Roads – Fort St. James

A film which documents a journey from Jasper to Fort St. James on a road trip, while a long time staff member of Fort St James tells the story of his first trip to Fort St. James under unexpected circumstances.

Learn more about the Fort St. James National Historic Site at http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/bc/stjames/index.aspx

A film which documents a journey from Jasper to Fort St. James on a road trip, while a long time staff member of Fort St James tells the story of his first trip to Fort St. James under unexpected circumstances.

 
(TEXT) ROADS - FORT ST. JAMES

Split screen Close Up of Jasper sign, hand on steering wheel and keys hanging out

Audio
My name is, Lyle David Penner

Panning Long Shot of British Columbia sign, Close Up of British Columbia sign and Close Up of curtains blowing over a window at Fort St. James; Rabbit fur hanging from the ceiling of a roof at Fort St. James, cars driving past a highway sign, and a Close Up of a pot handle

Audio
and um well, some years ago I was working in the theatre industry, I was working at a place called the rosebud dinner theatre

Close Up of hands on a steering wheel and horse’s ears over the top of a fence; Shots of Mt. Robson park signs in split screen

Audio
and there, I fell, I had an accident,I had a head injury and dislocated my shoulder

Close Up foot on gas pedal, café at Fort St. James and McBride road sign in split screen

Audio
That ended my career for the time being there

Medium Shot of horses grazing in Dunster, Close Up of painted advertisement on a barn; Panning Long Shot of painted barn; Close Up of Dunster road sign, Canada flag at Fort St. James

Audio
and I didn't know where I was going to go or what I was going to do, and I was thinking well, I've got to try to stay in the game, in life and keep moving somehow

Medium Shot high angle of boardwalk leading to door at Fort St. James, time lapse of driving on the highway to Fort St. James

Audio
so I thought: why not try Barkerville?

Steadicam shots of the ancient rainforest, Medium Close Up of hand writing at a wooden desk at Fort St. James, Close Up of little girl holding a stuffed fox, Close Up of wool blanket at Fort St. James trading post, Long Shot of young man looking up a tree in the ancient forest, Close Up of fire being stoked at Fort St. James trading post, Close Up of “Mitchell’s Old Irish Whiskey”

Audio
I had a connection there, somebody worked there that I had known before and they got me a list of some phone numbers and some people I could try to contact, and I was working my way down the list and getting pretty discouraged because that time of year the decisions had already been made. I got part way down the list and, accidentally... phoned the wrong number. See, in Barkerville the middle three numbers are 966

Medium Shot of little boy on his father’s shoulders through a window and Medium Shot of glass vase through a window

Audio
and I dialed 996 and I accidentally got ahold of Bob Grill at this site

Time lapse of driving the high way to Fort St. James; Close Up of rotting wood in a lake, time lapse of clouds over the lake and Close Up of the roots of the tree on its side

Audio
I got through my spiel of what I had done, theatre-wise, in the past, and he said "you aren't calling where you think you're calling.

Panning Close Up of Welcome to Prince George Sign

Audio
This isn't Barkerville, this is Fort St. James"

Close Up of horses being prepped for riding at a ranch in Prince George

Audio
so I was a bit stunned, you know, I'm on the other end and I'm struggling as it is

Close Up of hands on a steering wheel, Close Up of fur at Fort St. James, Close Up of china cup at Fort St. James

Audio
I’m trying to get my bearings and now I've phoned the wrong place.

Long Shot of truck driving down the high past a painted road sign that reads “I MISS YOU”

Audio
then there was a bit more of a pause and Bob said "but we're looking for someone with theatre experience this year"

Panning Close Up of Fort St. James Parks Sign and Fort St. James Wooden sign

Audio
and we got to contacting each other back and forth

Extreme Close Up of Interpreter Lyle’s clenched hand

Audio
and that was my first experience with Fort St. James, and trip down here,

Extreme Close Up of Interpreter Lyle’s eyes

Audio
it was over a wrong... Well! Phoning the wrong place

Close Up of interpreter talking to young boy with Canada temporary tattoo, Close Up of little boy with Canada temporary tattoo listening to interpreter

Audio
so I came here by accident, and I'm here 13 seasons later

Close Up of interpreter Lyle talking about his first experiences in Fort St. James

Audio
and the reasons I keep coming back are because I love the place, It's really me. I've had a lot of healing here, and made a lot of good friends here and had a really good job here too.
 
(TEXT) However you get here
(TEXT) it's worth the trip