Residual Fields
A Photographic Study in the Alberta Rocky Mountains
Chapter 1: Bison
“Head-Smashed-In [buffalo jump] was one of the most heavily used jump sites on the northern plains… in use from 5,800 years BP to AD 1850.”
“The heritage value… resides in its archaeological integrity and in its historical significance as one of the oldest known buffalo jumps in North America.”
Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada 2020
“Nor shall it be lawful to destroy buffalo by running them into rivers or lakes, or over steep banks or precipices.”
North-West Territories Ordinance 1878
“Viewing bison in Waterton Lakes National Park is a popular visitor experience… Bison roam within the fenced enclosure.”
Parks Canada 2021
Chapter 2: Internment
“The Governor in Council may do and authorize such acts and things… as he may by reason of the existence of real or apprehended war… deem necessary or advisable for the security, defence, peace, order and welfare of Canada.”
War Measures Act, 1914
“We have as many aliens as we can get on the golf-links, but they work absurdly slow and are not making the headway I would like to see made.”
J.B. Harkin, Library and Archives Canada, 1917
“Interned Aliens Work as Miners. But Only so Long as They Obey Laws and Abstain from Seditious Deeds.”
Ottawa Citizen, June 6, 1917
“On 8 June 1918, a detail… in two canoes set off for the recapture of two escaped prisoners. The route taken was up the Kapuskasing river, a wide, deep and rapid stream, twelve portages varying from a quarter to three miles in length had to be overcome in a distance of 80 miles, occupying four whole days, when the delinquents were overtaken and brought back to camp.”
Internment Operations 1914–1920
Chapter 3: Mining
“At dawn, on April 29, 1903, a huge rock mass, nearly half a mile square and probably 400 to 500 feet thick in places, suddenly broke loose from the east face of Turtle mountain and precipitated itself with terrific violence into the valley beneath, overwhelming everything in its course.”
Report on the Frank Slide 1903
“It is almost impossible to avoid the conclusion that these great chambers, 130 feet long, 250 to 400 feet high and 15 feet wide, situated directly under the foot of the mountain must have weakened it… The pressure on them must have been considerable. It is a significant fact that the edges of the break correspond very closely with the limits of the big chambers and mined coal.”
Report on the Frank Slide 1903
“The explosion in the mine of Hillcrest occurred... at about 9.30 o’clock in the morning of the 19th of June this year. At the time of the explosion there were 235 employees of the company in the mine. Of these, 189 perished...”
Report of the Royal Commission on the Hillcrest Mine Disaster, 1914
“The last shift of work at the Canmore Mines will be the day shift of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 13, 1979.”
V. Mroklia, General Superintendent, July 11, 1979
Chapter 4: Wildfire
“Whereas it is expedient with a view to the proper and efficient administration and management of certain of the public lands of the Dominion that the same should be regulated by statute.”
“And whereas it is expedient that the timber forming Islands or Belts in townships thrown open for settlement, should be so disposed of as to benefit the greatest possible number of settlers and to prevent petty monopoly… such sections containing tracts of timber shall be subdivided into wood lots of not less than ten, and not more than twenty acres… one such wood lot to each quarter section prairie farm.”
“...prevent all unnecessary destruction of growing timber on the part of his men, and to exercise strict and constant supervision to prevent the origin or spread of fires.”
Dominion Lands Act 1872
July 10: Fire danger rating was set to Extreme following weeks of extreme hot and dry weather.
July 12: A fire ban went into effect for the whole park.
July 22: A fire was reported near the Jasper Transfer Station. Shortly after, three additional wildfires were reported approximately 22 km south of town…wind gusts of 30-45 km/hour merged the three wildfires south of town into one.
July 23: Over 20,000 people are evacuated.
July 24: The wildfire swept through 33,000 hectares of the Athabasca Valley and resulted in the loss of approximately 30% of the structures within the town of Jasper.
Jasper National Park Annual Report 2024
August 30: A lightning strike ignites a wildfire close to the park boundary.
September 2: A small 0.5 hectare spot fire starts inside the western boundary of the park.
September 8: An Evacuation Order is issued.
September 11: While exhibiting extreme behaviour, the wildfire burned across the park…throughout the night, firefighters worked tirelessly to protect the Waterton townsite and Prince of Wales hotel within the park.
September 12: Fire suppression continues as the fire is still active.
October 3: Classified as "under control".
Parks Canada Kenow Wildfire Report 2017
“Wildfires occur naturally and fulfil critical ecosystem functions, with the positive ecological effects usually greater than the negative. These are dynamic ecosystems, changing and adapting in response to natural forces.”
Parks Canada Kenow Wildfire Report 2017