Comments for A Backpacker's Journey

Comment on As Tears Go By by Aiden ONeill

Aiden ONeill — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 21:37:34 +0000

In reply to T. Sandman. Wow. I remember my mom telling me about how we're related to a pedo priest. Just thought about it recently and thought I'd look it up, thank you for doing the research even if it was hard for you and the victims. I'm not religious for many reasons, including this one, but I'm sure if there's a hell, my great uncle is burning in it.

Comment on 1969 – A Tale of Two Rock Festivals by Bill

Bill — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 20:52:57 +0000

I remember Paul Butterfield opening the three day festival on Friday , it burned into my head because August 1 1969 was the first time dropping acid .

Comment on Festival Express by Lorne Brandt

Lorne Brandt — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 17:49:12 +0000

Thanks for reviving the memories and reminding us of who was there. As you said, sitting on the grass in the blazing sun all day in McMahon Stadium, that was my brother and I, having hitchhiked from Saskatoon, one can’t remember it all. We were 24 and 20 and slept in sleeping bags on the ground and got the free bus rides to and from the stadium Haven’t a clue what we at4 all weekend – probably not much. But we got our share of second-hand weed wafting around the grounds. It was a totally special event. What you fail to mention is that the Winnipeg event was special for Manitobans, like I am by birth, as 1970 was the province’s centenary. I too saw the movie decades later and then also got the DVD. You mentioned Buddy Guy’s cord. I recall being struck by that in the movie and noting how ‘corded’ mIkes had to be placed near all the singers. Not like now.

Comment on The Killer Bear of Whiskey Creek by Allan Vance

Allan Vance — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 03:48:12 +0000

I was with the RCMP and transferred to Banff on 1 September 1980. I rented an apartment in Whiskey Creek. My first day there all hell broke loose. Your story is very accurate, including the guy(s) being chased by the police. I still remember the bear hanging from the helicopter. Great to see the pictures. Thanks.

Comment on As Tears Go By by Tom Barrett

Tom Barrett — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 21:41:06 +0000

In reply to Valerie Dunn. Thanks for your strength in telling the priestly pervert, Valarie. I salute you for her bravery.

Comment on The Killer Bear of Whiskey Creek by silvia

silvia — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 05:24:06 +0000

Interestingly, I lived in Banff in whiskey creek in the nineties. Also working in the tourist industry as a tourdriver for Brewster.
We went through a 3-4 month training to drive different buses and to give commentary to the tourists we drove around. A lot of emphasis was given to talk about the early explorers whose names were given to many mountains and lakes. Gloriously giving them the credit for their explorations mapping and bringing rich tourists to magnificent locations like Bow lake.
Banff is now a sad example of exploitation of tourists, with no consequences to the rape of its natural resources. If and when something goes wrong it is always the fault of the victim. Never does the government and it’s leaders take the blame for the accident. Should anything horrendous happen, something that could be avoided like the attack of the black grizzly of whiskey creek, the attack was a consequence of bears being drawn to the opengarbage dump.
Unfortunately the wardens did not take action to cordon of the dump. It is not normal behavior of a grizzly bear to “hang’around town. To ask questions to avoid this scenario has not been done. The outcome of these mauling s was to kill the bear, the villain of the story. This was also done to show people that the problem was taken care of.Why was this grizzly in this area? Why wasn’t the garbage dump closed, as they knew for decades that it attracked bears. Why was this bear aggressive, and not afraid of humans. Was the bear sick? And most of all, why were people allowed in the area where an attack occurred.
Banff is a beautiful town which need/ tourists to survive. If you peel back the layers of the onion and dig deeper you will see that above all it’s image can not be distorted. That the lives of a few people is worth the deception of all tourists. Above all keep the money rolling in. No matter what.

Comment on The Killer Bear of Whiskey Creek by Bill Anderson

Bill Anderson — Fri, 20 May 2022 22:47:22 +0000

Who was the fellow from Manitoba who shot the bear?

Comment on A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall by Tom Barrett

Tom Barrett — Sat, 16 Apr 2022 16:55:15 +0000

In reply to David. Hey David (Sacko) My kids still remember you! Rachel (the oldest) and Sam (the youngest) both live in Montreal. Danny works at Legal Aid in Toronto. He is getting married in August. Sam has been camping in Guatemala and Mexico for six weeks. I will pass this on to the kids. I retired 14 years ago and have travelled and trekked in Nepal, Northern India and Bhutan. Philippa and I split up about 16 years ago.

Comment on A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall by David

David — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 22:18:10 +0000

Tom! It’s Dave (aka Sacko). Very excited to have found this story online. Reach out if you see this, david@davidmauricesmith.com. Would be great to reconnect 🙂

Comment on The Grant Notley Plane Crash by Arnie Madsen (Manitoba)

Arnie Madsen (Manitoba) — Mon, 03 May 2021 16:58:23 +0000

Hi Tom
I enjoyed your article and especially appreciate the picture of the survivors … like most people I developed a fondness for Paul Archambault and the only photo I found was here , thanks.

To my surprise I was not even aware of this crash …. considering I am a lifelong news junky who was involved in aviation (helicopters) in the 1980’s … yet missed this one.