1

Skiing down steps on Mount Royal
20th Century, 1925
Montréal, (Québec)


Credits:
Library and Archives Canada

2

Early days of skiing in Montreal and the Laurentians

The year 1904 marks the founding of the Montreal Ski Club, the first such club to be established. Although members skied mainly on the slopes of Mount Royal in the area known as Fletcher's Field, it wasn't long (1905 to be exact) before they ventured north to the Manitou Ski Club in Sainte-Agathe. Of course they fell in love with our region and quickly saw its immense potential for skiing. The Laurentians had been discovered by skiers!

The club was based near Saint-Sauveur at Marshals Pension in Shawbridge, conveniently located at the foot of the Big Hill. Marshals was an austere, almost monastic, place. A common meal might have been pea soup and beef stew served with homemade brown bread, and for dessert apple pie with maple syrup. And just imagine sleeping on straw mattresses! The conditions were not luxurious, that's for sure.

By 1919, Montreal Ski Club members also stayed at Chalet Cochand in Sainte-Marguerite. Owner Louis Cochand was one of the first professional instructors in Canada and had a huge influence on skiing in this region. Along with other European instructors, he introduced ski techniques and teaching methods from the Alps.

By the early 1930s, a favourite outing of skiers was to board the early-morning train at Viger or Mile End station in Montreal; get off in Val-Morin, Val-David or Sainte-Agathe; ski through the woods and over hills to Shawbridge; and catch the 5 p.m. train back to Montreal.

3

Members of the board, Montreal Ski Club
20th Century, around 1921
Montréal, (Québec)


Credits:
McCord Museum/II-240589

4

Skiers, possibly on Mount Royal
1930
Montréal, (Québec)


Credits:
McGill University Archives

5

Skiing at Lac Manitou, near Sainte-Agathe
1905
Saint-Agathe-des-Monts (Québec)


Credits:
McCord Museum/ VIEW-6442.1

6

Skiers on Mount Royal
20th Century, 1925
Montréal, (Québec)


Credits:
McCord Museum