Mona Harragin 1904-1983 & Agnes Harragin 1906-1988

The Harragin sisters were born in the West Indies but moved to Salmon Arm, B.C. where they spent most of their childhood. Growing up, both girls had a love of horses and the outdoors. In 1926 they applied for jobs in Jasper where they got work at Fred Brewster’s camp at Medicine Lake.  Here they were responsible for taking care of visitors arriving from Jasper by road and boat.  Most just stopped for lunch before continuing to Maligne Lake but some stayed overnight.  Mona & Agnes were often left to fend for themselves in the isolated camp and proved themselves able to handle tourists, horses, bears and even porcupines! They were popular with the dudes and, after a successful first season, Fred Brewster offered them a job as cooks and hostesses at the camp of their choice.  The sisters stated that they wanted to work as guides and, on the advice of his wife, Azalia, Brewster agreed. Mona and Agnes Harragin became the first female licensed guides in the national parks. That summer they were put in charge of the Circle Trip from Jasper to Maligne Lake. The sisters continued to work for Fred Brewster and other outfitters for several years before getting married-Agnes to Mark Truxler and Mona to Charlie Matheson. Truxler was a Jasper guide and outfitter and Matheson was a Jasper National Park warden so both sisters continued their connection to horses and Jasper for many years.