Our
Story
Established in 2022, The Bee & Bear is a boutique family-run lodge created to cultivate connection with self, community and nature in partnership with guides and facilitators across Canada. But our story begins much earlier than that.
1900-1920
Our great-great-grandfather Franklin 'Muzzy' Crosby journeyed west by rail to East Glacier, MT, to explore the Rocky Mountains. A passionate outdoorsman and fisherman, he discovered a kindred spirit in Bert Rigall, who ran a guiding business in Twin Butte, Alberta. Crossing the border with Model T Fords on dirt tracks into Waterton Lakes National Park, they established a relationship spanning three generations and across continents, as well as a shared love of nature which has endured for five generations.
1930
Our grandmother joined these annual trips at the age of nine, enjoying years of mountain excursions with the family. She married our grandfather in 1952, who was also a lover of grand adventures, and continued the family tradition of heading West.
1961
Loading a stripped-down Ford Econoline van with five kids, three dogs, camping gear, and three drivers, our family embarked on a 2,200 mile and 56-hour journey, only stopping for fuel… even changing drivers on the fly (safety was clearly not a priority). After loading up the pack horses with five shopping carts of groceries, they ventured into the mountains to immerse themselves in the wilderness and seek grand adventure.
1972
The allure of nature and freedom captivated them all, including our mother. In their quest for land to winter their pack string of 14 horses, Cloudy Ridge Ranch was born. Our Mom recalls our grandmother proclaiming, "This will change our lives forever!" And indeed, it did. Over the next decade, they engaged in intensive labour, partnering with another to build the ranch. Embracing a self-sufficient lifestyle, we learned to handle cattle, grow food, make hay, fix plumbing, wire chicken coops, and more.
1980s
Throughout the 1980s, Cloudy Ridge Ranch welcomed a diverse array of visitors — hippies, law students, hitchhikers, and many relatives from near and far — all eager to experience the West that had captured our family's hearts. Most either didn't know or underestimated Belton's thirst for adventure (taking off for long hikes far too late in the day) and definitely didn't know how much work cleaning up the ranch yard would be. Barns and corrals were erected, many loads of old farm equipment were cleaned up, and Eugenie even wired electrical into the old ranch house — this was long before building codes and we still don't know what some of those switches do...
1994
Lucy pursued veterinary sciences and became a Canadian citizen, managing the ranch and working at the Pincher Vet Clinic for many years. By 1994 she had quit working at the vet clinic, was ranching full time, and homeschooling her 3 daughters.
2000s
While Lucy dedicated herself to ranching, her daughters pursued varied interests while away at boarding school. Claren attended Westtown School in Pennsylvania, following in the footsteps of Lucy and 2 of her siblings, and found a passion for the performing arts. Emma chased equine dreams from goat-tying to showjumping in Jackson, Wyoming, and Colorado Springs, Colorado, and some schooling too. Sophie found her niche in Ojai, California, and embarked on a transformative year abroad in Italy. Sticking to family tradition, the family always gathered back at the ranch to enjoy the beautiful Alberta summers together.
Present Day
Today, Cloudy Ridge Ranch continues to be family operated and has diversified operations into the eco-tourism niche! Lucy fronts the agricultural operations and the cow herd, Emma and Sophie head land management and the Bee & Bear Boutique Lodge. Despite being separate entities, the Ranch and Lodge work in unison, honoring our family heritage and the land we cherish, allowing us all to live and work in this beloved place, sharing its beauty with both familiar faces and newcomers alike. And if there's a common thread running through our family's story? It's perhaps our penchant for rash decisions and ambitious land acquisitions.
Meet the Bee & Bear Team
Emma LaRocque
I am an avid nature enthusiast who thrives on connecting with like-minded individuals and exploring unusual places (mostly for the food). I love the changing of the seasons more than any particular season - the first crisp fall days, the slow dark days of midwinter, spring with all its newness, and late summer sunsets. While my degree in ecosystem management and culinary training didn't land me in marketing, my love for sharing stories and creating experiences did. In my free time you may find me doing scent training or barnhunting with my dogs—keeping Alberta rat-free since 2022.
Lucy Copp
I was raised and educated on the East Coast but feel I grew up in the wilds of Alberta. Every summer our family would make the trek from the east coast to Twin Butte to reconnect with a pack string of horses which we took into the mountains and camped for a month. Daytimes were spent exploring the wonders of the Rockies from Waterton to Banff, and evenings were spent under the stars recounting adventures and stories from the past to sing-alongs.
I pursued my education in animal health until 1982 when I settled on the ranch to raise my family. Running a herd of horses and cattle has kept me plenty busy and I have learned to enjoy what every day brings whether it be triumph or grief there is a lesson to be learned. Always interested in a holistic view. In life, I have learned the medicinal values of our native plants and keep a keen eye on partnering with wildlife.
I enjoy hard work, sharing adventures, having fun, creating memories, gardening, cooking, travelling, and playing with both humans and animals.
Sophie LaRocque
I will bear the discomfort of writing this bio myself because ChatGPT somehow made it more painful…so in my own words, this is me: my big “why” and passion in life is creating positive change. That could be cleaning and organizing a space, designing a functional grazing management plan or the endless project of self-improvement…much more fun than that is re-imagining the experience of being a guest and guide in 2023 and getting lost in Excel spreadsheets (a true love). Fun fact; I learned to swim in Harare, Zimbabwe when I was 5 years old. My past lives include environmental monitoring in the oil and gas industry, ranching/cowboying and running a specialty food shop. Something I wish I could do every day is go scuba diving. If I didn’t live here I would love to escape from winter to the Mediterranean somewhere… or a canal boat through Europe…but realistically it will look like a couple of months in California, my first second home, because.........dogs.
Claren Copp-LaRocque
Having perhaps taken the “Live and Learn" idiom too seriously, I have spent the majority of my adult years in school, earning a degree in international studies, anthropology, and public policy. I've also granted myself an honourary degree from the School of Family in environmental conservation, as I am the only family member in a very talkative family who did not explicitly choose some kind of environmental or agricultural career path. While I am suspicious of life outside of books, I do enjoy crafts such as pottery and knitting and I have a dog, named Mr. Darcy (obviously), who keeps me well-exercised. My favourite visual metaphor is of Hope, who I imagine as a slightly crumpled snitch escaping from Pandora’s Box. I identify with her quite strongly.
Ready to experience the magic for yourself?
We love sharing the wonder of this land with kindred spirits. Let us know how we can help you create an unforgettable experience.
