It is with great sadness that we share that Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen was among the many homes and businesses destroyed by the wildfire that swept through Jasper. We are thankful that the area was fully evacuated, and we are grateful to the first responders and firefighters who worked around the clock to protect our community.

The Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen has a rich history. Merle Brewster, wife of local outfitter Jack Brewster, (youngest brother of legendary guides Bill and Jim Brewster) opened the Maligne Canyon Tea Room overlooking the top of the Maligne Canyon in 1927. The Tea Room was a welcome respite after a long railway journey or between expeditions to Maligne Lake and Shovel Pass - Merle even hosted such celebrities as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries!

The original building was replaced in 1963 and after a succession of owners—including Bill Ruddy, who operated boat tours at Maligne Lake for almost 30 years. We purchased the building in 2018 from Galal Helmy, a well-known and respected Art Gallery owner in Jasper. Honouring this legacy, Pursuit opened the renovated Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen in 2019, and it quickly became a favourite “lunch spot” among the adventurous!

It is too soon to share the future of Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen. Pursuit remains committed to supporting community and local tourism partners in re-building efforts. We will share more information as it becomes available.