Jacques, nicknamed «Jacko», Gratton spent the greatest proportion of his professional career on his skis, first as patroller then instructor, ski school director and level IV Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance examiner. One of his greatest contributions to the promotion of Laurentian skiing was the development of numerous Tremblant racers for the National Ski Team as […]
James « Jimmy » Colligan has worked very hard behind the scene to make significant contributions to skiing and to disabled skiers programs in particular. Assigned to skiers with special needs at Gray Rocks, he then decided to become more involved with the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiers where he made innovations in adapting equipment […]
Don Dairy began his career in 1961 at Lac-Beauport with the likes of Mario Podoriesach and Giovanni Gerometta where they were certified by the legendary Swiss master Fritz Looslie. A Senior Level IV instructor, Don spent the greater part of his career in the Laurentians. In addition to having been director of skiing at several […]
Native of Ste-Adèle, François Jodoin was a member of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team (slalom and GS), international ski coach, professional racer and, more recently, founder of the Quebec Master’s Series which has allowed older skiers to participate in amicable competitions. His most important victory was the U.S. slalom championship in 1982. He was also […]
The Circuit McDonald’s, created by Kenny Hall, allowed everyone to partcipate « for the fun of it » and at no cost. Lift tickets were offered at reduced rates for participating children and for their parents. Many partipation prizes were also given at each event. There were 18 events every year with over 3 500 […]
At age 16, Joan Goodwin-Wilson left her native Ontario for Quebec in order to get her level I as a ski instructor with the Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance (CSIA). She fell in love with the Laurentians and taught at Mont-Tremblant for 3 years. In 1962, at 25, she became director of the Mont-Habitant Ski School […]
Tom “the Atom Bomb Barbeau was, in the early 50’s, a very active racer who climbed the podium several times at the Canadian Championships. Injuries kept him away from the Olympics. Jolly, loved by everyone, Barbeau believed that everybody should love skiing! It became his motto as a ski instructor for 25 years. Inventor of […]
John Clifford was born in Ottawa in 1923. He has been a builder of skiing throughout Canada. In 1948, he developed the North side slopes and installed the first North side chair at Mont-Tremblant. In 1949, he was the top Canadian at the Mont-Tremblant Canadian Championships. He installed the Laurentians first snowmaking systems at Mont-Gabriel […]
François Pichard was a member of selection committee of the National Nordic Ski Team for the 1948 Olympic Games. He was a well known technical adviser in the planning and layout ski runs and ski centres in Québec, particulary in Capitale-Nationale area. He was the chairman of the organization committee of three World Cup Alpine […]
Sons of John Basler, a Swiss immigrant settled in Morin-Heights in 1919, Georges « Bunny » Basler and Albert Basler builted the first rope tow at Morin-Heights and the first hotel for skiers in the Laurentians. Bunny and Albert won several ski competitions in the Laurentians. After the Second World War, Albert manages the family motel business […]
