Wildsight is proud to present Mary Schäffer, Mountain Woman, a 50-minute multimedia historical enactment created by Shirley Truscott from Banff, on June 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Pynelogs Cultural Centre in Invermere.

Truscott delights in creating unique dramatic presentations about the lives and work of outstanding women pioneers in the Rockies, from Lizzie Rummel to Mary Vaux. “As passionate naturalists and adventurous spirits, these women inspire me in my own mountain wanderings, musings, and discoveries” she says.

In her performance, Truscott paints a dramatic portrait of Mary Schäffer, a Quaker naturalist, floral artist, photographer, and writer who first visited Banff in 1889, just as it was being discovered by the outer world. Although she initially came as a tourist, repeated visits convinced her to give up her privileged position in eastern US society and immigrate to a mountain haven that touched her soul.

Her unpretentious character dovetailed with that of the locals, and with their help, she set out to discover for herself the magic of the Rockies. Author Rudyard Kipling chanced upon her on the trail, clad in an old beaded Indian buckskin jacket, as she rode past leading a pack string of horses. Later, he couldn’t believe she was the same person when he met her dressed in her finery in the parlour of Mt. Stephen House in Field. Schäffer made history with her unorthodox behavior.

On a multi-month long foray to search for the as yet unmapped Maligne Lake, near Jasper, she trumped the famous Rockies surveyor, A.O. Wheeler, by conducting a survey and bringing back an expertly detailed map a full year before he was able to see it for himself.

A celebrity in her day, Schäffer gained notoriety by sharing her backcountry experiences with the many thousands who read her books and those who were lucky enough to see the public presentation of her lantern slides. As one of our premier mountain explorers, Schäffer was an adventurous woman ahead of her time.

The production is enriched by musical interludes from Banff cellist Elizabeth Sorochan, 35-mm images of Schäffer’s unique hand-painted lantern slides (courtesy of the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies), and lyrical passages from her book, Old Indian Trails.

Tickets are $10 and are available at Pynelogs and Dave’s Book Bar. Doors open at 7 p.m. with a cash bar.

For more information, Please contact Baiba or Pat Morrow, 250-341-3554.

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