BANFF – Canmore resident Helen Sovdat – one of Canada’s outstanding mountain adventurers and guides – is this year’s winner of the prestigious Summit of Excellence Award at the 46th annual Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival.
The list of past recipients reads like a ‘who’s who’ of the Canadian mountain culture scene, and includes a diverse collection of mountaineers, authors, artists, photographers, mountain guides, musicians, teachers, and rescue specialists.
While completely surprised, Sovdat said she was deeply honoured to receive the award, noting it is a win for women in the outdoors.
“I am being recognized for something I love to do, which is to work and play in the mountains,” she said.
“I want women to know it’s worthwhile to follow their dreams and passions in the mountains and to take on leadership roles.”
Presented at the film and book fest each year since 1987, the Summit of Excellence Award is presented in memory of Calgary climber Bill March, an internationally respected mountaineer, author, and educator, who led Canada’s first successful Everest climb in 1982.
Only three women have won the Summit of Excellence Award before – Bernadette McDonald in 2007, Gill Daffern in 2006 and Sharon Wood 1997.
According to the selection committee for the 2021 award, Sovdat is an inspiration to women and to a new generation of guides everywhere, priding herself on being both encouraging and inclusive.
“This has made her a much-loved friend and mentor of the mountain community,” wrote the selection committee.
Sovdat’s deep passion for a mountain life began from her home in Vancouver, British Columbia, which led her to pioneering several long ski traverses in the Coast Mountains. She moved to the Rockies in the early 1980s, beginning a long and accomplished guiding career.
“I came here as a ski bum and worked in odd jobs in the mountains, skied and climbed and did some outdoor work,” she said.
“I just always had the mountain bug. I like travelling and exploring through the mountains and eventually gained the opportunity to work in the mountains and it snowballed into a career.”
Sovdat was the third woman in North America to earn full certification as a mountain guide with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) and the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA).
At a time when guiding was dominated by men, Sovdat was determined to show that women could be strong leaders if given the chance.
“At that time, there were only a few of us going through the exams and most of us were training with other men,” she said.
Sovdat spent years exploring new and challenging terrain with guests, refining her guiding skills to a high level. That set her on a course to eventually become an instructor for the ACMG training and assessment program.
She's led expeditions in Canada and overseas, heading up the Alpine Club of Canada’s general mountaineering camps and working for more than three decades as a guide for CMH Heli-Skiing.
She’s proven herself in many of the world’s great ranges. From the St. Elias to the Andes, and the Himalayas, her climbing accomplishments include ascents of Ama Dablam, Manaslu – first Canadian ascent – and Cho Oyu – first Canadian women.
In the Canadian Rockies, Sovdat has climbed all 56 of the 11,000-foot peaks – the ultimate box to tick for any alpinist and something she did largely in her spare time.
But probably what has given her the most satisfaction is sharing her passion with many people.
“I’m probably most proud of the connections I’ve made with different people over the years,” she said. “Helping them with their skills, helping them achieve their goals, and keeping them safe in the mountains.”
Importantly, Sovdat is proud to be a strong role model for women, noting she wants to reinforce that women have a place in the outdoors.
“Times are changing,” she said, noting women are now getting more support from the community and more recognition for their accomplishments.
“It’s worthwhile to follow your dreams and your passions and pluck away at it … and you will achieve success in whatever you do, in any mountain activity, or in any part of life.”
Since getting her mountain guide accreditation, Sovdat has devoted time to creating opportunities for aspiring guides and leaders to accompany her on mountain trips and ski traverses so that they too can gain experience and learn through her mentorship.
She said she feels that it is important to give back to the mountain community that helped her early in her career.
“It’s been over 30 years of working as a guide, and I would say that in terms of my leadership style, I am collaborative and inclusive,” she said.
“It has really been a privilege to call this place my home and explore the far reaches of the Rockies.”
Recent award recipients include Raphael Slawinski (2020), David Smart (2019), Jacques Olek (2018), Don Serl (2017), David P. Jones (2016), Pierre Lemire (2015), Urs Kallen (2014), Ben Gadd (2013), and Geoff Powter (2012).
This year’s selection committee includes Joanna Croston, Nancy Hansen, Geoff Powter, Louis Rousseau, Senja Palonen and Sarah Hueniken.
