50
A further eight years would pass before another event allowed the full scope of the European trends to be adopted. It was the installation, in 1940, of a simple rope tow on the Joe Morin Slalom hill, powered by a discarded Cadillac engine. It was also eight years after Canada's first ski tow was installed on the Big Hill at Shawbridge, Quebec. Even though the OSC's tow operated until 1944 at something less than optimum efficiency, it was immediately popular accelerating the trend to downhill skiing from "a trickle to a torrent". Not everybody was pleased about the presence of increasing numbers of ski tows. C E Mortureux, the Club's long-time President, wrote in the 1945-46 Ottawa Ski Club Year Book:"An epidemic of ski tows, spreading from the heavily infected centre north of Montreal, has broken out in the Gatineau Hills. As there is no antidote for it, all we can do is to express the hope that our members will escape the contagion….. We are entering the ski-tow age. Decidedly a sign of the degeneracy of the times, and not to be commended. However, if these contrivances fail to attract patrons, the operators will have plenty of rope to hang themselves with."
51
Table of Ottawa Ski Club Membership numbers from 1910 to 1974. Compiled by the Canadian Ski Museum2004
52
Fortunately, Mortureux's concerns were unfounded. The enthusiasm for downhill skiing continued unabated accompanied by increasing concerns about congestion on the hills and the potential for safety to be compromised.53
From the top of Joe Morin Slalom Hill, Camp Fortune, overlooking the Gatineau hills 74.39.1.1201945
Gatineau Hills, Old Chelsea, QC
54
The Slalom Hill, in particular, was becoming a problem and although the Night Riders widened the hill in 1945 it quickly proved to be inadequate. The Club responded by opening two additional hills (Morning After and Malcolm Macdonald) in the same year, but the overcrowding and safety concerns persisted.55
Tow rope at left side of Slalom Hill, Camp Fortune, Gatineau Hills, QC 85.22.1.61948
Gatineau Hills, Old Chelsea, QC
56
Scene through a lodge window at Camp Fortune 74.10.41945
Gatineau Hills, Old Chelsea, QC
57
Viscount Alexander of Tunis shaking hands with 7 year old Anne Heggtveit at Camp Fortune.1953
Gatineau Hills, Old Chelsea, QC
58
It would take the active involvement of the Federal District Commission (now the National Capital Commission) in 1948/49 to bring an end, at least temporarily, to the problems. The changes in 1948 were unprecedented; "Never before in the history of the Club has so great an advance been made in a single year" (Ottawa Ski Club Year Book 1948-49). The Slalom Hill was widened yet again and another hill named the Viscount Alexander (after the Governor General at that time) opened alongside Macdonald's.59
Ottawa Ski Club badge, 19501950
60
Throughout the period 1947 to 1959, the opening of new hills and continuous enhancements to facilities attracted ever-increasing numbers of skiers. Between 1947 and the mid-'50s membership in the Club doubled to 5,000, increased to 7,800 by 1959, accelerating quickly to 10,000 by 1960. Towlines grew longer, the slopes more crowded and, once again, congestion became an issue.61
Camp Fortune, Gatineau Hills, Old Chelsea, QC 74.39.1.1221955
Gatineau Hills, Old Chelsea, QC
62
50th anniversary edition of the Ottawa Ski Club News1959
63
The Club's response, coinciding with its 50th Anniversary in 1959, was an ambitious development plan to open the present Skyline area with the installation of a poma lift to provide 610 feet of vertical drop compared to the 279 feet of the Slalom Hill. It was an inspired development. Less than two years later, in 1961, a chairlift was installed to capitalize on Skyline's popularity. The final major expansion came in 1966 with the opening of the Vanier and Expo hills and a T-Bar lift to support them.. |
 |
 |
 |