Officials brace for winter on Trans-Canada through Yoho after deadly summer

Opening the Kicking Horse Canyon stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway is a relief for motorists dreading detours, but for some it's a concern after a deadly summer on the road through Yoho National Park. 

Highway 1 was shut down for two months to twin the Kicking Horse Canyon section, rerouting traffic travelling between Alberta and British Columbia to Highway 93.

Despite that closure through Yoho National Park, there were nine fatalities.

"We have never seen that before," said Field resident and paramedic Patrick Cais. "Usually we've got up to one to three accidents or fatalities a year, and this year, within nine months … we were at nine fatalities."

It's unclear why there was such a dramatic increase in fatal crashes. 

Some officials think because of traffic and construction delays, some motorists drove recklessly out of frustration. 

Others say the highway has been overloaded for years and would need major upgrades to meet modern standards.

Cais has lived in the small mountain community for 15 years. As a paramedic and the acting fire chief for the Field Fire Department and Rescue, he's been on the front line.

The Field rescue department stopped responding to highway emergency calls in 2020.

The last fire chief left, and Cais said no one has stepped up to take the job since. 

Parks Canada says it took a regional approach to road rescue; leaning on Lake Louise Fire and Rescue and the Golden Fire Department. The Field fire department now handles structure fires. 

Cais says this regional approach isn't working. 

"The system that's been put into place has reached its limit. And we would like to see more resources. Without having more resources in place, we don't see how things could improve."

Mike Pecora is the director of emergency services and the fire chief in Golden, B.C. He says it's too soon to analyze the implications of the changes after the pandemic years and the summer of construction.