Town of Banff

James Brewster

Banff Sports Hall of Fame - 2005: Pioneer

After arriving in Banff in 1887, Jim supported many major Banff sporting events including the May Day regatta, the Banff Indian Days and the Winter Carnival. Jim then went on to pioneer an achievement that so many of us enjoy to this day, he helped finance the development of a ski area at Mt. Norquay. In 1935 Jim began construction of a ski lodge near the Continental Divide which he called Sunshine, the beginning of what we know today as Sunshine Village. Elected Western VP of the Canadian Amateur Ski Association in 1936 and instrumental in putting Mt. Norquay on the map by bringing the Canadian Amateur Ski Association Dominion Championship ski races to Banff, Jim Brewster was truly one of the pioneers of this community, and our identity is tied to his vision and hard work. For many years Jim provided funding and transportation to countless young Banff skiers for competitions across western Canada. He was tireless in his promotion of skiing and skiers of the Banff area until his death in 1947.