2011 Summit of
Excellence Award

2011 — Philippe Delesalle

Courtesy of the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies

It was while being on staff at Sunshine Village during the winter of 1952-53 that Philippe Delesalle put his mind to solving one of the Canadian Rockies’ greatest problems – massive and relentless snow accumulation that threatened to collapse the roofs of buildings.

After arriving from France and becoming part of a legendary group of Bow Valley mountaineers — many of them recent immigrants from Europe, like himself — and making first ascents on the east face of Banff’s Mount Edith and on Wasootch Tower in the Kananaskis Valley, Delesalle went to McGill University to study architecture. He returned to Alberta to launch an acclaimed career that has included designing some of the most remote structures in the mountains of western Canada. Philippe Delesalle will receive the 2011 Summit of Excellence Award at this year’s Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival.

“The most difficult site presents opportunity for the most interesting building,” says Delesalle, a resident of Canmore, Alberta. And some of his buildings – like the celebrated CMH Bugaboos, Adamants, Bobbie Burns, and Cariboo lodges, the lodges at Sunshine Village, early Alpine Club of Canada huts on the Wapta Icefields, and the Sapphire Col Hut above Rogers Pass – are in extremely difficult and remote sites. Delesalle would see them as prime problem-solving terrain. Then, he implements a three-prong approach.

“First, the building needs to function – it has to work,” Delesalle says, which in the mountains means it has to provide shelter and comfort. “Next, the structure has to have integrity, to be built solidly to sustain the weather and time. Third, it must have a sense of harmony, to fit well to the site.”

After witnessing so many roof failures due to snow loads and icing conditions, demanding constant roof shovelling, Delesalle followed the lead of other alpine countries and pioneered locally the method of “double roof “ whereby the snow-bearing roof is separated from the standard roof by a crawl space. It has been a huge success wherever climate conditions demands it.

Besides being co-founder one of Canada’s most successful architectural firms, Delesalle is also widely-respected as an alpinist and adventurer. His world travels began in his youth when he struck out from his home town in the north of France to cross the Sahara Desert on foot, sail the Atlantic Ocean, fly a light plane the length of the Americas, travel the Arctic with the Inuit, climb great mountains in Peru and the Yukon, and ski the icefields of the Canadian Rockies. In 1959, he joined a team led by Hans Gmoser that walked 135 kilometres from Kluane Lake to Mount Logan, achieving the second ascent of the mountain’s east ridge, then rafted out the Donjek Glacier and River to the Alaska Highway. In 1960, he and Gmoser pioneered the first half of the Great Divide Ski Traverse from Kicking Horse Pass to the Columbia Icefields, inspiring a generation of ski mountaineers.

At 82 years of age, Philippe is still active and can be found regularly skiing the Cascade Fire Road near Banff. He has lived in Canmore for over 50 years, in a home along Policeman’s Creek. He and his wife, Mireille, who is also an avid cross-country skier, have raised three children, Bruno, Nathalie, and Marco.

Sponsored by Canadian Mountain Holidays, the Summit of Excellence Award is presented annually to a person who has made a significant contribution to mountain life in the Canadian Rockies. This year’s award will be presented on Sunday, November 6, the final night of the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival.  Given annually since 1987, the Summit of Excellence Award is presented in memory of Calgary climber Bill March, an internationally respected mountaineer, author, and educator.  

Past recipients of the award include: Peter Fuhrmann (2010), Sid Marty (2009), Don Vockeroth (2008), Bernadette McDonald (2007), Gill and Tony Daffern (2006), Glen Boles (2005), Craig Richards (2004), Willi Pfisterer (2003), Barry Blanchard (2002), Bob Sandford (2001), Chic Scott (2000), Guy Lacelle (1999), John Martin (1998), Sharon Wood (1997), Tim Auger (1996), Brian Greenwood (1995), Lloyd (Kiwi) Gallagher (1994), Roger Vernon (1993), Jon Whyte (1992), Don Forest (1991), Pat Morrow (1990), Hans Gmoser (1989), Jim Davies (1988), and Bruno Engler (1987).

Nomination Information

Background

• The Summit of Excellence Award was introduced at the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival in 1987 on the recommendation of Jon Whyte, a longtime resident of Banff and ardent supporter of the Festival
• It is presented in memory of Calgary climber Bill March, an internationally respected mountaineer, author, and educator, who led Canada’s first successful Everest climb in 1982
• The award was sponsored for 20 consecutive years by One Step Beyond Worldwide of Canmore. In 2007, that sponsorship was taken up by CMH Heli-Skiing and Summer Adventures
• It is awarded annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to mountain life in the Canadian Rockies
• Over the years, the Summit of Excellence Award has become perhaps the most significant tribute of the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival, since it heralds those in our community who would never themselves consciously strive for recognition of this nature. To the annual recipient, the award truly represents the recognition of one’s peers.

Award Logistics

• One award is given annually
• An individual or group of individuals is eligible to be nominated
• An individual may not nominate him/herself
• No posthumous nominations will be considered

Award Timeline

• Deadline for nominations is Thursday, June 30, 2011
• Award will be announced to the public at the end of September
• Award will be presented onstage at the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival

Nomination Guidelines

• Nominees must have demonstrated long-term commitment in their contribution to mountain life in the Canadian Rockies
• Nominators are encouraged to read profiles of past award winners
• The endorsement of a nomination by a former award winner will be considered an asset
• Nominations should include:
  • the nominator’s contact information
  • the nominee’s contact information if possible
  • the nature and time period of the nominator’s relationship with the nominee
• Nominees may include but are not limited to those making contributions in areas such as mountain sport, mountain environment, mountain culture, mountain art, or mountain science
• Nominations should clearly describe how the nominee’s accomplishments significantly benefit the mountain community in the Canadian Rockies
• Nominations should include descriptions of some or all of the following:
  • level of contribution
  • longevity of service
  • impact to sport/environment/culture/art/science (for example – did the nominee help to elevate their field?)
  • demonstration of excellence
  • positive attitude
  • peer feedback
  • motivating or inspiring others

Submission options

Nominations may be sent via email, fax, regular mail, or courier.

Email
BanffMountainFestival@banffcentre.ca
Please include in the subject field:
“Nominee’s Last Name, First Name: Summit of Excellence Award nomination”

Fax
403.762.6277
Please include the following on the cover page:
“Nominee’s Last Name, First Name: Summit of Excellence Award nomination”

Regular Mail
Summit of Excellence Award
c/o Film and Media, The Banff Centre
PO Box 1020
Banff, AB T1L 1H5

Courier
Summit of Excellence Award
c/o Film and Media, The Banff Centre
107 Tunnel Mountain Drive
Banff, AB T1L 1H5

Summit of Excellence Past Award Winners

• 2011 – Philippe Delesalle – Architect and Mountaineer
• 2010 – Peter Fuhrmann – Mountaineer, Alpine guide, Rescue specialist
• 2009 – Sid Marty – Writer, Musician, Conservationist
• 2008 – Don Vockeroth – Mountain Climbing Pioneer
• 2007 – Bernadette McDonald – Author, Climber, Festival Director
• 2006 – Gillean and Tony Daffern – Publishers of Mountain Books
• 2005 – Glen Boles – Climber, Artist
• 2004 – Craig Richards – Mountain Photographer
• 2003 – Willi Pfisterer – Mountain Rescue Innovator
• 2002 – Barry Blanchard – Alpinist
• 2001 – Bob Sandford – Historian, Author, Interpreter
• 2000 – Chic Scott – Mountaineer, Guide, Writer
• 1999 – Guy Lacelle – Climber
• 1998 – John Martin – Climber and Mountain Lover
• 1997 – Sharon Wood – Mother, Mentor, Mountaineer
• 1996 – Tim Auger – Park Warden, Rescue Specialist
• 1995 – Brian Greenwood – Climber
• 1994 – Lloyd “Kiwi” Gallagher – Emergency Services Coordinator
• 1993 – Roger Vernon – Filmmaker
• 1992 – Jon Whyte – Historian
• 1991 – Don Forest – Mountaineer
• 1990 – Pat Morrow – Seven Summits
• 1989 – Hans Gmoser – Heli-Skiing
• 1988 – Jim Davies – Rescue Pilot
• 1987 – Bruno Engler – Photographer