A hundred years ago, amidst the towering peaks and rugged landscapes that still stand today, one of Banff’s most remarkable figures lived: Mary Schäffer Warren.
An iconic naturalist, Schäffer Warren was one of the first non-indigenous explorers to carve her path through the untamed wilderness of Banff in the early 1900s.
From documenting wild plants to embarking on marathon horseback journeys, she left an indelible mark on the landscape and Western scientific community.
But her story as the intrepid adventurer didn’t even begin until after her husband’s death – when she was 43 years old.
Reinvention
Her reinvention at a later age made Schäffer Warren unique, especially in the 1920s.
Her brave, late-in-life transformation is a focal point of a new documentary, Wildflowers.
Wildflowers explores life transitions through the stories of two mountain writers living a century apart: Mary Schäffer Warren (1861-1939) and RCGS Fellow Meghan J. Ward.
Mary’s story resonates with Meghan J. Ward, co-producer and one of the on-screen subjects of Wildflowers.
“I’m turning 40 this year, and I think there is something about hitting that midlife phase that our culture has a lot to say about, especially for women.”
The upcoming documentary combines backcountry adventure with historical research to shed light on Schäffer Warren’s legacy and the timeless spirit of reinvention she embodied.
“I found myself turning to Mary’s story for inspiration on what it really means to reinvent yourself at any stage in life,” Ward shared.
She wasn’t the only one.
Retracing History
In Wildflowers, Ward and a team of adventurous women follow in Mary’s footsteps, tracing her historic expedition to Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park.
The film captures more than just a backcountry excursion; it celebrates the strength and resilience of modern women in a similar life stage as Schäffer when she navigated these uncharted territories.
“We want this film to be for people of all ages, but I think that people will notice, maybe without even being able to put a finger on it, and it’s probably that the protagonists are all middle-aged women,” Ward remarks.
In her day, Schäffer had a pretty strong aversion to the limelight.
“She didn’t like to draw a lot of attention to herself… I think she would have a good chuckle about the idea that this group of women, a century later, are creating this film about her and walking in her footsteps,” Ward joked.
But regardless of whatever distaste for the spotlight she had then, her story deserves to be documented today, and the film hopes to do this Albertan legend justice.
Post Production Journey
As Wildflowers makes its way through post-production, the team has gained a ton of support from the community and the team to bring their vision to life.
Through crowdfunding efforts, the production team has raised over $25,000 to give the film the post-production treatment its creators felt the story deserved.
The film has been created almost solely by a diverse group of women, which rarely happens in a motion picture.
A recent post to Instagram stated that “Wildflowers perhaps never would have come to be if it were not for the passion and vision of the film’s director, Trixie Pacis, whose seed of an idea has now blossomed into a documentary film. You will not see Trixie in front of the camera in Wildflowers, but her influence is everywhere. Keep an eye out for her other film projects at @trixie_!”
Beyond directors duties Trixie was the original producer of the film.
Along with recognizing a local legend, Wildflowers gives a voice to an underrepresented segment of the outdoor community.
In a town that’s culture is centred around exploring wilderness, that’s something worth talking about.
To learn more about Wildflowers or contribute to its realization, visit www.wildflowersfilm.ca or watch the trailer below:
