Vivien Lake …
Willmore Wilderness Park

THE OUTFITTER

Bazil has been a Guide and Outfitter in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta since 1959. His outfit was originally started in 1932 in Nordegg, Alberta. He purchased the outfit from Ed Favero in 1969 and moved to Willmore Wilderness Park in 1970. Bazil is the authentic mountain cowboy, with an international reputation as an outfitter. A local legend, his guests often take pleasure in his quiet and reassuring manner. He enjoys showing smaller groups the mountain trails he knows so well. Many people from around the world have accompanied him on a horseback riding adventure.

Bazil Leonard is a founding member and current President of the Willmore Wilderness Foundation, and has been instrumental in conserving a way of life through teaching youth skills such as mountain horsemanship, humane trapping, packing techniques, and providing extensive education in trail skills. These are the traditions of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Bazil is a long-standing member of the Alberta Outfitters Association and the Alberta Professional Outfitter Society and has served on both executives for many years. Bazil is the current Vice-President of the Mountain Metis in Grande Cache. During the past twelve years, Bazil has donated his 24 head of horses to the Willmore Wilderness Foundation to use for its trail clearing initiatives.

In 2015, Bazil Leonard was inducted into the Order of the Big Horn. He was previously presented the Alberta Professional Outfitters Society (APOS) President’s Award.

Bazil Leonard was presented the
Order of the Bighorn
by President of Treasury Board
& Minister of Finance
Honourable Robin Campbell

Photo courtesy of Admire Studios

Order of the Bighorn

Alberta Order of the Bighorn Awards

Order of the Bighorn

Bazil Leonard was inducted into the
Order of the Bighorn on March 6, 2015.

Members of the Order of the Bighorn have distinguished themselves and enriched the lives of all Albertans through their commitment to the environment and Alberta’s world-renowned fish and wildlife.