Elmer Jamieson was born in 1903 at Prescott, Ontario. Elmer was born to be a cowboy, and his family west. After a short formal education he worked on ranches in the Cypress Hills.
A good saddle bronc rider and steer wrestler, he was invited to the world’s first international rodeo in London’s Wembly Stadium in 1924. Elmer continued working on ranches and competing in rodeos. In 1927 he won the saddle he rode for the rest of his life.
In 1936 he supervised the transportation by pack horse of the building materials and furniture for the first cabin at today’s Sunshine Village.
Elmer married Viola in 1938 and in 1939 while living at Bragg Creek his sister-in-law was trapped by a raging prairie fire. Articles in the Calgary Herald told of Elmer’s heroic ride to find and rescue her. Tragically, she died as a result of the blaze and Elmer suffered burns to his face.
In 1942 Elmer joined the Warden Service at Yoho National Park. The family moved to Viking, Alberta in 1947 so the children could attend school. With the kids schooling completed in 1959 Elmer and Viola returned to Banff where he rejoined the Warden Service until 1969. He continued to guide privately well into his senior years.
While on a trip to England 57 years after he rode at Wembley, Elmer was able to show his wife his photo hanging in the foyer of the grand old stadium.
Elmer died in 1989 and is buried in the Old Banff Cemetery. His tombstone reads “FINDING NEW TRAILS.”
