Preserving a Cultural Treasure:
The Swiss Edelweiss Village Campaign
Location: Golden, BC, Canada
Date: ongoing
Website: swissvillage.ca
Industries:
Heritage Preservation and Conservation
Non-Profit and Social Impact
Fundraising and Philanthropy
Tourism, Culture, Architecture
Services:
Heritage preservation
Fundraising and philanthropy
Community engagement
Design thinking and innovation
Publicity and media relations
Grant application and securing funding
Digital preservation
Website design and development
Outreach to authorities and organizations
Background
The Conexkt team, recognizing the significance of the Swiss Edelweiss Village as a cultural and architectural treasure, and the urgent need to save it from potential demolition, decided to help create the Swiss Edelweiss Village Foundation (SEVF) as a way to play a role in safeguarding the village. Thanks to our efforts and the incredible work of Dr. Ilona Spaar, with whom we collaborated on this project, the village was listed as one of the Top 10 endangered places on the 2022 National Trust Endangered Places List. The village was the historic home to the legendary Swiss mountain guides employed by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and built between 1910-12 by the CPR, the six Swiss Alpine-style chalets with their eclectic decorative elements represent a unique piece of architectural history. The Swiss mountaineers helped shape the world-renowned mountain culture of the Canadian Rockies, and places such as Banff and Lake Louise would not look the same without their impact.
“The Loss of Edelweiss Village would be devastating to the history of the Swiss Guides and Canadian Pacific Railway, of Switzerland and Canada”
Design Challenge
The design challenge was to raise enough funds to purchase the village and preserve it for future generations, as well as gather ideas for its future use. The village was currently for sale and located just outside the Town of Golden in the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, a rural district with no heritage bylaws in place. With no heritage recognition or protection, the village could be sold at any time to a buyer solely interested in demolition. Moreover, the very same Swiss guides who lived at Edelweiss Village built the legendary Abbot Pass Hut, a national historic site, which will soon be dismantled due to the impacts of climate change. With the disappearance of Abbot Hut, Edelweiss Village with its six chalets remains the last and strongest link to the golden age of Western Canada’s mountaineering and the Swiss guides’ remarkable contributions to it.
Edelweiss Village, located in Golden, British Columbia, Canada, was constructed in the early 1900s to accommodate Swiss Alpine guides and their families, as well as to serve as a tourist destination. Photo: Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
Design Process
To address this design challenge, Conexkt took a multi-faceted approach to raise awareness and funds for the village. Our team contacted municipal, regional, provincial, and national authorities to gather support and endorsements. We also reached out to the local community and gathered endorsements which were featured on the SEVF website. Additionally, we created a website that received over 4,000 unique views in less than a month, with a 30% conversion rate.
Our team also helped create a documentary on the topic: Forgoing: The Future of Edelweiss Village. We also received offers to volunteer and support from the community, with over 500 people registered for the newsletter in less than one month. Our team also secured support from key organizations such as tourism, foreign affairs, and museums.
Furthermore, as a result of our efforts, investors and developers were contacting us, and the village was recognized as an endangered place by the National Trust for Canada. We also received 40+ media contributions from Canada, Switzerland, UK, USA, Poland, Italy. Additionally, we secured a grant for digital preservation with UCalgary and Presence Switzerland.
40+ media contributions
Canada, Switzerland, UK, USA, Poland, Italy
Outcome
Our team successfully raised enough leverage to preserve the Edelweiss Village. As a result, the Swiss Edelweiss Village Foundation was created with the key mandate of preserving and promoting the village for future generations. The foundation will work to gather ideas for the village's future use and ensure that it remains a cultural and architectural treasure for the community to enjoy. The team's community engagement, media relations and securing grants also helped raise awareness about the importance of preserving historical sites like the Edelweiss Village.
We also partnered with the University of Calgary team from the Digital Heritage Alberta lab to preserve the Village in a digital format.
Key Takeaways
The project highlights the importance of preserving cultural and architectural treasures for future generations. It also demonstrates the power of a multi-faceted approach to raise awareness and funds, including community engagement, media coverage, and support from key organizations. The community's involvement in shaping the future of important historical sites was also crucial. The project also showcases how design thinking can be applied to social impact projects and how it can help to achieve a common goal.
Conclusion
The Edelweiss Village campaign demonstrates how design thinking can be used to solve complex and pressing social issues. Through a combination of fundraising methods and community engagement, the campaign successfully raised enough funds to purchase and preserve the village and gather ideas for its future use. The project also highlights the importance of preserving cultural and architectural treasures and involving the community in shaping the future of important historical sites. The Edelweiss Village serves as an example of how design thinking can be used to create positive impact and help to achieve a common goal. Our team's efforts to secure support from key organizations, media coverage, and securing a grant for digital preservation, show the importance of leveraging different resources and networks to achieve a common goal. The success of the campaign is also a testament to the power of community engagement, as our team was able to mobilize support and gather ideas for the village's future use. The Edelweiss Village campaign serves as a model for how design thinking can be used to preserve cultural and architectural treasures and make a positive impact in the community.
Your project?
If you are interested in preserving cultural and architectural treasures, creating positive impact, and involving the community in shaping the future of important historical sites, don't hesitate to get in touch with Conexkt. Our team of experts in design thinking, fundraising, community engagement, and media relations will work with you to develop a tailored solution to meet your specific needs. We have a proven track record of success in raising awareness and funds for endangered historical sites and can help you do the same. Don't hesitate to contact us to discuss how we can help you achieve your goals and make a difference in your community.