An ode to the Mountain Guides Ball

The Mountain Guides Ball has been a high point on the calendar for over thirty years now. Conceived of in 1990 by Peter Fuhrmann and Hans Gmoser, two of the founding members of the ACMG, and Ivor Petrak, Vice President of Canadian Pacific Hotels, the ball has celebrated the close ties between the mountain climbing community (the ACC) and the mountain guiding community (the ACMG — the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides).

Since the first Alpine Club camp in 1906, professional mountain guides have led club members to their summits. Since 1963, ACMG-certified mountain guides have led climbs at the Alpine Club’s General Mountaineering Camp. That close relationship remains today as ACMG guides continue to lead ACC members on their alpine adventures.

The history of the ball

For the first 15 years the ball was held at the Chateau Lake Louise. With the huge picture windows overlooking the lake, the silverware, white linen tablecloths and candles, it was a marvellous event. Some of the senior members of the ACC and the ACMG were dressed in tuxedos and their wives in lovely gowns. But some of the younger members wore blue jeans and a t-shirt. Everyone mingled and celebrated our mountain heritage.

Since 2006, the ball has been held mainly in Banff, at the Banff Park Lodge and the Rimrock Hotel. Not as glamorous as the Chateau, these venues allowed those who could not afford to stay overnight at the Chateau to return home to their own beds after the ball.

The “Summit Bid” auction

The Summit Bid silent auction.

The Summit Bid Auction is a part of the ACC’s annual fundraising effort, and is Canada’s premiere auction of mountain gear, art and experiences. In previous years it was held only in person at the Mountain Guides Ball, but in recent years bidding has begun online a week in advance and culminated at the MGB. Each year, the auction has raised money to support worthy projects: the Ken Jones Development Fund and the Karl Nagy Award some years and other years the ACC leadership training programs. This auction has always generated excitement and generous bidding. One year, Sydney Feuz donated his ice axe (which had belonged to his father Walter, one of the original CPR Swiss guides) and after a ferocious bidding war it sold for $5,000.

Past patrons

In alternating years the ball honours a member of each of the two clubs. Guides such as Ferdl Taxbock, Rudi Gertsch, Don Vockeroth, Kiwi Gallagher, Helen Sovdat and Peter Amann have been honoured. The ACMG itself has been honoured twice – on the 40th anniversary of the association in 2003 and on the 50th anniversary in 2013. A booklet telling the story of the honourees has been printed each year and many are still available. They make a great addition to the collected history of our mountain community.

This year’s Guides, patron and proceeds

The current class of Mountain Guides is honoured at the ball each year. They are each introduced and the patron of the ball and the ACMG president attach their mountain guides pins. One new guide is the valedictorian and gives a speech. It is a real high point in their lives I am sure.

Cyril Shokoples, 2022 MGB patron.

Guides receiving their official jackets.

Due to COVID, this ball has not been held since 2019, so nine new mountain guides will be honoured this year. They are: Tim Johnson (2020), Kevin Rohn (2020), Takeshi Tani (2021), Adam Burrell (2022), Brad Schalles (2022), Jesse Milner (2021), Dylan Cunningham (2022), Forest Latimer (2022), Jordan Farquharson (2022) and Morgen Funston (2022).

The Ball will be held in the Kinnear Centre at The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity on October 28, 2022. Mountain Guide Cyril Shokoples will be the patron and the proceeds of the auction will go to The Alpine Club of Canada’s Leadership Fund. Cyril has been a guide and a teacher for his entire career and has devoted himself to passing on the knowledge and skills of how to move safely in the mountains, and how to teach others to do so. A strong supporter of both the ACC and the ACMG, Cyril epitomizes the best in both our communities.

Get your tickets!

At $119.00/person, the ball is a chance to splurge, dress up a bit, meet your friends and support a good cause. It is also an opportunity to honour one of the leading members of the mountain guiding community and the new members of the community who are just receiving their pins.

It is also a great way to support the history and tradition of mountain guiding here in Canada.