It is with great sadness we announce the passing of one of Canmore’s great trail builders – Doug Campbell. We share a story of Doug and his wife, Mary, a tribute to their passion for the mountains.
Avid hikers, Doug and Mary Campbell spent most of their 60 years together on one hiking trail or another.
So, they weren’t surprised to find themselves living in Spring Creek, next to the mountains. What they may not have imagined when they met in 1957 is how they would (literally) pave the way for smoother mountain climbs for future generations of Canmore hikers.
Moving to Canmore in 1990, Doug and Mary found themselves among a growing community of alpine enthusiasts enjoying local peaks. Trekking up and down Ha Link Peak, Mount Lady Macdonald and many other trails. Doug and Mary saw first-hand their beloved mountain pathways were in dire need of some TLC and – let’s be honest – some downright bushwacking.
So, in 1992, Doug called on Brian Carter and a group of hardy locals, formed the Canmore Trail Minders, and got to work hand-cutting pathways and switchbacks among Canmore’s most popular hiking trails.
In 2015, with decades of hard work breaking trails behind them (and for that, we thank them!), Doug and Mary chose to retire at Origin at Spring Creek, a senior lifestyle community in the heart of Canmore.
Living at Origin let them maintain their active lifestyle, stay in touch with lifelong friends in their community, and find comfort and security in their later years. It was also a breeze for their family to join them in the neighbourhood.
Sharing a love of the mountains, their daughter Anne Campbell and her husband Bill Cryderman purchased a condo in Creekstone Mountain Lodge in Spring Creek, right across from Origin. Bill works in Calgary, but for much of their week, they’re now closer to the mountains and to Doug and Mary too.
“It was important for my parents to move to Origin so they could enjoy life more without having to do the daily things like shopping, cooking, cleaning and looking after themselves that way, Anne explains.
Anne believes having Spring Creek a short walk away from Canmore’s stores, restaurants, nature trails and pathways enriches all their lives. Thanks to the Origin staff, Anne gets tremendous peace of mind for the care Doug and Mary receive.
“They’re both 91 and they do need some help from time-to-time. The Origin staff is very caring and vigilant. The residents have alert buttons, which gives me great relief,” Anne notes.
According to General Manager Cindy Drury, Origin at Spring Creek offers 65-plus residents four lifestyle options including independent living, assisted living, memory care or respite care, allowing individuals to age in place in an environment that “is not hospital-like in any sense”. Residents and partners can live in the same building with different customized levels of care.
Origin homes are available in luxurious one- or two-bedroom configurations and residents pay a membership fee for services or choose the all-inclusive leasing option. Residents with early or advanced levels of memory loss can live safely in Origin’s Morning Star neighbourhood.
Ask Anne’s parents about their favourite part of Origin and they’ll point to the exercise room, the movie room, and the “fabulous” dining room meals. For Bill and Ann, there’s lots of skiing, snowshoeing, hiking and biking outside their Spring Creek condo. At the end of the day, they can meet Anne’s parents in Spring Creek’s neighbourhood pub, the Mineshaft Tavern.
“They have entertainment on Fridays at the pub – it’s a nice way of promoting friendship ad belonging, an important value for every age in the overall Spring Creek neighbourhood and the mountain town of Canmore,” she says.
Spring Creek offers this family close proximity to each other and the mountains, all while honouring the independent spirit of two Canmore trailblazers. What could be better?
Looking for an active seniors’ community to call home?
Visit OriginSpringCreek.com for more information.
