Mountain Voices: The Mountain Legacy Project and a Century of Change in Western Canada

In Mountain Voices, alpinists, activists, artists, and mountain researchers share the ways Canadian mountains have impacted their lives. Each contributor brings a unique and fascinating perspective to the mountain landscape with short essays accompanied by a pair of photographs from the remarkable archive of the Mountain Legacy Project, illustrating the history, geography, and lasting inspiration of the mountains.

Mountain Voices draws on the vast bank of historic and repeat photographs produced by the Mountain Legacy Project, the world’s largest systematic and comprehensive collection of mountain photographs, spanning more than a century. From fragile glass plate negatives to modern, high-resolution photography, these images document a mountain landscape during times of drastic change.

Mountain Voices features a diverse array of voices, including Indigenous activists, employees of Canada’s national parks, interdisciplinary scientists dedicated to mountains, alpine adventurers, and historians captivated by tales of mountain pasts. Mountain Voices brings the landscape to life through the passion and devotion of those who love it deeply.

With contributions by: Leanne Allison, Renellta Arluk, Rick Arthur, Catrin Brown, Bruce Cockburn, Alison Criscitiello, Joanna Croston, Jill Delaney, Winston Delorne, Julie Fortin, Paulette M. Fox, Will Gadd, Ben Gadd, Eric Higgs, David Hik, Aerin Jacob, David P. Jones, Gùdia (Mary Jane) Jonson, Michelle Koppes, Roger Laurilla, Nikita Lopoukhine, Bruce Mayer, Bernadette McDonald, Ella Molnar-Piché, Pat Morrow, Peter Murphy, Liza Piper, Graeme Pole, Martin F. Price, Sara Renner, Jeanine Rhemtulla, Chris Rhodes, Zac Robinson, Mary Sanseverino, Chic Scott, Rain Scott, Stephen Slemon, William Snow, Karen Sorensen, Ellie Stephenson, Robert D. Turner, Nancy J. Turner, Robert Vranich, Kristen Walsh, Meghan J. Ward, Rob Watt, Cliff White, Andy Williams, Carmen Wong, Ken Wylie

Eric Higgs is a professor in the School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, and director of the Mountain Legacy Project.

Zac Robinson is an associate professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta.

Mary Sanseverino is teaching professor emerita, Department of Computer Science, University of Victoria.

Kristen Walsh is a research associate with the Mountain Legacy Project.