Peyto was born in Welling, Kent in 1869 and immigrated to Canada, settling in Calgary in February 1887.

[4] By the mid-1890s Peyto had built a small log cabin close to the Bow River where he kept his outfitting and trapping gear.

[5] Peyto eventually found work as a mountain guide under Tom Wilson, and led early expeditions to attempt to climb Mount Assiniboine, including once with James Outram in the 1890s.

[9] Bill Peyto died from cancer on 23 March 1943 in Calgary, Alberta and was buried at the Banff Town Cemetery.

[2] A large photograph of Peyto prominently marks the entrance to the town of Banff, Alberta.