69 - Hilary McDowall and the Kicking Horse News
Summary
Hosts Chris Chang and Trevor Chow Fraser return with a miniseries on 1970s Alberta environmental history, focusing on journalist Hilary McDowell. They explore her life in Lake Louise, her opposition to Olympic bids, and her support for the Village Lake Louise development plan. The episode reveals her undisclosed financial ties to the project’s proponents, highlighting the complex, often biased relationship between local journalists and activists.
Topics discussed
Intro: Finding a song and the pain of disappearing bands
Welcome back: Host's public history work and episode premise
Theme: Journalists, activists, and conflicts of interest in the 70s
Sponsor: Skirts of Fire Edmonton festival
Profile: Hillary McDowell, WWII codebreaker turned Rockies journalist
Life in Lake Louise: Isolation, community stories, and the Herald
The Kicking Horse News: A zine-like local publication
Failed Olympic bids and opposition from conservation groups
Village Lake Louise: The rejected development plan and public hearings
Conflict of interest: McDowell's ties to resort developers
Analysis: Bias, agenda, and the role of small-town journalists
Outro: Next episode preview and credits
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