Do you know more than a fifth grader about First Nation’s history?
I didn’t which is how I came to be at St. Eugene Resort near Cranbrook, British Columbia.
This is a great resort for golfing, hiking or going to the spa, but perhaps the most memorable vacation experiences come from learning about First Nation’s history and the dark period in Canada’s past where children were ripped from their families and their culture destroyed.
It sounds (and is) depressing but the Ktunaxa are focused on healing and the future. They want guests to learn about their culture while enjoying a special holiday. They have turned the former residential school into a tool to teach culture and create economic wealth. To learn why you should visit, read my recent story in Family Fun Canada here.
One of the best historical attractions I’ve seen is the ghost town of Val-Jalbert in Quebec’s Saguenay– Lac-St. Jean Region. Val-Jalbert in the 1920s was a bit like Fort McMurray of today – a bustling town built around one industry. Damase Jalbert built a pulp mill near two falls on the Ouiatchouan River in 1902, the tumbling water a cheap source of electricity. American shareholders bought the mill in 1909 and modernized the facility. Skilled mill workers lived in a master planned community with homes boasting electricity, water and indoor toilets. A worker would make $25 a week but pay only $11 a month for a large home. A convent school and post office were within walking distance. It is said that the living standards were the equivalent of people living in Boston in 1921 and the town was the envy of surrounding communities.