Fonds consists of materials pertaining to Ben Gadd's personal life and career as an environmental researcher, educator, interpretive guide, publisher, public speaker and author, ca.1956-2018. Fonds includes maps, research materials, publication notes/drafts, correspondence, contracts, photographs, …
ca. 7.9 metres of textual records -- ca. 274 maps -- 29 VHS tapes -- ca.15 discs with digital files -- 21 cassettes -- photographs -- oversized materials -- USB stick with 15 sldeshows
History / Biographical
Ben Gadd (1946-) is a retired naturalist, guide, geologist, instructor, freelance writer and award-winning author based in the Canadian Rockies.
Ben was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1946. He met his wife, Cia (Langdon) Gadd at Colorado College in 1965, and the couple married four weeks later. Ben and Cia had two sons, Will and Toby. Ben and his family relocated to Jasper in the late 1960s. Ben later attended the University of Lethbridge and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Earth Science in 1972.
Between 1976 and 1980, Ben taught classes at Mount Royal College and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology; he later taught additional classes at Grant MacEwan College and Lakeland College. From 1981, Ben also worked as a seasonal naturalist/guide for Parks Canada. Ben left Parks Canada in 1985 to start an independent naturalist guiding business with Cia based in Jasper and other parts of the Canadian Rockies, which the couple continued to operate for over two decades.
Ben published his best-known work, "Handbook of the Canadian Rockies", through his publishing company Corax Press in 1986. The second edition of "Handbook of the Canadian Rockies" received multiple awards after its release in 1995. Ben's fiction book, "Raven's End" won the title of Best Canadian Rockies Book at the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival in 2001 and became a Canadian bestseller. Overall, Ben has authored or co-authored 11 books and received nearly one dozen awards for his achievements as a writer, researcher and guide.
Ben continued to lead guided hikes and school programs until his retirement in 2016.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of materials pertaining to Ben Gadd's personal life and career as an environmental researcher, educator, interpretive guide, publisher, public speaker and author, ca.1956-2018. Fonds includes maps, research materials, publication notes/drafts, correspondence, contracts, photographs, video and sound recordings, and other related material. Materials donated in 2024 include one USB stick containing
Notes
Ben Gadd fonds arrangement:
Series I : Personal records
- Subseries A : Travel guides and maps
- Subseries B : Education and early writings
- Subseries C : Personal interest files
- Subseries D : Other personal and collected
Series II : Research and publication records
- Subseries A : Handbook of the Canadian Rockies
- Subseries B : Other publications
Series III : Professional records
- Subseries A : Parks Canada Records
- Subseries B : Interpretive guiding
- Subseries C : Teaching records
- Subseries D : Other contracts and projects
Series IV : Legal and financial records
- Subseries A : Legal records
- Subseries B : Financial records
File pertains to 34 b&w prints of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides training courses and members. Includes shots of potential members participating in training courses [usually on Tunnel Mountain] as well as posed group shots of ACMG members.
34 photographs : col. & b&w ; 25.5 x 20.5 cm or smaller
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
File pertains to 34 b&w prints of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides training courses and members. Includes shots of potential members participating in training courses [usually on Tunnel Mountain] as well as posed group shots of ACMG members.
Notes
Identities of people in PA - 27 from left to right [back row]: Rüdi Geitsch, Tim Auger, Peter Schlunegger, Bernie Schiesser, Hans Gmoser, [unidentified], Lloyd "Kiwi" Gallagher ; [front row]: [unidentified], [unidentified], Scott Flavelle, Clair Israelson, Dave Cochrane?, [unidentified], Phil Heim, Dan Griffith.
Identities of people in PA - 29, from left to right [back row]: Frank Stark, Rüdi Geitsch, Lloyd "Kiwi" Gallagher ; [front row]: Leo Gullmair, [unidentified], Hans Gmoser, [unidentified], Pierre Lentire?, Sepp Renner.
Identifications provided by Chic Scott
File pertains to 33 b&w negatives of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides training courses and members. Includes shots of potential members participating in training courses [usually on Tunnel Mountain] as well as posed group shots of ACMG members.
33 photographs : b&w negatives ; 15.2 x 5.8 cm or smaller
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
File pertains to 33 b&w negatives of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides training courses and members. Includes shots of potential members participating in training courses [usually on Tunnel Mountain] as well as posed group shots of ACMG members.
File consists of flyers, notes and correspondence, drafts and published advertisements pertaining to the promotion of Ben Gadd's work as an interpretive guide.
File consists of flyers, notes and correspondence, drafts and published advertisements pertaining to the promotion of Ben Gadd's work as an interpretive guide.
File consists of author's copies of multiple editions of Ben Gadd's book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. Editions in file are annotated with notes and corrections by the author.
File consists of author's copies of multiple editions of Ben Gadd's book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. Editions in file are annotated with notes and corrections by the author.
File consists of textual records pertaining to a brochure describing the history of Bankhead, which Ben Gadd researched, designed and produced on behalf of Parks Canada in 1981. File includes research notes, reference maps, correspondence, paste-up drafts and finished copies of the brochures.
File consists of textual records pertaining to a brochure describing the history of Bankhead, which Ben Gadd researched, designed and produced on behalf of Parks Canada in 1981. File includes research notes, reference maps, correspondence, paste-up drafts and finished copies of the brochures.
File consists of documents pertaining to Ben Gadd's work as an interpretive guide and lecturer at the Blue Lake Centre in Hinton, Alberta. File includes informational booklets and programs, employment contracts, itineraries, correspondence and other documents.
File consists of documents pertaining to Ben Gadd's work as an interpretive guide and lecturer at the Blue Lake Centre in Hinton, Alberta. File includes informational booklets and programs, employment contracts, itineraries, correspondence and other documents.
File consists of business licenses, application forms and letters of approval sent between Parks Canada and Ben Gadd's guiding company, Ben Gadd Interpretive Services. File includes laminated and paper business license cards used by Ben Gadd between 1997 and 2016.
Produced by the Department of Canadian Heritage and Parks Canada
Date Range
1996-2017
Physical Description
4 cm of textual records
Scope & Content
File consists of business licenses, application forms and letters of approval sent between Parks Canada and Ben Gadd's guiding company, Ben Gadd Interpretive Services. File includes laminated and paper business license cards used by Ben Gadd between 1997 and 2016.
File consists of one VHS tape containing a recorded episode of "Take an Alberta Break!" featuring Ben Gadd and cave tours which he led through Cadomin Cave. Ben discusses bat habitats, cave crawling, and vandalism issues.
File consists of one VHS tape containing a recorded episode of "Take an Alberta Break!" featuring Ben Gadd and cave tours which he led through Cadomin Cave. Ben discusses bat habitats, cave crawling, and vandalism issues.
Notes
Running time is approx. 3 minutes [episode], followed by recorded advertisements
File consists of documents pertaining to guided tours in Cadomin Cave which Ben Gadd and his wife Cia led through their guiding business, Ben Gadd Interpretive Services. File includes advertisements and handouts for participants.
File consists of documents pertaining to guided tours in Cadomin Cave which Ben Gadd and his wife Cia led through their guiding business, Ben Gadd Interpretive Services. File includes advertisements and handouts for participants.
File consists of four CDs containing 235 image files, 10 text files and one PDF. Content pertains to cartoon illustrations by Lonnie Springer and photographs which were used in Ben Gadd's book, "The Canadian Hiker's and Backpacker's Guide".
File consists of four CDs containing 235 image files, 10 text files and one PDF. Content pertains to cartoon illustrations by Lonnie Springer and photographs which were used in Ben Gadd's book, "The Canadian Hiker's and Backpacker's Guide".
Notes
Contents of individual discs in file:
V810 / II / B / DF - 3 : "Lonnie's Illustrations" [9 image files]
V810 / II / B / DF - 4 : "Lonnie's drawings + photos" [1 PDF]
V810 / II / B / DF - 5 : "Book Photos" [191 image files]
V810 / II / B / DF - 6 : "Pacific Rim National Park Reserve Parks Canada: West Coast Trail Centennial Media Kit 2007" [35 image files, 10 text files]
File consists of notes, a production quote and a proposal form pertaining to a potential contract between Ben Gadd and the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Contract included the design and production of interpretive trail signs near Carp Lake, British Columbia.
File consists of notes, a production quote and a proposal form pertaining to a potential contract between Ben Gadd and the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Contract included the design and production of interpretive trail signs near Carp Lake, British Columbia.
Notes
Original storage folder included a handwritten note by Ben Gadd:
"Carp Lake - didn't get contract but have some info"
File consists of a commercial guiding permit granted to Ben Gadd by the Government of Alberta and corresponding invoice; an incomplete guiding insurance form; and a cost/benefit breakdown for Ben's tours in Cadomin Cave.
File consists of a commercial guiding permit granted to Ben Gadd by the Government of Alberta and corresponding invoice; an incomplete guiding insurance form; and a cost/benefit breakdown for Ben's tours in Cadomin Cave.
File consists of recorded interviews and discussions with Ben Gadd which were broadcast by CBC Radio. Content pertains to wildlife preservation, Ben's book "Handbook of the Canadian Rockies", Cadomin Cave and other related subjects.
File consists of recorded interviews and discussions with Ben Gadd which were broadcast by CBC Radio. Content pertains to wildlife preservation, Ben's book "Handbook of the Canadian Rockies", Cadomin Cave and other related subjects.
Notes
Contents of file:
S61 / III / D / 1 : Ben Gadd interviewed by Peter Gzowski on CBC "Morningside" Apr. '87 [discusses desktop publishing and Handbook of the Canadian Rockies]
S61 / III / D / 2 : Interview with Peter Gzowski, CBC Radio "Morningside", April 21, 1987
S61 / III / D / 3 : Ben Gadd on CBC openline show, 12/87
S61 / III / D / 4 : Ben Gadd on CBC Radio, Edmonton '87-88
S61 / III / D / 5 : Trip to Cadomin Cave, CBC Radio 1988
S61 / III / D / 6 : "Caged Wilderness", CBC Radio 22 ix 91 [September 22, 1991]
S61 / III / D / 7 : "Caged Wilderness" - Sunday Morning, 22 Sep 91, CBC national program
S61 / III / D / 8 : Ben Gadd debating Randy Mitchell on CPS privatization, 10 xii 92 [October 10, 1992] Wild Rose Country, CBC Edmonton/Calgary
S61 / III / D / 9 : Ben on Morningside [CBC broadcast], 7 iv 95 [April 7, 1995]
S61 / III / D / 10 : "Ben on Ice", [CBC] World at 6, 21 Jul '95
S61 / III / D / 11 : CBC interview on charging for rescues, 16 Nov 95 ; CBC commentary 10 Jun 96 ; CBC interview on harlequin ducks vs rafts, 29 Mar '98
S61 / III / D / 12: Raven's End interview with Ben Gadd by Judy Hamill, on Daybreak, CBC Alberta, 11 Mar. '01
S61 / III / D / 13 : Ben reading short nature items Recorded CBC Edmonton, June 2003
File consists of one certificate of accreditation presented to Ben Gadd by the Mountain Parks Heritage Interpretation Association in 2003, certifying him as a Professional Interpreter.
File consists of one certificate of accreditation presented to Ben Gadd by the Mountain Parks Heritage Interpretation Association in 2003, certifying him as a Professional Interpreter.
File consists of unsuccessful requests submitted to Parks Canada by Ben Gadd while he was employed as a Park Naturalist. Requests pertain to recommended interpretive sign updates, a proposed interpretive field trip to observe the summer solstice, and a request for an updated interpreter jacket for …
File consists of unsuccessful requests submitted to Parks Canada by Ben Gadd while he was employed as a Park Naturalist. Requests pertain to recommended interpretive sign updates, a proposed interpretive field trip to observe the summer solstice, and a request for an updated interpreter jacket for Cia Gadd.
File consists of an Environmental Screening Report distributed by Parks Canada and filled out by Ben Gadd in 2002; and related correspondence pertaining to questions and concerns about the report, which was sent by Ben Gadd and President of the Bow Valley Naturalists, Peter Duck, to Parks Canada.
File consists of an Environmental Screening Report distributed by Parks Canada and filled out by Ben Gadd in 2002; and related correspondence pertaining to questions and concerns about the report, which was sent by Ben Gadd and President of the Bow Valley Naturalists, Peter Duck, to Parks Canada.
File consists of correspondence, drafts and other documents pertaining to an article written by Ben Gadd about the Skyline Trail in Jasper National Park, which was published by Explore Magazine in 1996.
File consists of correspondence, drafts and other documents pertaining to an article written by Ben Gadd about the Skyline Trail in Jasper National Park, which was published by Explore Magazine in 1996.
File consists of notes, drafts, sample illustrations and other materials pertaining to an interpretive trail guide which Ben Gadd produced for the Forest Technology School in Hinton, Alberta in 1992. File includes sample images taped together and annotated with additional information. FIle also inc…
File consists of notes, drafts, sample illustrations and other materials pertaining to an interpretive trail guide which Ben Gadd produced for the Forest Technology School in Hinton, Alberta in 1992. File includes sample images taped together and annotated with additional information. FIle also includes a pressed plant sample, stored in an envelope titled "Rhytidiadelphus triquetris (Shaggy moss)".
File consists of handwritten notes by Ben Gadd describing his thuoghts and concerns pertaining to the Four Mountains Parks Planning Program led by Parks Canada.
File consists of handwritten notes by Ben Gadd describing his thuoghts and concerns pertaining to the Four Mountains Parks Planning Program led by Parks Canada.