High Park Ski Club (HPSC), Canada’s most active adult travelling ski club, is celebrating our 75th Anniversary. The club was founded by a group of enthusiastic skiers at the local ‘Y’ in 1950 in the High Park neighbourhood (which is why we are the High Park Ski Club) and initially involved word of mouth carpools to local ski hills. We are no longer associated with the ‘Y’ nor carpooling but are still fully volunteer run for the benefit of our members.
“To inspire and enable members to enjoy winter snow sports in a fun, friendly and supportive community” is our stated mission and it is achieved by providing members access to day trips, overnight and charter ski trips, free lessons, as well as social events and fitness activities throughout the year.
During our special 75th Anniversary season we have planned more than 60 day trips to local resorts, as well as 18 overnight bus and charter trips to domestic and international destinations, including Japan, Italy, France, and the United States!
Relax and enjoy!
HPSC runs deluxe coach buses four days per week (Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday) to local downhill resorts and on the weekend to various Ontario cross-country resorts, with convenient pick-up locations in west and central Toronto and in Vaughan. For those living in the city without a car, or who just do not want to drive all the way to the hills, our buses provide a relaxing and social way to get to the hills or trails.
Reduce the cost of skiing
While skiing can be an expensive sport, HPSC helps to reduce those costs through the power of group discounts on lift tickets and travel for our members. As well, all members have access to free unlimited lessons with our own Canadian certified (CSIA, CASI, CANSI) instructors in downhill, boarding, and cross-country disciplines. Your membership will pay for itself after just a one or two lesson compared to the costs of lessons at a resort! We also offer guided snowshoeing.
Improve mental health by connecting with people IRL
But it is not just about saving money . . . for those whose friends or family have stopped skiing, don’t ski, who are new to the GTA, or who want to learn to ski or board, HPSC provides the opportunity to meet and ski, board or snowshoe with others who share your interest.
In this day and age, when social connections seem to be more and more online or virtual, HPSC offers the opportunity to connect IRL with people who share your passion and interests.
One thing we learned during the pandemic is that without having something to get us outside and active, winters in Toronto can feel very long – despite as skier, it not being long enough! The other learning from the pandemic is that for our own mental health and for the good of our society we need in-person social connections. As per Professor Robert D. Putnam groundbreaking book Bowling Alone, it is these personal connections that expand our social capital and help develop the sense of generalized reciprocity (the idea that you do things for others without the expectation of anything in return) that keeps our society running smoothly. We do not want to end up a society of people “Skiing Alone”.
We like to say that people join HPSC for the activities but return each year because of the friendships they make!
For the entire season, the rate for new members remains at only $155 (plus HST)!
Check us out or for more information.
as published in the Toronoto Ski & Snowboard Show guide
 |