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Gatineau Park

History of the Ottawa Ski Club

by Herbert Marshall

Appendix E - Important Dates

1910 - Ottawa Ski Club organized.
1915-19 - Organized activities suspended during World War I.
1919 - (Jan. 16th) Reorganization of Ottawa Ski Club and Incorporation.
1919 - (Nov. 24th) Cliffside Ski Club organized.
1920 - Purchase of Woodman’s shack on Fortune Hill for first lodge.
1920 - Shack built as first Pink Lake Lodge.
1920 - Exclusive rights secured for the use of Dome Hill.
1921 - Construction of the first OSC Lodge. Knoll at Camp Fortune.
Small lodge built at the base of the Dome Hill, Ironsides, much enlarged subsequently and then greatly reduced.
1925 - (Jan.) A new Pink Lake Lodge officially opened.
1925 - Wing and Dormitory added to Camp Fortune.
1926 - Another wing added to Camp Fortune.
1938 - Many internal improvements made at Camp Fortune. Lodge Burned.
1939 - Great White Lodge opened officially by Lord Tweedsmuir.
1963 - (Jan. 27) Great White Lodge burned.
1964 - Present main Camp Fortune Lodge opened.
 
1925-26 - East Side Lodge opened.
1930 - East side Lodge dismantled. Moved to McCloskey's.
1931 - Construction of Western Lodge.
1946 - Western Lodge dismantled and materials moved to Camp Fortune.
1948 - Viscount Alexander officiated at the opening of Lockeberg Lodge.
1957 - Alexander Chalet officially opened by Mayor Nelms.

Trails

1910-1930During this period cross-country trails were opened which covered the area from Wrightville to McCloskey farm and the Western Lodge. They connected the various lodges, Dome Hill, Pink Lake, Camp Fortune, East Side, and the Western. Some sixty miles of trails in all.
1925-1930Joe Morin with his Night Riders developed the new trail system centering around Camp Fortune. It included Penguin, Canyon, Little Switzerland, Merry-go-round, Western and Highland. In recent years this has been improved and extended through the work of the Trail Riders.

Hill Development

1932 Joe Morin Slalom Hill opened.
1938 Dunlop Parking lot opened.
1940 First Ski Tow installed on Joe Morin Slalom Hill. It consisted of an old Cadillac engine and a rope installation.
1950 The Federal District Commission improved the Dunlop Road.
1954 Opening of first Pee Wee Hill.
1955 Parking lot opened at Camp Fortune. Close to present Alexander lodge.
1955 Opening of John Clifford and Herbert Marshall hills. Installation T-Bar tow.
1957 George McHugh hill opened on lower portion of Canyon.
1957 Opening of Midget Hill served by rope tow.
1958 T-Bar tow installed on the south side of the Joe Morin Slalom Hill to supplement the rope tow on the North side.
1959 Marshall Hill widened to include the ‘Morning After.
1959 Opening of Skyline Area. Served by Poma Lift. Heggtveit, Canadienne, Bud Clark, Sparks Hills.
1961 Chairlift installed in Skyline Area.
1962 Midget Hill lengthened to top of ridge and furnished with a Pomalift. Renamed Arthur Pinault.
1962 Pee Wee Hill enlarged to three times its width. Double rope tow installed.
1966 Creation of two new runs to Meach Lake road, Vanier and Expo Hills.
1966 Ottawa Ski Club took over the Alexander Parking Lot from its Concessionnaire and instituted free parking for Club members.

Ski Instruction

1923 Dome Hill Juniors organized by Mrs. F.G. Semple.
1921 to around 1930. Dome Hill Instruction Classes were conducted by Club experts.
1930 Canadian Amateur Ski Association proficiency tests introduced.
1939 Beginnings of the Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance (CSIA).
1951 Introduction of specialized training for midget skiers at Beamish Hill Chalet.
1954 Commencement of area organization for midget instruction by City of Ottawa Municipal Ski Council.
1957 Camp Fortune Ski School organized by John Clifford. John Fripp first director.
1961 Establishment of Juvenile Instruction Organization.
1969 Ottawa Ski Club became a member of the Nancy Greene League.

Intra Club Organizations

1924 Joe Morin organizes the Night Riders of the Canyon.
1940 First Aid Station set up by the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade.
1945 Ski Patrol organized. Branch of Night Riders.
1948 Trail Riders Organization started by Doug Carman and Verne Tant.
1951 Gatineau Park Ski Patrol organized by G. Douglas McIntyre.
1953-54 Gatineau Park Ski Patrol became a qualified member of the Canadian Ski Patrol System.
1958 First Aid quarters at Camp Fortune lodge moved to new quarters near Alexander lodge.
1963-64 Ski Patrol separated from Canadian Ski Patrol System in order to retain the services of the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade, New name = the Ottawa Ski Club Aid and Rescue Patrol (OSCAR).
1966 Trail Riders built Riders' Roost to replace their former headquarters (the Mortureux Chalet) which had been destroyed by fire.
1967 The OSCARS built a greatly improved headquarters chalet as their Centennial project.

Jumping

1910 About this time first primitive jump tower built at ‘Suicide Hill' Rockcliffe Park.
1920 First post-war tower built. At Rockliffe.
1926 Steel tower erected at Rockcliffe.
1937 Rockcliffe Jump Tower taken down.
1938 Lockeberg Jump Hill and Tower opened at Camp Fortune.
1948 - (Feb. 29) Viscount Alexander officiated at opening of a rebuilt Lockeberg jump tower and hill.
1956 Opening of Intermediate Jump Hill (40 metre).
1960 Opening of Junior Jump Hill.
1966-67 As a Centennial Project a 60 metre jump tower and hill, conforming to FIS specifications was erected to replace the Lockeberg Jump and an internaional competition held.

Miscellaneous

1921 First meeting of the Canadian Amateur Ski Association.
1952 Bud Clark became President of the CASA.
1953 John Clifford became Area Manager.
1955 Russel Smart President of the Quebec Division CASA.
1965 New version of the Constitution and By Laws of the Canadian Amateur Ski Association. Name changed to the Canadian Ski Association.
1970 National Capital Division formed.
1971 - (April 17) Headquarters of the Canadian Ski Association moved to Ottawa.
1972 The Annual and General Meeting of the Ottawa Ski Club held in December 1972, approved the securing of a loan to purchase the John Clifford Concessions.

Index

Illustrations.