Chuck Leuw – 1969-1971. Boiler Washer, Maintenance Electrician.

I was very pleased to find the website, and sad in some way that no one

from the 1960's has found it yet.

I started working at the BSH in January 1969, worked there until September

1969, came back in January 1970 until September 1970, back in December

1970, and then finally left in August 1971 if my memory serves me

correctly. I started as a boiler washer for 3 months in 1969, then as a

maintenance electrician after that. Nothing could compare to working at the

hotel in the winter time, no tourists, and walking through the huge

building all by oneself - left to explore and imagine. Not too mention I

was responsible for fixing all things electrical as well as the

elevators. That meant I could go anywhere in the hotel, anytime. Banff and

the hotel was so peaceful during this time you can only imagine. Then of

course the summer came, and the 950+/- staff out of the 10,000 applicants

vying for the $37 per week jobs, plus tips, and including room and

board. If they stayed the summer, they got there train fare paid back,

otherwise they were on the hook to get back home. Hence they sought always

to employ people from down east, and in some of the more menial jobs, they

always had the people from Digby, Nova Scotia. That is another story.

The guest room did exist at one time, but having walked through the hotel

so many times and in all the nooks and crannies, there really wasn't a room

like that left. There were some interesting spots, and one could say

rooms, that were only accessible by climbing through a wall panel located in

one of the fire stairs. You wouldn't know of these areas unless you were

made aware of them. I also remember being able to crawl between the floors

above the lobby foyer. The bellman's room was only accessible by the

service elevator.

I lived in Chateau Ramsey, which was the small building beside the upper

Annex, and where the Hotel Manager, Cliff Watson lived. Following Cliff's

departure. Pat Fitt, VP CP Hotels, took over for a short stint to clean the

place up - he was known as Mr. Clean - a very stern, impeccably dressed,

gentlemen who I had the good fortune to run into when he was in mid-80's in

Calgary back in the late 90's. I left shortly after Ivor Petrak assumed the

helm of the hotel. I worked directly for the Chief, Dave Riddoch who sadly

passed away in December 2003.

One of the good fortunes of having worked in the maintenance area was that

many of the staff had worked at the hotel for as many as 30 years before I

had arrived, and so I worked with a very interesting group of characters

who had a lot of the history of the hotel. I wish I could remember all the

stories. I was close with Sam McAuley - the BSH resident 'ghost' - who had

always said he would haunt the hotel. Sam could tell stories that I wish

now I had recorded. Although, the current head bellman, Mo, who has worked

at the hotel since 1966 as I recall, told me that he started the ghost

story. I guess I'd like to think that Sam still walks the halls. I also

have fond memories of Ralph the garbage man. He was one of the kindest

people you could ever possibly meet, and the most trustworthy. I could

have given Ralph a hundred million dollars to watch and the dust would be

on the currency when you got back regardless of time.

There are so many stories and wonderful events and people. It truly was

one of the more memorable times of my life, and if I could turn back the

hands of time, I would do it all over again.

I am currently in Australia, have been since September 1999, but the

mountains always seem to have this calling for me, more so than the sea.