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53-681: The river was named by John Palliser in 1858 after a Cree . The Kananaskis originates in the Canadian Rockies , east of the continental divide , in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park . It flows southeast to the Upper Kananaskis Lake , then turns north into the Lower Kananaskis Lake . From here it has a northbound course on the border of Spray Valley Provincial Park and Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park , where

106-704: A Métis explorer with the HBC, who told Palliser about another pass which was off the route from the Red River Colony to the Rocky Mountains and along the United States border. In 1856, Palliser's interest in the western prairies initiated his plan to explore western Canada along the American border on a formal expedition. His interest in some of these alternative routes became an idea for a project that could be used to survey

159-552: A destructive effect on the man-made rapids on the lower Kananaskis River. Very few of them are still considered suitable for Playboating , partially due to movement of boulders, and partially due to inconsistent water levels. Soon after, the Alberta Whitewater Association reconstructed an interim slalom course, with plans to improve it further with additional time and funding. John Palliser John Palliser CMG (29 January 1817 – 18 August 1887)

212-698: A few rivers: In 1859 Palliser was awarded the Patron's Gold Medal of the Royal Geographical Society for his Survey of the Rocky Mountains. He returned to Ireland in 1862 and presented his findings to the British Parliament . The information contained in his survey was instrumental in ending the Hudson's Bay Company 's ownership of Rupert's Land (lands encompassing all tributaries to Hudson Bay ) with

265-508: A fun-filled weekend of kayaking-related activities. The Upper Kananaskis (upstream of Barrier Lake) is not so paddler friendly: low water levels, many snags and sweepers. The first rapid on the Kananaskis is the Widow Maker, which is a class III pool drop that is notoriously tippy. It is easy to put in below the Widow Maker if the paddler is looking to avoid the feature. The first play feature

318-465: A powerhouse. The Pocaterra Hydroelectric Facility involves a 1.5-kilometre penstock to increase the hydraulic head and therefore the amount of electricity it generates. ( MW ) Many hiking trails are found along the upper course of the river. Canoeing , kayaking , and rafting are also popular activities on the lower Kananaskis, with tours starting from Canmore or Banff . For whitewater enthusiasts looking to run friendly class II(III) whitewater,

371-553: A route called White Fish River to see where the Kaministikwia River connected to the main river and determine if it could be used for transportation purposes or as another possible pass from Canada to the prairies. Palliser had seen major waterways facilitating transportation in Mississippi and Missouri and saw the potential for connecting the Red River Colony to Canada. In collecting accurate and detailed information about

424-504: A ship to travel in the Atlantic), then to Montreal . From there, they finally sailed back to Liverpool . The science that was used in this expedition in the surveying of the land and information that was gathered was significant in the types of agriculture that could be grown and opportunities for settlement and transportation. The expedition collected and filed astronomical , meteorological , geological and magnetic data, described

477-419: Is a small hole on river left called Hollywood. The river then winds down with man-made eddies on either side of the river to the second feature called point-break, which is considered the river's best hole for playboating. Downstream is the river's largest wave, called Santa Claus, with an aggressive hole 30 yards below it (dubbed "Santa's Little Helper"). The section finishes off with Canoe Meadows Campground on

530-476: The Canadian Pacific Railway built through part of it. The opportunities that the land provided became a priority. In connecting the west with Canada, by 1870 agriculture was becoming the main focus and resource in the western prairies, though trading fur continued to be part of the economy. Palliser and Hind's expeditions and the research they conducted and the information that they contributed led to

583-504: The Deed of Surrender , which came into effect in 1870. While Palliser is credited with opening up a new era of settlement and development in the Canadian West , his warnings about the unsuitability to agricultural development of the area now known as Palliser's Triangle went unheeded. Palliser reported that the region including what is now southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan ,

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636-568: The Kananaskis Trail follows its itinerary. The lower course flows through Bow Valley Provincial Park , where Barrier Lake is formed along the river. Barrier Lake is an artificial lake used for hydroelectric power generation. The Kananaskis merges into the Bow River at Seebe , 30 km east of Canmore . The Kananaskis River has a total length of 74 kilometers (46 mi). The river contains three hydroelectric dams, each of which contains

689-794: The Okanogan Valley , while Palliser crossed over land to Midway, BC . Unable to find passes to the Pacific north of the 49th parallel, they reunited with Hector in Fort Colvile . From there, they travelled 598 miles (962 km) downstream on the Columbia River to Fort Vancouver and the Pacific Coast, then north to Fort Victoria . The expedition returned to the East Coast by ship through San Francisco and Panama (where they had to go overland to reach

742-703: The Palliser Range , Palliser Regional School Division and Palliser Formation of the Canadian Rockies . The University of Calgary undergraduate Geography club is named the Palliser Club. The railway station named Palliser located at mile 22.4 on CPKC Mountain subdivision is named after Captain Palliser. Palliser Expedition The Palliser expedition , officially the British North American Exploring Expedition , explored and surveyed

795-657: The Rockies in British North America . The expedition provided a better understanding of the remote western frontier and the new observations and knowledge were significant for the expansion into and development of the western prairies by European settlers. The expedition's reports impacted changes in the economy, settlement, transportation, Indigenous communities and the campaign for expansionism in Canada. The party consisted of: As well, local guides and interpreters traveled with

848-434: The compass , collected different types of plants, recorded measures of the rivers, and observed the various geographical terrains and characteristics of the landscapes. The measurements were compared to previous information and recording of the land by other explorers and scientists in recent years. They looked at existing agricultural development in the soil and the kinds of vegetation being grown in some regions. Two of

901-404: The fauna and flora of the lands crossed, as well as considerations regarding settlement and transportation. The research conducted on the expeditions by Hind and Palliser began to redefine the landscape of western British North America in its topography and the differences in the atmosphere . The party recorded longitude and latitude points, altitudes , chronometer rates, variations of

954-431: The Kaministikwia River and into Fort William , the starting point of the routes they had set out to explore; the first stretch of land was between Lake Superior and Red River. The expedition continued with horses and carts, with supplies provided by the HBC. At Red River Palliser employed a number of Métis guides to assist on the trip west. These guides also acted as interpreters, scouts and armed escorts. In June 1857,

1007-461: The Lower Kananaskis is a popular choice. As the river is dam-controlled, the water levels are predictable, and TransAlta generally posts the release times and flow rates on their website . The Canoe Meadows site is home to the popular Kananaskis Whitewater Festival ("Kanfest") . This is an annual festival, typically occurring in mid-August, which attracts beginner and expert kayakers alike for

1060-775: The Rockies through the Howse Pass , and tried unsuccessfully to push through to the Pacific Coast. Palliser and Sullivan crossed the mountains through the North Kootenay Pass and continued down the Kootenay River to Fort Colville , which by then was on American soil as a result of the Oregon Treaty of 1846 and placement of the boundary at the 49th parallel . Sullivan explored the Columbia River and its tributaries as far west as

1113-410: The Rocky Mountains, they were prevented from proceeding to the Pacific by mountains further west. From this better understanding and supported evidence of promising land and opportunities, work on expanding the west, settlement and connecting Canada to the west through additions to transportation. One of the passes that that party explored on their expedition was later used for transportation purposes, as

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1166-668: The United States border. The expedition continued through Turtle Mountain , Fort Ellice , Roche Percée , along the South Saskatchewan River to Fort Carlton , then along the North Saskatchewan River , where they spent the winter of 1857/1858. In the spring they marched west, and searched for mountain crossings west of modern-day Irricana . Palliser and Sullivan mapped the North Kananaskis Pass and North Kootenay Pass before returning to Fort Edmonton for

1219-682: The Waterford Militia, eventually with the rank of captain. He was also appointed High Sheriff of County Waterford for 1844–45. During a hunting expedition in British North America in 1847, Palliser wrote Solitary Rambles and Adventures of a Hunter in the Prairies , first published in 1853. He travelled back to British North America as leader of the British North American Exploring Expedition, which travelled over

1272-450: The detailed records and observations they were able to create a more accurate representation and understanding of the west. After three years of publishing details of the expedition, Palliser presented his report to the British Parliament in 1863. A comprehensive map of the surveyed areas was published in 1865. They concluded that transport through American territory was more feasible. While they found several passes suitable for crossing

1325-464: The expedition include the help of professional scientists who were able to conduct scientific research that could be used to better understand the land, as Palliser himself did not have any formal training. Under the recommendation of John Ball , who was the parliamentary under-secretary of state for the colonies during 1856, the British government provided funding towards the expedition of £5,000. Given

1378-450: The general public. In order to support the expansionists' claims of the promises that the west held, promising land needed to be found and publicly documented. Palliser and Hind's expeditions were results of increasing pressure by the British government to learn more about the west. Both the Canadian and British governments’ interest in the region and some of these possible opportunities of

1431-528: The government's interest in the same region, they accepted the proposal and provided funding and support for the expedition. The government's involvement was a recognition of the desire and need for development and expansion in the west. While the expedition started out, in Palliser's vision, as a one-man expedition exploring the west, it quickly became a legitimate, carefully organized and well-funded expedition through connections to influential and authoritative people and organizations. John Ball helped organize

1484-492: The group of men to accompany Palliser on the expedition. The men that made up the expedition were trained scientists of various fields. James Hector was a geologist , naturalist and physician. Other members of the British party were Eugène Bourgeau , who had made many contributions in botanical work; Thomas Wright Blakiston , a geographer and magnetical observer; and John W. Sullivan , a mathematician and sextant observer, who

1537-416: The increasing economic changes of the mid-19th century, the region began to be viewed differently, from the dominant landscapes to the growing potential for economic opportunities. This other view was the expansionist view, which became popular in 1856 and 1857 and viewed the uncharted territory in the west as a "promised land" with many possibilities for agricultural prosperity. With the expansionist view and

1590-468: The land and provide information about the uncharted region. His project was proposed to the Royal Geographical Society , which was involved in coordinating research expeditions and worked with the government to help fund some of them, after he was elected as a member of the society on November 24, 1856. Through the society, the Expedition Committee approved Palliser's proposal, but recommended that

1643-496: The land the party was travelling through, they recorded the different landscapes and terrains from bodies of water to forests and mountains. While some explorers had travelled from Red River out west, many followed routes along the Saskatchewan River that had long been used by fur traders. Palliser became aware of the existence of other routes, primarily used by indigenous communities. In 1848, Palliser met James Sinclair ,

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1696-593: The land were responsible for their investment and involvement in further research and expeditions. The purpose of the Palliser expedition was to explore three main areas: the land between Lake Superior and the Red River Colony , the land between the Red River Colony and the Rocky Mountains , and the land beyond the Rocky Mountains towards the Pacific Ocean along the continent's western coast. The route between Lake Superior and Red River connected trading posts and

1749-420: The landscapes of British-claimed north-western North America (today's western Canada ), in particular the territory of Rupert's Land , including information on the geography , climate , soil , flora and fauna , in order to discover its capabilities for settlement and transportation. The expedition was the first detailed and scientific survey of the region between Lake Superior and the southern passes of

1802-467: The main areas that were discovered on the expedition were the stretch of land which is known now as the fertile belt for the prosperous soil between Red River and the Saskatchewan River Valley and the Rockies. The second expanse of land is through the prairies and extends across the American border, and has become known as Palliser's triangle . They reported to the government that this region

1855-451: The open prairies and rugged wilderness of western Canada from 1857 to 1860. The expedition was led by Irish-born explorer John Palliser , and accompanied by a party of four other men: James Hector , Eugène Bourgeau , Thomas Blakiston and John W. Sullivan . With the support of the British government and the Royal Geographical Society it became an official expedition with the stated purpose of gathering scientific information about

1908-567: The party and assisted it in its work. Such was Maskepetoon , later chief of a small Cree band. "In 1857 he was engaged by John Palliser’s expedition to act as guide from the Qu’Appelle lakes (near Fort Qu’Appelle) to the elbow of the South Saskatchewan River (near Elbow); from the expedition’s members he acquired the name Nichiwa , the Cree term for 'friend'." With little information about

1961-638: The party explored White Fish River to determine the river connections and potential usage of the waterways along with the help of three local Ojibwas . They travelled from Thunder Bay up the Kaministiquia River , climbed Mountain Portage, stopped at the Priest's Portage and crossed nine other portages. They continued via the Red River and across the prairies. They met Charles W. Iddings, an American surveyor, along

2014-457: The physical features of the landscape, and reflected the expansionist views of the west at the time. Expeditions such as Palliser 's and Henry Youle Hind 's were direct results of the expansionist campaign. With the increasing frequency of expeditions to the west, exploring the North West became more popular, specifically among young British men interested in experiencing the wilderness before it

2067-423: The potential in the land, the western prairies began to also be seen as a place to settle and live as the barren and harsh wilderness was portrayed as a visionary countryside. One of the earliest visionaries of western Canada was Arthur Dobbs , who saw the agricultural potential and fertile soils in the mid-18th century. Even with little information or supporting evidence regarding the land's potential, visions of

2120-504: The region. The changes in the economy as a result of this expansion were very rapid and had affected the Metis and Indigenous people as they experienced a shift in their economic, political and cultural control over their communities. Within the 1870s, the foundation of the economy in western Canada was broken down with the isolation and separation from the rest of Canada, and systems of power among Indigenous communities. The disappearance of

2173-554: The rest of his life caring for his family. He died at his house, Comeragh House, Mahon Bridge, in County Waterford, Ireland in 1887. He is buried in the graveyard of Comeragh Church, Briska, Kilmacthomas , County Waterford . The Alberta administration has placed a plaque on his grave in commemoration of his achievements. The Fairmont Palliser Hotel and the neighbourhood of Palliser in Calgary , Alberta, are named after him, as are

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2226-482: The right hand shore, with a large "V" wave popular with river surfers, a second wave called the Green Tongue, and a very developed slalom course. Nearly every rapid on this stretch of river was either created or manipulated by man-made boulder placements. The exit of the river to get back to the take-out is anywhere on the right hand shore after the last slalom gate. [1] A major flood beginning on June 21, 2013 had

2279-461: The uncharted regions of the far west between 1857 and 1861. He made a topographical delimitation of the boundary between British North America and the United States, from Lake Superior to the coast of the Pacific Ocean . He was assisted by astronomer Lieutenant Thomas Blakiston of the Royal Artillery , botanist Eugène Bourgeau and geologist Dr James Hector . While travelling he explored

2332-421: The west were influential in portraying British North America as an untouched and unsettled wilderness full of opportunity. In the 1850s, the image of the west was influenced largely by the British government. Thomas Devine created the first map of British North America's West in 1857, which showed the territories of the Hudson's Bay Company . The map described the land and its potential rather than focusing on

2385-454: The western prairies and the frontiers of European settlement in British North America, the basis of public knowledge prior to the expedition was largely speculation. There were two main views of the west at the time; one view, which had been the dominant perception leading up to 1856, depicted the region as a remote and barren wasteland, an excessively rugged wilderness that had little prospect for economically useful resources or settlement. With

2438-428: The western prairies being divided into regions based on the geography , climate , soil and agricultural potential. The transition in the economic sectors from fur trading to agricultural created more development in western Canada , with a growing population of European settlers. The large presence of European settlers in the west made them a large economic power and created conflict with Indigenous communities in

2491-824: The winter. Hector crossed the Vermilion Pass and discovered the Kicking Horse Pass . During the winter, Palliser, Captain Arthur Brisco and William Roland Mitchell went south to Rocky Mountain House to meet the Blackfoot and Northern Peigan First Nations. In 1859, the expedition mapped the confluence of the Red Deer River and South Saskatchewan River, as well as the Cypress Hills , before turning again west. Hector crossed

2544-448: Was also the secretary for the expedition and responsible for astronomical observations. Palliser, Hector, Bourgeau, and Sullivan sailed for New York on 16 May 1857. In May 1857, Palliser and the group of men began the expedition. They sailed from Sault Ste Marie by steamship across Lake Superior and Lake Huron . They continued by canoes and by June 12 they had almost reached Isle Royale and continued through Thunder Bay , across

2597-658: Was an Irish-born geographer and explorer . Following his service in the Waterford Militia and hunting excursions to the North American prairies, he led the British North American Exploring Expedition which investigated the geography, climate and ecology of what would later become western Canada . Born in Dublin , Ireland, he was the son of Colonel Wray Palliser and a brother of Major Sir William Palliser (1830–1882), all descendants of Dr William Palliser , Archbishop of Cashel (1644–1726). From 1839 to 1863, Palliser served in

2650-422: Was taken over by settlers. The western prairies had only been known by the few small Indigenous communities that lived there and the few British fur traders and missionaries, who themselves did not know much about the land. Some of the fur traders and explorers who had been through the area had collected and recorded information and maps; however, this information was often private and not easily accessible by

2703-515: Was too arid for subsistence agriculture , a finding that was overruled by later officials. That was much to the detriment of those who tried to farm there, particularly when homesteading was encouraged by government grants of land From surveying the land, large amounts of fertile land were found which contributed to the change from an economy built around fur-trading to agriculture. The knowledge and plans for western British North America became more clear after Palliser and Hind's expeditions, with

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2756-563: Was too arid for farming. The area was nevertheless settled for farming, but was devastated in the Dust Bowl drought. In 1869 he travelled to Novaya Zemlya in Russia with another brother, Frederick Palliser , aboard the ship Sampson . Palliser was named a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG) in the 1877 Birthday Honours . He never married and retired to Ireland, where he spent

2809-470: Was used by the Hudson's Bay Company for some travel. The route had been used frequently by the HBC for trading furs by canoe before 1821. While the pass had not been originally part of the expedition, John Ball wanted a neutral perspective of the company's route to determine if it could be reliably used by travellers and for transporting goods as a connecting route to Canada. Palliser and his party also examined

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