until the late 1950s when Claud and his
wife Ruth decided to retire, and Bud and his wife Annette took
over the family tradition of ranching and outfitting.
Their three daughters Janet, Corinne and Alison helped out,
the day‑to‑day family business until Janet took
ownership of the business.
Today Janet Brewster is the general manager and Owner of the
guest ranch, which features cedar cabins and chalet units. Janet
is from the fifth generation of Brewsters to run the Brewsters’ mountain
lodges.
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