Gatineau Park

History of the Ottawa Ski Club

by Herbert Marshall

Chapter 11 - Club Leaders

Throughout the history of the Ottawa Ski Club many factors have contributed to the story of its success. Most important was the Club's good fortune to have leaders with the required qualities to assess widely the changing conditions, and the imagination and drive to utilize them for the Club's welfare. Many have contributed materially to the success and growth of the Ottawa Ski Club. A few stand out among the many.

The late C.E. Mortureux, first president of the reorganized Ottawa Ski Club of 1919, guided its destinies for 27 years. Very early in its history the importance of his contribution was recognized, as shown by the following copy of a notice sent out to Club members on February 10, 1922:

The extraordinary development of the Ottawa Ski Club during the last few years, and in particular this year, is patent not only to members but also to the public generally. This development meant thought, work, — incessant work — on the part of the Committee. That such development has been achieved, without hitch or mishap, means that somewhere there is a tireless intelligence watching over the general plans and details. These things simply do not happen.

Many members of the Committee have done, and are doing, yeoman service, but those in a position to judge, agree that our President, C.E. Mortureux, the brain and backbone of the whole affair. If it were not for his constant thought, care and work, even manual labour, the Club would be something far different, if at all in existence, from what it is to-day. It has doubtless occurred to many members that there should, in justice to ourselves if for no other reason, be some substantial and appropriate recognition for what our President has done and is doing.

A later record states that ‘Mort’ was presented with a gold watch at the Rockcliffe Tea House on Thursday evening, March 9, 1922.

C.E. Mortureux, Chief Translator to the Department of Agriculture, had much skill in both English and French. During his long tenure of office he was editor of the Ottawa Ski Club News. He possed a fine sen of humour which was apparent in the articles he wrote. Hence bulletin was both informative and amusing, and eagerly anticipated by Club members. From a single sheet, mimeographed in 1920, the News grew in size until it contained half a dozen or more printed pages.

Mort's qualities of heart equalled those of his head. He loved the great outdoors and he made his avocation in life the promotion of facilities which would permit hosts of others to enjoy it with him. He was no seeker after the limelight and he was the most able of men. A passage from an article he wrote for the Canadian Amateur Ski Association Annual of 1927-28 at the request of its editor is revealing:

Skiing is one of the best things I ever did in my life, though not one of the things I did best. I strapped skis on for the first time in 1907, threw them away disgust after a ten mile run across flat country and over innumerable wire fences, never, never, to put them on again; picked them up again, however, in a moment of weakness the following weekend and never left them off since. My pack, my skis and myself have become inseparable friends and I have in addition, picked up countless friends on the ski trail...

It has been great fun through all these years, watching them come over the hills by tens of thousands. Since the ball started rolling, it has been a great pleasure seeing the lodges of the Club expand from small shacks into stately structures. We have ourselves been fortunate, my lieutenants and myself, to have played a part in the development of this manly sport, which has brought health and happiness to countless throngs and opened possibilities hitherto undreamed of in the Canadian winter.

Mort fought to keep fees low so that the benefit of the Club facilities would be within the reach of all. His personality and achievements won the respect and liking of many prominent men of affairs in Ottawa and on many occasions financial aid was forthcoming in times of stress to assist the Club in attaining its objectives. Mort's physical powers were likewise remarkable. Between the ski seasons he was the organizing genius of the Ottawa New Edinburg Canoe Club whose destinies he guided for many years. Those who accompanied him on long trips on the many waters of the Gatineau highlands bear witness to his tireless energy. In winter no one was more enthusiastic than he in trips over the vast trail system. He gloried in the beauty of the winter scenery.

It is small wonder that this man inspired so many to give of their best to the development of the Club and he created a remarkable esprit-de-corps in the membership of his day. He laid firmly and surely the foundations on which others were to build. In 1946 he resigned from the Presidency because heart trouble forbade further participation in his beloved sport. The author of this history recalls a visit to his office when he told him sadly that he could never use his skis again. He had only a short time to live. He passed awayi n 1947. In 1950 a cairn was erected at Camp Fortune in his memory. It bears the following inscription:

To the Memory of
Charles Edmond Mortureux
President Ottawa Ski Club 1919-1947
His Work Endures in these Gatineau Hills.

An article appeared in the Ski Club Year Book of 1957-58, contributed by Baron Harold Eeman, former Ambassador for Belgium:

Thirty-five years ago the Ottawa Ski Club had but a handful of active members, a little group of them would sally forth every Saturday and with a clatter of skis a climb onto the Maniwaki train, swathed in absurd clothes but moved by a fine pioneering spirit. There was George Audette and Joe Morin, and Shuldham Hill, and later Ken Fosbery and others. Snow lay deeper on the ground in those days, and when we got off at Ironsides, Chelsea or Wakefield, we had to take turns at breaking trail, each successive leader presently stepping aside and falling back to the end of the file. But I shouldn't say 'each leader’. No matter who was first in line when Mort was present he was the leader. Mort, swarthy, swashbuckling, ironic, indomitable, might have been taken for a Corsican bandit but for the mocking twinkle in his eye. He started on a weekend hike with the purposeful expression of an explorer setting out for the Pole. He was charged with energy, a human dynamo; he was also kind, witty and loveable.

He started skiing too late to be as skillful on his boards as some of the others, but he led them all the same. On Saturdays he laid the course for the Sunday races, and we followed him over it, often gruelling work. It took Mort's driving power, his persuasive art, and his unfailing example to induce us to go over the course once more so that the trail might be smoother and give all competitors an even chance. We were exhausted on those Saturday evenings and dragged weary feet to bed at Wattsford’s Inn, but Sunday morning found Mort pawing and champing, long before we were up. In the fall we followed him to little hut near Fortune Lake and spent the day cutting down trees and sawing logs for the winter fires...

Now Mort's vital impulse and the steady devotion of those who came after him have borne fruit; happy, colourful crowds invade and enjoy the Gatineau Hills. There are handsome lodges, tows, and T-bars. Young and old share in the fun. Haven't I seen on the trail a father carrying his baby son on his back like an African mother? Let all those happy people remember a man to whom more than to any other they owe the exhilaration of hills and trails and the warm relaxation of the lodges. Indeed Mort's name is not forgotten; nearby a hill still bears it. I wish it were a mountain peak.

As for me, when I pass the cairn erected to his memory, I see in my minds's eye, standing upon it, the image of Mort himself, bent forward a little in eagerness, wearing his cap wrong side forward, with the peak on his neck, his eyes puckered against the glare of the sun and snow, striding towards the goal which has now been reached.

Sigurd Lockeberg

In the more than half a century of the Club's existence another outstanding figure was Sigurd Lockeberg. From 1910 to the year of his passing, his enthusiasm has continued and his efforts to ensure that the jumping phase of the skiing sport should not perish in the Ottawa region were untiring and in the end prevailed.

Sigurd was born on a farm near Oslo, Norway, came to Canada in 1905. Realizing that Canada was a land of promise he returned to Norway in 1908 to persuade his brother Hans to come back with him and in this he succeeded. Both of them worked on railroad construction for awhile but in 1909 set up business in the electrical fixrures industry, Sigurd was to achieve success in his vocation and what became his avocation as well. His contribution to skiing goes beyond the confines of the Ottawa Ski Club. His long service on the Executive of the Canadian Amateur Ski Association enabled him to exert an influence on the development of skiing throughout Canada. Percy Douglas, when president of the Association, once stated that he knew of no one who had contributed more to skiing in Canada than Sigurd Lockeberg.

When in 1920 the Canadian Amateur Ski Association was organized Sigurd became member of its Technical Board and remained a member for 20 yeas, in the last nine of which he was chairman. In 1930 he was the CASA delegate to the 11th International Ski Congress held in Oslo, Norway. One of the important questions concerned the adoption of downhill and slalom racing, and the Ski Club of Great Britain was authorized to have International Competitions in those events at Murren, Switzerland. Concerning his trip Sigurd reported in the 1931 Annual of the CASA as follows:

Downhill and slalom racing were among the important questions to be discussed at the Congress; ... As this form of skiing is more or less unknown outside Central Europe and more popular in Switzerland than anywhere else, I decided to go there and study it closely.

As a result of his study he reported to the CASA:

Downhill racing has many good points in its favour; but can hardly be practical outside Switzerland and Central European countries having great mountain snow slopes, with transportation facilities for ascending them, as it is impossible hard work climbing for several hours to higher elevations, 2000 feet or more, to get a run down of less than ten minutes. There are few places in Eastern Canada where suitable courses for downhill racing can be found. So we are not likely to see very much of it here. Slalom racing however, should grow rapidly in popularity as a good course can be laid out on hills with three or four hundred feet in elevation.

When the Canadian Championships were held at Revelstoke in 1931, Mr. Lockeberg was sent as delegate to the CASA meeting. He also acted as a judge in the jumping competition. In 1932 Sigurd acted as chairman of the Canadian Olympic Ski Committee and, with the assistance of Mr. Louis Grimes, selected the team and carried out the preparatory work for Canadian participation in the winter events at Lake Placid, New York. About 1933 he was busy with the erection of the Ski Jump at Camp Fortune. When the Canadian Championship was held at Banff in 1937, Sigurd attended the CASA meeting as Chairman of the Technical Board. It was during his absence that the famous Rockliffe Ski Tower, then the victim of waning popularity, was slated for demolition, and sold to a junk dealer. It had disappeared before Sigurd returned to Ottawa. He was not very happy when, on his return, he was informed of the end of what had been for three decades the object of much of his enthusiasm, However, this led him to concentrate his atention on the Camp Fortune jump which was considerably improved and made available for the Canadian Championships held there in February 1938. In 1946 a new jump was commenced, its predecessor having collapsed. On February 29h, 1948, His Excellency the Governor-General, Viscount Alexander, officially opened the Lockeberg Jump and the Lockeberg Lodge.

On this occation of the Central Canada championship held in 1948 not long after the official opening of the jump, and in which Reider Anderson fascinated the spectators by his flawless performance, Mr. Lockeberg fractured his ribs on the Slalom hill. When the author saw him first in the hospital he was feeling very grumpy but that mood was dissipated after he received a beautiful basket of flowers from His Excelleney with a note to his 'good friend’. This was followed by a personal visit to the hospital which so raised Sigurd's status among the nurses and staff that he basked in the sunshine of their flattering attention. What had been a source of inconvenience and even pain, became one a the most cherished memories of his skiing career.

In 1949 Mr. Lockeberg retired as first vice-president of the Ottawa Ski Club. He was Honorary-President and has continued to serve the Club in that capacity till his passing in 1971. The minutes of the Annual meeting of the Ottawa Ski Club for the season 1949-50, held in the Chateau Laurier on Thursday, December 8th, contained the following item:

Election of Officers. Before the election of officers the President announced that Mr. Sugurd Lockeberg had as first vice-precident owing to illness in his family and pressing business. Mr. Marshall said that the executive could not get along without having Mr. Lockeberg's valuable advice readily available, and that it had been decided to make him Honorary-president with the right to attend Executive meetings and vote on all questions. Mr. Marshall paid high tribute to Mr. Lockeberg for his unflagging labours for the Club as director since its inception. Mr. Lockeberg accepted, stating that he would continue to work for the Club in so far as his health and free time would permit and expressed his thanks for the Presidents gracious words. He recalled the early days of the Ottawa Ski Club and said knowing that he had had some part in building up such an organization amply repaid him for his work.

Captain Joe Morin

Captain Joe Morin, alias 'Old Man Joe’, has been mentioned many times in previous chapters which is some indication of his versatility. Though fairly small of stature, Joe possessed amazing energy and enormous drive. He was a very able organizer. One of the original founders of the Club (1910), his influence was powerful in the Executive until his retirement in 1932. He has left a lasting record of his achievements in the picturesque names of many trails and in the Joe Morin Slalom hill. Joe was sometimes described as a ‘slave driver’. If he exacted great efforts from his Night Riders he equalled or outdid them in his own physical labour on trails and hills. He inspired them with his devotion and energy and they followed him enthusiastically in the projects which his imagination and skill devised. One of Joe's great contributions was as a construction man. He was the designer and maker of trails and hills still in use, an expert on the solution of practical problems such as the water supply, the building of bridges and kindred projects. While Mort was the Club diplomat on the broader problems of Club affairs, Joe was particularly good at dealing with property owners in the pre-federal district commission days. He was the intermediary between the Club and irate property owners alleging damage to their property because of trails laid through it. He had the secret for transforming opposition into convivial good fellowship, and settlements were made at a small fraction of the original claim. In the organization of jumping, the development of the trail system, the opening up of the first slalom hill, and in the general practical management oy the Club, Captain Joe Morin ranks very high among the organizers of the Club.

John Clifford

When John Clifford took over the Ski Tow Concession in 1945 another stage in the Club's development was reached. The previous concessionaires, John Taylor and Hubert Douglas, operated the Slalom Tow as a side line to their principal employments as they did later with the Dome Hill Tow. Soon skiing interests were to become John Cliffords full time occupation. He established his household up in the Gatineau region, with the Club's consent, in his present domecile adjacent to the Camp Fortune parking lot. As the need for new ski tows developed he secured the capital to finance their erection. Apart from the Alexander Hill, provided by the Federal District Commission, the Executive of the Club found the money to open up new hills but the opening of these became an important function of Clifford's since the Club employed him to undertake the work. In 1956 he was appointed Grounds Manager, with an honorarium of $500 per year (gradually raised to $2,000). Thus, in a sense, he was wearing three hats — that of a concessionaire doing a business in servicing the Club with ski tows, lockers, and ski shop; that of an independent construction agency for the making of new hills; and, thirdly, that of an employee of the Club assisting in the management of the skiing grounds.

This latter arrangement was of immense benefit to the Executive during the period of phenomenal growth in the 50's. It became impossible for its members, composed of individuals serving on a purely voluntary basis, to administer efficiently the growing complexity of detail requiring attention in the operation of Club facilities in the skiing area. It was efficient and a great convenience to have someone on the grounds with a full-time purview of the activities. Clifford was particularly suited for the position because of several years of preparation for the task. In 1939 he joined the Night Riders by which time they had become keenly interested in Downhill and Slalom racing. John himself became a noted skier, as alternative on two Olympic teams, winner of the Alpine title in the Pan American Championships in 1946 and winner of several competitions the following year in Chile, when he toured that country at the Ski Federation's expense, in the company of France's great Emil Allas. He was number one choice on Canada’s team for the FIS events in Alpen, Colorado in 1950. He won the Canadian Alpine title in 1949 and 1956. Incidentally he was Canadian Water Ski champion in 1955.

As he competed in or visited ski areas in other countries he became aware that there would be a tremendous development in the use of ski-tows. Dedicated as he was to the sport this seemed like a good opportunity, not only to assist in its advancement in the Ottawa area, but also as a desirable means of livelihood. With characteristic energy and determination he prepared himself for the task. His work with the Night Riders taught him the problems of slalom and downhill courses in the rocky, rugged terrain of the Gatineau hills. For some years he worked with the Federal District Commission on various park projects between skiing seasons in the Gatineau Park. In 1949 he was invited by Mr. Joe Ryan to develop the north side of Mont Tremblant, which he did, the Devil River Run and the Sissy Schuss being among his accomplishments there. Not only did he make the new hills but he was responsible for the installation of the chair lift to service them. John’s interest in the promotion of skiing has consistently been wider than his activity in the Ottawa Ski Club. He recognized the need for a strong Gatineau Ski Zone Committee and contributed much to the setting up of the Zone programs. In the Ottawa Ski Club Year Book of 1952-53 Russel Smart, reporting on competitions for 1952, wrote:

Early concentration on junior races and “C" class seniors under the able guidance of John Clifford who ran off a slalom and downhill race every weekend during January, did much to improve the quality of competitions and the record of our competitors late in the season showed the value of the experience gained in these early races.

Thus, John was exectionally well equiped for the work he was to undertake at Camp Fortune. For a period he was assisted by his partner Steve Saunders, who had special mechanical training. This partnership lasted until 1959 when it was dissolved and John established the John Clifford Ski Tows Company with John as the sole active member.

Chapter 5 describes in detail the development of open hills, jumping hills and ski tows. From 1944 on, that development was carried out by John Clifford. It was a joint venture. The Ottawa Ski Club supplied the money for hill development (except for the original Alexander hill) and John Clifford financed the installation of the ski tows. From one slalom hill in 1932 and one ski tow in 1940, it grew to the manifold structure of today with its wide variety of skiing facilities.

For a time some tended to identify the Ottawa Ski Club with John Clifford. John, himself, was too well acquainted with the Clubs past to hold such a view. When he became active in the Club's affairs it was already a strong and flourishing organization and it was moving decisively from the trail era into that of open hill skiing. A number of interrelated developments had already paved the way for the tremendous upsurge which took place after 1950. Earlier chapters have shown the influence of better transportation, improved access roads, parking lots, and the five-day week. A worldwide increase in the popularity of skiing was an important factor. These and other influences provided the opportunity which was so effectively and imaginatively seized upon by John Clifford.

In the period during which John confined his energies to the development of hill skiing in the Ottawa Ski Club terrain he undoubtedly contributed more to its skiing development than anyone and, therefore, has won a place in Club history among its principal builders. He did most to lead the Club from the trail skiing to the hill skiing era of its development.

However, when John extended his enterprises to regions outside the Ottawa Ski Club area serious problems began to arise. There was an urgent need at Camp Fortune for new downhill runs and improvements to tow facilities. Since John was no longer putting all his eggs in one basket Camp Fortune development was retarded. The problem of Executives, commencing with that of Brian O'Brien was how to reorganize Club management so as to have the control which would secure the best service for the Club members. Five successive presidents wrestled with this problem. At first efforts were directed to meshing actions of the John Clifford Concessions and the Ottawa Ski Club Club Executives to accomplish that purpose. When that seemed to be impracticable the aim became to improve the financial structure so as to purchase the Clifford concessions.

The culmination of these efforts came in December 1972 when, under the presidency of Mr. V.B. Allen the Board of Directors was authorized to secure a loan to purchase the John Clifford concessions. This, of course, meant that control of the Club's activities was, as in earlier days in its history, once again in the hands of its Boards of Directors and that these could plan for the for the future of the whole gamut of Club activities.

As compared with past periods the size of the membership, the vastly greater complexity of sking facilities (hills, tows, lodges, training, skiing, communications, mechanical equipment, first aid, etc.) the responsibilities of the Board were enormously greater than in any previous period. All this was a vindication of the reorganization which was started in 1960. Now the Club is at the threshold of a new era — one of greater managerial responsibility but one in which the handicaps of divided authority have been removed and a completely member oriented policy of development made possible. Since 1946 when after 27 years as President, Mr. Mortureux resigned, the Club has had seven presidents. The first two of the seven served with Mort for many years. The author of this history joined the Club in 1923 and served on the Executive for 34 years. He became secretary-treasurer in 1928, first vice-president in 1936, president in 1946 and retired from that position in 1952. He remained on the Executive until his resignation in 1962.

Mr. George McHugh became president in 1952 and held that office until 1961. For many years, commencing about 1930, he was a member of the Executive. As Club Legal Advisor he freely contributed much professional advice, particularly in connection with land transactions. During the period of his presidency there was an increase in skiing facilities unparalleled in the Club's history. Clifford and Marshall hills were opened furnished with the first non-rope tow, a T-Bar. The most important provision for hill skiing followed with the development of the Skyline Area and its servicing with a chair-lift and a poma-lift. The Pee Wee hill was established for the important midget training program. The Joe Morin Slalom Hill was furnished with an additional tow, a T-bar. Arthur Pinault Hill was developed and supplied with a poma-lift. In this period the Pink Lake lodge was moved to Camp Fortune and established as the Cassell lodge; Dome Hill lodge was dismantelled and its materials brought to Camp Fortune and used in lodge extensions; the Camp Fortune parking lot was developed which made it possible for skiers to motor into the Camp grounds instead of parking at the Meach Lake road.

Naturally as the scale of operations grew the problems of management also increased. It became obvious that the Executive required assistance in handling the many details requiring attention at Camp Fortune. The appointment of John Clifford as Grounds Manager was a solution which worked well for a few years, but by 1960 the scale of the Club activities had so changed that a reorganization of management became imperative.

The outstanding feature of the latter part of George McHugh's regime was the increase in the commercial aspects of skiing activities. For most of the Club’s history this had been absent. After the mid-fifties it became increasingly prominent. By 1960 the John Clifford investment in the Ski Tow and Services Concessions had increased to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Parking Concessions were in the hands of the Hull Transport Company. Thus a large part of the services furnished to Ottawa Ski Club members was under the control of the concessionaires and it was inevitable that the interests of concessionaires and the Club should not always coincide. A question arose as to the propriety of having a concessionaire (John Clifford) as grounds manager and, as such, a member of the Executive.

Some prominent members formed a committee to study the situation and came to the conclusion that radical changes were required which would involve drastic departures from the old type of organization (more or less paternalistic) which had, in large measure, been inherited from the Mortureux period. It should reflect more fully sound business principles.

In the election of officers for the year 1961-1962, a reorganization program and a new slate of officers, headed by Brian O'Brien, was submitted to the membership. Many supported the existing Executive and favoured the status quo, but a very vigorous campaign and an election in which there was a heavy participation, resulted in the election of Brian O'Brien and his slate. During the yer in which Mr. O'Brian was in office far reaching changes of great benefit to the Club were initiated. Clarification of the role of the John Clifford interests and those of the Club were sought with a view to bringing about the most productive and harmonious working arrangements. A general manager was appointed whose duties included those of grounds manager and this permitted John Clifford to concentrate on his concessions. For the first time in the Club’s history a separate office was set up which was directed by the general manager. Improved methods of record keeping were installed and more economical methods of putting out Club bulletins were instituted. For many years the Bob McGiffen store on Sparks Street had functioned as an unofficial Ottawa Ski Club Office, but the growth of the Club had outdistanced the facilities and the amount of time Bob could be expected to devote to Club activities.

The new Executive abolished the publication of the Ski Club Year Book and its place was taken by printed Ski Bulletins, several of which could be issued in the season. Latterly the Ski Year Book had contained reports of the directors and their committees long after the ski season to which they referred. These could now be published currently in periodic bulletins. Articles by various contributors had gradually almost disappeared from the Year Book; but up to the 1959-60 issue the Diary written by Jim Patrick, assistant editor (editor from 1947), was included. It contained interesting informative, and amusing notes for every weekend of the ski season. Jim recorded outstanding happenings, references to persons met on the trails, on the hills, and in the lodges and reports on visitors, weekend weather, and snow conditions. One could relive a lot of the winter skiing by reading this diary. After Jim met his tragic end on a ski trail there was no one to take his place and the Diary which was such an outstanding contribution to the Year Book disappeared from its pages. Now members receive three or four timely bulletins in the year and to some extent these follow the format of the earlier News issued by Mr. Mortureux.

Mr. O'Brien set up a Committee to formulate a long term plan for future development. This committee presented the following suggestions:

Provision of more lodge accommodation near the focal point of skiing by adding to the Alexander lodge or by the erection of a new lodge depending on the advice of experts re appropriate sites.
A program of hill expansion. There was an urgent need for better provisions for midget skiing. Accordingly plans were made for the immediate widening of the Pee Wee Hill so that it would be wide enough for midget instruction. The existing Midget hill was to be furnished by John Clifford with a Poma lift to the top of the ridge and become the Arthur Pinault Hill.
Replacement of rope tows as soon as possible by John Clifford Ski Tow Company with a high priority on the Alexander Hill.
Smoothing of existing hills, particularly those for novices and intermediates.
Greater concentration of service functions. This was urged as a convenience to skiers and for improving the landscape now cluttered by numerous unsightly structures.
A thorough revision of the Constitution of the Club.

Of course, the question of how to finance the large capital expenditures which would be necessary to implement the program had to be solved. One solution which was advanced for discussion as to its possibility and advisability was the sale of the Club land to the National Capital Commission. However the Executive dropped the consideration of this suggestion because the National Capital Division, in common with other government agencies, became subject to an austerity program. There was, therefore, no point in submitting the matter to a general or special of the members and the NCC could not be approached with a proposition without the prior approval of an annual or special general meeting.

This discussion in the Executive on the possible sale of Club land was to have a surprising aftermath. Despite the outstanding achievements of the O'Brien Executive in the reorganization of the Club's administration, it was defeated in the 1962-3 election of officers by the slate headed by Harry Rosewarne. Though the suggestion that the Club might consider selling land to finance capital improvements had never gone beyond the discussion stage in the O'Brien Executive, a majority of the large number of members who voted in the election was won over to the view that the sale of the land was a settled objective of the O'Brien Executive. In actual fact, there was another important reason for the defeat of the latter. It was due to a sort of backlash from the defeat of its predecessor in the previous election. There was a particularly well organized effort on the part of the opposition to regain power.

The Rosewarne Executive during its year of office set up several committees. Its Constitution Committee produced the General By-Laws which were approved by the Provincial Secretary of the Province of Quebec on November 19th, 1963 and published in the Quebec Official Gazette, November 30th, 1963. Committees produced reports which included recommendations for future developments. A new small lodge (Connic’s Lodge) was erected for baby-sitting purposes and Lockeberg lodge was renovated, mostly by volunteer labour. At the outset of its term of office the Rosewarne Executive was faced with the problem of replacing Camp Fortune Lodge which had been burned in January, 1963. By March 1963, a temporary lodge had been erected and plans laid for the building of a permanent replacement to be available for the 1963-64 skiing season.

The Rosewarne Executive worked very hard to provide what it thought to be in the best interests of the Club but an opinion grew among many Club members that its policies were not sufficiently in line with the need for the new orientation in the Club's administration. After its year of office it was replaced by an Executive headed by F. Wallis White.

Since the 1963-64 election, successive presidents and executives have carried on the reorganizations initiated by the O'Brien Executive and have, during the ensuing years, steadily improved the business operation of the Club. Under the present Board of Directors, with V.B. Allen as president, long protracted effors resulted at last in a fundamental change in the basic operational arrangements of the Ottawa Ski Club. With the purchase of the John Clifford Ski Tows and the Camp Fortune Ski Services, Limited, by the Ottawa Ski Club future developments and planning came fully under the control of the Club itself. The Board of Directors became fully master in their own house.

Highlights of the Accomplishments of Boards of Directors Under Successive Presidents.

Mr. Wallis White, 1963-64 to 1965-66.

Extension of Alexander Lodge.
Improvements in the Macdonald and Clifford Hills.
A new automatic telephone exchange was installed to be operated by Bell Telephone Company. The Ottawa Ski Club and Clifford Tows arranged to share jointly the cost of installation and operation in this more efficient and economical system.
A new intermediate ski area was developed on land leased from the National Capital Commission leading up from the Meach Lake road to the top of Pinault Hill from a point south of the Dunlop Parking lot. It furnished the longest downhill run in the Club terrain and was provided with a T-bar tow.
Preparations were under way for the holding of a Centennial International Jumping Meet. The Centennial Commission of Canada and the National Advisory Council of Fitness and Amateur Sport of the Federal Government provided a grant of $19,000 to meet the expense of bringing competitors to the event. The Club had to finance the rebuilding of the existing jump with a steel and concrete structure conforming to Olympic Standards
The concession for the Alexander Parking Lot was purchased from the Hull Transport Company and free parking instituted. Also land was leased from the National Capital Commission to be used for a parking lot adjacent to the new downhill runs. Senior fees were increased by one dollar to help defray the resulting expense.

In this period the hills on which the Clifford Tow Company used snow-making equipment were extended so as to include in all the Slalom, Peewee, Clifford, and Marshall “T"-bar had been improved at a cost of $14,000. Hill lighting had been extended and Pinault, Slalom and Peewee were all so provided. Eventually, lighting was included on the Marshall.

Vic Allan became Club president in the ski-year 1966-67. In his first annual report he stated:

The Ottawa Ski Club can be very proud of its contribution to Centennial celebrations in the National Capital area. Our Centennial Jumping Competition attracted eight competing nations last winter and was the first of its kind ever held in Canada. The success of this venture was due to the support it was given by the membership, the Department of Health and Welfare and the direction and hard work of Fred Morris and Art Appelby. As a result of this program the Ottawa Ski Club has the only Olympic Standard (60 metres) jump in Eastern Canada, and this capital asset will continue to make a very worth while contribution to the development of jumping in Canada and to the Club's jump program for years to come.

Another Centennial first was the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s outdoor concert series held at Camp Fortune during the summer months. Your Board of Directors has been concerned by the fact that our valuable facilities at Camp Fortune is only used during the winter months. It took a Centennial Celebration event to start us upon a program which we hope will continue to grow and provide hours of enjoyment for members and the Public in the years to come.

Attendance at the Centennial Year's concerts was 90,000. In the 1969 season there was an estimated attendance of 150,000.

The Board of Directors (formerly usually referred to as the Executive) was restructured along functional lines. Instead of assigning to the various members of the Board specific activity portfolios, directors were alloted to various task forces each with a chairman. Task forces were set up such as long-term planning, one for policies, procedures and handling of the entire operation of the physical plant, hills, lodges, and cafeterias, one on the planning and operation of all Club ski programs.

Mr. Glen Ross became President in November, 1968. In the 1968-69 ski year the membership reached an all time record, 11,546. Mr. Ross on his annual report remarked as follows:

During the summer we have continued our program of improving existing facilities, believing that this should be done before more exciting but expensive developments are undertaken. Lift approaches have been improved, drainage problems have been remedied, and lodges are receiving further face-lifting. In addition, in conjunction with the lift and food concessionaires, the Club is attempting to develop a long-term plan that will ensure balanced development of hills, lifts, parking, lodges and other facilities in order that can continue to make membership to our Club open to all who wish to join. As a result of these efforts, we hope that a significant improvement in our facilities will be possible before the 1970-71 ski season commences.

In the past year the Club has been more active in the senior ski organizations to which it belongs. Working through the Gatineau Ski Zone and the Quebec Division, the Club was instrumental in obtaining Canadian Amateur Ski Association approval for a National Capital Division. Our former president, Vic Allen, is chairing s committee responsible for the organization of the new Division. It is hoped that this new status will enable us to play a more effective role at the national level and in our own area astride the Quebec and Ontario Border.

For the Club Year 1969-70 Mr. Ross, in his annual report stated:

The past ski season established new records in membership and revenue for the Club — records which indicate the need for the facilities and programs provided. Your directors regarded this as a vote of confidence for the concept of a non-profit, non-commercial Club dedicated to furthering the interests of its members and to promoting skiing in all its aspects.

Accordingly in the past six months, we attempted to acquire ownership of John Clifford Ski Tows Limited and Camp Fortune Ski Services Limited in order to obtain full control over the tow, ski shop and ski school facilities that are an integral part of the Camp Fortune operations. Unfortunately, despite prolonged negotiations, no agreement could be reached on price and by mutual agreement we have now suspended negotiations in the hope that they can be re-opened at some later date.

Pending the outcome of these negotiations, the Club hesitated to embark upon any major expansion program in the current year. We have continued our program of improving existing facilities and our tow concessionaire, John Clifford Ski Tows Limited, has made extensive repairs to the lifts. This should prevent the breakdowns that plagued tow operations last winter. The National Capital Commission has informed us that the Gatineau Parkway will be kept open as far as Camp Fortune to help eliminate last Year's traffic jams in the Gatineau area.

Wy Lawson, First Vice-President in charge of Plant, deserves your vote of thanks for his efforts and unceasing optimism in conducting the negotiations to acquire the tow and service companies. Without his supervision of the plant improvements made during the year and planning for future improvements in future years, there would have been little hope for success.

Mr. Vic Allen was again president for the years 1970-71 and 1971-72.

At the Club Annual and Special General Meeting held November 24, 1971, proposals for the purchase of the John Clifford Ski Tows Limited and Camp Fortune Ski Services Limited were adopted by the membership. Concerning this development — a major one in Ottawa Ski Club affairs — Mr, Allen wrote in the Ottawa Ski Club Bulletin (1972 Program)as follows:

The Membership voted in favour of four proposals put forward by the Board of Directors at the Club‘a Annual and Special General Meeting on November 24, 1971 ratifying the purchase of John Clifford Ski Tows Limited and Camp Fortune Ski Services Limited. These decisions, by the Membership, marked the successful conclusion of a project that your Board of Directors worked on diligently for over two years. The purchase of John Clifford's two companies at Camp Fortune is one of the most significant occurrences in the history of our Club — it marks the end of our beginning and opens up new opportunities for future growth and development designed to meet the full range of needs of all our members.

The negotiations with John Clifford that led to the final signing of an agreement between the two parties were carried on over a long period of time. Our objective was to work out an arrangement that benefited John Clifford and his associates and the Membership of the Ottawa Ski Club. As a result of the skills of such Board members as Wyburn Lawson, Ross Walker, Bob McLaughlin, Rick Adrian and Glen Ross, we were able to structure a deal that was mutually beneficial.

In the Ottawa Ski Club Newsletter 1972 Mr, Allen included the following remarks:

Since we concluded the sale agreement with John Clifford — we have been doing our best to improve the quality of the ski services at Camp Fortune concurrent with digesting the many problems of managing the area.

Let me tell you about a few of the more significant steps your Board has taken in the last month. We have hired David Midgley to manage Camp Fortune area. He is well known to many members of the Club and brings to his new post broad experience in the management of ski facilities. We have ordered two new vehicles to improve our ability to groom the hills and assist us in our snow-making operation. A thorough review has been made of our up-hill facilities and as things stand now, it appears as though we will retire the Poma Lifts on Skyline and Pinault Hills and the J-Bar on Alexander this spring and replace them with new and more powerful up-hill conveyances this summer.

An analysis of the traffic on our Cross Country trail system and lodges is underway to that we may be in a position for meaningful improvements in this area of our Club’s operations, Finally, we are in the process of translating our long range development program into a very specific set of priorities and operational projects that can be undertaken in the months ahead.

Index

Chapter 12.