Fonds whyte-1115 - Rhoda Rouse fonds

Rhoda Rouse (1902-1978) was born in Daysland Alberta (then N.W.T.), the daughter of John James and Eva Olive Williamene (Russell) Rouse. Unmarried and with no children, she was a member of the Class of 1923 in the Arts program at the University of British Columbia. She was a teacher at Maryland School south of Ogden and Pine Creek school near DeWinton, Alberta for several years, and thereafter worked for Royalite Oil in Calgary for approximately 20 years. Upon her retirement at Royalite she returned to substitute teaching in the 1960s. She was a lifetime member of the Alpine Club of Canada, joining in 1944, and was active in the club and in the ACC camps. She spent much of her life in the outdoors and was a photography enthusiast. She was a friend of Joe Smith of Silver City.

The Alpine Club of Canada, the national mountaineering club, was founded in 1906 by A. O. Wheeler and other like-minded climbers. The club espoused scientific study and exploration, cultivation of art, public education, acquisition of climbing skills, and preservation of natural areas within the mountainous regions of Canada. Through a national executive, local sections and volunteer committees, the club provided climbing camps, clubhouse, huts, and publications, including the Canadian Alpine Journal. ACC expeditions and projects resulted in pioneer exploration, first ascents, and included mountain warfare training during the Second World War. In recent years, the club's membership has increased dramatically with the popularity of climbing and its programs have evolved to serve the needs of unguided climbers using sophisticated technical aids.