History greets you at every turn. Use the guide to see our Heritage Moments.
History greets you at every turn. Use the guide to see our Heritage Moments.
In the building that now houses a clothing store, LA Outfitters, legendary NHL goalie Johnny Bower operated a coffee shop, or what he refers to as a “hamburger joint” in the early 1950s. In his autobiography, The China Wall, he reports his specialty, Bower’s Big Boy hamburger sold for 60 cents, a hamburger for 25 cents, bacon and eggs were 75 cents and coffee was 10 cents.
He enjoyed both cooking in the back and the fun young people who ate and played the jukebox. Johnny, while working on the Golf Course, met Nancy, who became his wife. He spent many happy hours golfing and fishing with Gordie Howe, another NHL legend who spent summers in the Park during the same years. In the summer of 2022 a multi sport court was opened on the Waskesiu Recreation Association property and named after Johnny.
In his forward to The China Wall, Gordie Howe, talks about fishing at Waskesiu with Johnny and cooking up their catch at the restaurant.
“We both loved to get out on the lake and fish, mostly for northern pike. On one occasion, John got so darn excited when he caught a fish, he tried to grab it with his hands. They’re so slippery, and this one time, he put his rod down and the son of a gun jumped right out of his hand and back into the water, taking the rod with him. Johnny had this weird look on his face and I found out he’d borrowed the rod from his neighbour. Next thing I know, he’s undressing and getting ready to jump in the ice cold water to go after it. That was the most exciting moment we ever had on the boat. After we came back in from the lake, we’d usually go to Johnny’s restaurant, and if we’d caught any fish, he’d cook them up for us."
Star Power
When the movie Without Malice was filmed in Prince Albert National Park in the early 2000s, locations in Waskesiu assumed new roles.
Dating to 1930, this building has been a drug store, food outlets, and clothing store. However, in the filming it served as a taxidermy shop and the Museum was the warden service office.
In the film, during a weekend hunting trip, a warden is accidentally shot and two men try to cover the murder up with a lie.
Produced by Lucky Shot and Minds Eye, the film entertains viewers with its tense plot as the lie unravels under investigation. (IMDb)
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Archival images property of Parks Canada/Prince Albert National Park.
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