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September 15, 1999 Pioneering ice climber wins 1999 Bill March Summit of Excellence Award Guy Lacelle, one of the world’s leading ice climbers who has established and repeated most the the extreme climbs in the Canadian Rockies – many of them solo – is this year’s recipient of the Bill March Summit of Excellence Award. Lacelle will be honoured during an awards ceremony at the 1999 Banff Mountain Film Festival on Sunday, November 7, 1999. "Guy was selected because of his uncompromising standards and his pioneering spirit," says Bernadette McDonald, director of The Banff Centre for Mountain Culture, which produces the festival. "He differs from other leading ice climbers in that he climbs almost exclusively solo and in remote locations which are difficult to access, adding to his level of commitment," she says. "He has done little self promotion, he’s a self-sponsored climber and, except for a select group within the mountaineering community, he is an unsung hero." Lacelle, 44, is a native of Hawksbury, Ontario who has always had a passion for the outdoors. He started rock and ice climbing while pursuing a Physical Education degree at the University of Ottawa. His first ascent was the 300-foot La Congelée (W13) outside Québec City, which he accomplished with his partner in seven hours – a climb he has since done solo in less than five minutes. After graduating in 1978, Lacelle instructed winter courses for Ontario Outward Bound. His first trip to the Rockies was in 1983 when he and partner Alain Chase climbed Polar Circus, a formidable 1500-foot route. Later he went on to teach winter courses at Yamnuska Mountain School in Canmore, Alberta. In 1988, he stepped back from teaching and guiding and adopted a new lifestyle – tree planting in the summer months and rock and ice climbing in the winter. Typically, he’ll spend between 50 and 60 days on ice during the ice climbing season. Lacelle’s accomplishments are numerous and span the globe. His peers call this quiet, unassuming athlete, who is known for his physical and mental endurance, one of the world’s smoothest ice technicians. Some of his most notable solo ascents from the 90s include: The Terminator (W16) and Sea of Vapours (W15, The Canadian Rockies, 1997), Ames Ice Hose (W15, Colorado 1997), (Capitaine Courageux (W15, France, 1996), Curtain Call (W16, Canadian Rockies, 1995), Au-delà des Ombres, (W15, France, 1994), Hydenfossen (W16, Norway, 1993), Back Off (W14, Utah, 1992) and Iron Curtain (W16, Canadian Rockies 1990). Lacelle’s "base camp" is in Prince George, British Columbia where he lives with his wife Marge Lachecki and five dogs. They work together tree planting five or six months of the year, then part company when the climbing season begins for Guy. The Summit of Excellence Award is sponsored by One Step Beyond WorldWide in memory of Calgary climber Bill March, an internationally respected mountaineer, author and educator. Past recipients of the award include: John Martin (1998), Sharon Wood (1997), Tim Auger (1996), Brian Greenwood (1995), Kiwi Gallagher (1994), Roger Vernon (1993), Jon Whyte (1992), Don Forest (1991), Pat Morrow (1990), Hans Gmoser (1989), Jim Davies (1988) and Bruno Engler (1987). To order tickets for the awards ceremony or for other festival events, contact the ticket line at 403-762-6675, or 1-800-298-1229. Debra Hornsby, Marketing and Communications Manager, Mountain Culture at The Banff Centre promotes understanding and appreciation of the world’s mountain places by creating opportunities for people to share – and find inspiration in – mountain experiences, ideas and visions. The 24th Annual Banff Mountain Film Festival is presented by Eagle Creek Travel Gear, and sponsored by Moonstone/Gore, the National Geographic Society, Polartec, Salomon Footwear, Sierra Designs Outerwear, and Air Canada, with assistance from Ski Lake Louise, Electrohome and Mountainzone.com
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