On the Ethics of Access by Drew Copeland
Sharon Wood and Jim Elzinga were more than mountain guides on Sunday, August 11; they opened their ar ms and hearts to a group of amazing young women from Edmonton, who come from a variety of complicated situations. Jim’s uncle, Wallis Kendal, co-founded iHuman and together they organized Street to Peaks. The participants came to Canmore for three days in August for some mountain activities, one being to climb Mount Fairview, the 2,744- metre peak that stands on the east bank of Lake Louise.
Kara Rain, Jasmine Nepoose, Alyssia Gladue, Roxanne Tompkins and Melissa Bigstone never imagined climbing one of Canada’s iconic peaks together. The time and efforts of iHuman is changing the lives of hundreds of youth, most of them with native backgrounds. I had the opportunity to climb Fairview with the team which included Elzinga’s wife, Siu Mai, who is a Detective Constable with the Toronto Police Service and dedicated climber, and Nico Magnun, one of the Rockies’ core-climbers. The women’s social worker, Brianna Olson, came for the trek.
Streets to Peaks is in its second year. Last year they scrambled Ha Ling, above Canmore. Getting to know the girls on Fairview I was overwhelmed by the courage, stoke and talent they have. Watching Wood and Elzinga interact with everyone on a parental and mentor level was encouraging and inspir ing. The girls shared their stor ies, often heart-wrenching, about childhood, inner-city gangs, abuse, racism and so much more.
“If it wasn’t for Wallis and iHuman, I would still be in jail,” said one of the participants. “Nope, I never thought I would make it to the top, it got so hard and hot, I am so happy we did,” said another. Elzinga and Wood once pushed a new route on Mount Everest together, in 1986, which required a certain kind of strength. Their work with Streets to Peaks requires a different kind of strength, one that touches others in a positive and long-lasting way. Congratulations to all of the participants and big thanks to all of the organizers. More info at