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As we move to Daylight Savings Time, we also approach the end of our ski and snowshoe season. However, these last few weeks of the season can be some of the most enjoyable with soft snow and sunshine. Time to sit outside at the end of day and enjoy the warmer temperatures with your fellow HPSC members. 

Do not make the mistake of assuming that because there is a lack of snow in Toronto that the season has ended. There is still plenty of base on the hills to keep the resorts open for a number of weeks to come. The only reason for resorts to shut down early is a lack of skiers and boarders!  So please keep signing up for the day trips – we will keep running buses so long as we have enough members who want to go. 

While we contemplate the end of the season there are a couple of events to keep on your schedule for April and May! We will be holding our annual Election night in April (date is TBD at this point). Official notice will be sent out at least 2 weeks prior. 

The other big event to keep in your calendar is our highly anticipated 75^th Anniversary Gala which will be held on Friday, May 9^th. The location is the historic Round Room of The Carlu on the top floor of College Park.  “Originally opened in 1930 as “Eaton’s Seventh Floor,” The Carlu was spearheaded by businessman Timothy Eaton. Lady Eaton, who aspired to bring high society and world-class culture to Toronto, was actively involved in the planning and design of Eaton’s College Street and the Seventh Floor. To realize her desire for style and elegance, she commissioned famed French architect, Jacques Carlu. Carlu was renowned for his masterpieces in the Art Moderne style, known as streamlined monumentalism for its clean lines and grand scale. In fact, it is said that the sheer beauty and unique shape of The Round Room may have inspired the design of The Rockefeller Center’s iconic Rainbow Room. The Carlu is recognized as one of Toronto’s best examples of Art Moderne architecture and has been designated as a National Historic Site of Canada.”  Tickets will be on sale shortly with an Early Bird price till the end of March.

Looking forward to a few more days on the hills and meeting many of you at our upcoming social events including our St. Patrick’s Day event this coming Saturday night. 

Cheers!

Justin Graham

President, High Park Ski Club

Ever since March 2020 we have been waiting for a rebound from the impacts of Covid and the pandemic. Last year should have been that season, but the lousy conditions interfered. This season finally feels like we have turned the corner and returned to our normal operations. In fact, we have almost reached our pre-Covid membership level (which had been a record number for at least the previous decade).  We are only about 15 short of that number – and will likely surpass it if we count late joining members (after March 1). (We actually can’t officially count these new members in this year’s numbers since they will be included in next year’s membership.) In any case, it has been a successful year.

Speaking of late joining members, if you have any family, friends or colleagues who you have been trying to recruit to the club, please let them know if they join March 1 or later, they can take advantage of the rest of this season’s activities, in addition to being members for all of next year. The new member rate remains at $155 (+HST).

As I mentioned in the last SnoBiz, our annual election night is approaching in April with a large number of the board positions coming up for election, including the position of President. Since we are finally turning a corner to a more normal operation and since my time as President has mostly been sidelined by outside issues, and that do not feel that I have accomplished what I had set out to do as President, I have decided that I will stand once again for President of the club. However, anyone who is qualified according to the by-laws can run for the position if they so desire.

Our club offers so many opportunities to enjoy winter and create new connections with people. Over the last month, I personally have been on our special 75^th Anniversary charter trip to Sun Valley, Idaho; did a downhill day trip to Blue Mountain; and went snowshoeing to Arrowhead Provincial Park with our fabulous cross-country members. We also have some upcoming social events in March, including a bowling night (“Don’t bowl alone, come bowling with HPSC”); and a special early St. Patrick’s Day pub night on March 15. Both are open for registration.

Please remember that you are part of a community.  Which means that you need to understand that if you delay the bus you are inconveniencing many other members. Before you leave home, please make sure that you have everything you need for the day and that you have enough time to get to the stop early. Most of our pick-up locations do not allow the bus to sit and wait.  The bus schedule allows just enough time, when the bus arrives, for members to load their equipment and get on and no longer. So please be prepared to load as soon as the bus arrives.

Just a reminder we have a lot of information available on the website to answer most of your questions, including trip status (under the Downhill Day Trips tab and Cross-Country tab). Once you log in, this page provides all of the updated information regarding day trips a day or two prior, including if it is a go or cancelled, if walk-ons are allowed, at what stops, and if there is a walk-on fee, as well as the scheduled pick up times and locations. Before sending a message to the Info box please check the website first. Please realize that we are all volunteers (not staff) and most of us have full-time jobs, so we cannot monitor the info box full time. 

If you have any questions regarding any of the charter or overnight bus trips – please contact the trip leader instead of sending a message to the info box.  All of the trip leaders are listed under the Long Trips tab on the website. 

It is always surprising to me how short our actual season is. We plan for approximately 9 months of the year, so that we can ski, snowboard, or snowshoe for about 3 months. We are now about to enter our last month of snow activities. Enjoy it as much as possible – sign up for as many trips as possible. And remember that the conditions in Toronto do not usually reflect the conditions at the resorts. For example, Blue Mountain is reporting that they have a record base of snow this season which means that they should have enough snow to last to the end of the month at least.

Cheers!

Justin Graham

President, High Park Ski Club

It is hard to believe but we are already halfway through the season. And so far it has a been a fantastic year for both our alpine and nordic members. Since January we have not had to cancel a single trip – so thank you to all members who have been signing up for day trips. Please continue to do so! And thank you to all the volunteers for their work in making sure these trips run – ranging from the directors, trip coordinators and bus captains. And of course our HPSC instructors!

The feedback from the long trips has also been positive. Thank you to the Long Trips Committee and the volunteer trip leaders. Without these volunteers we would not be able to offer these group trips to our members.  As the leader of the Sun Valley trip, I know how much work is involved, especially when there may be some hiccups – such as flight cancellations. Our return trip through Chicago was cancelled and we ended up with an unexpected 8hr layover in San Fransico, before a red eye flight home.

The backbone of our club is volunteers – everything is done by your fellow members so that each of you can enjoy our day trips, long trips, socials, etc.  The core of our organizational structure is the Board of Directors. This coming April we will be holding our annual election where a number of the positions will be up for election. If you are interested in helping out the club and helping guide the direction of the club, please let me know.  We can discuss the various roles and possibly shadowing the current Director to better understand the role.

I want to thank all the members who have signed the e-waiver we sent out last week via PandaDoc.  For those who have not signed, we will be sending out a reminder shortly. And for those who have been asking, this is almost identical to the waiver we have asked members to acknowledge when they join the club or renew membership, and when they sign up for any trips, as well as to the waivers required by all ski resorts including Mount St. Louis Moonstone, Blue Mountain, the private clubs and by Ikon. The difference is that this one has been approved by our liability insurance broker. 

I am looking forward to seeing many of you on the buses, as well as at some of our upcoming social events including this coming Friday night Skating Night at Nathan Phillips Square and social at The Local Public Eatery. I will not be skating but will be at the social. Please watch for some further social events in March. 

Cheers!

Justin Graham

President, High Park Ski Club

As I sit here in my room on the Sun Valley trip, by a beautiful and cozy gas fireplace, I am feeling extremely grateful. For the first time since I became President in April 2020 I finally feel that the club has returned to our normal state of operations. After a number of years of COVID restrictions and last season’s subpar weather, this year everything has finally come together. 

Our downhill day trips are regularly full, with two bus trips on Saturdays and now recently Mondays, breakeven to full buses on Sundays to Blue Mountain, and a strong return for our Wednesday trips to the private clubs. Pre-COVID, we were always concerned about the Sunday buses, and last season we had to cancel most of the Wednesday trips due to low registrations. Regarding the latter trips, it really does appear that last season’s general weather conditions were the biggest contributor to the drop-off in registrations. 

Our cross-country contingent is thriving this season with very quick trip sellouts and regular two bus trips where possible. Nothing could be more different from last year!

Our social calendar is also filling up. The Information Night held on January 16^th was a great success with many new members and potential members attending. Thank you to our new Social Director, Mary Tountas, and her volunteers for such a positive event. Upcoming is a skating night at Nathan Phillips Square and post-skate social on Friday, February 14^th. We request registration so we know how many to expect at the pub.  As well, we will be releasing details regarding our special 75^th Anniversary Gala soon, but wanted provide you the Save the Date information. The Gala will be held at a very classic event space in downtown Toronto on Friday, May 9^th. 

You will have received an email early this week regarding a new liability insurance requirement for the club.  As I mentioned in the e-blast sent on Monday, the club cannot operate without our liability insurance – we cannot offer lessons or run any trips. We will be sending you a link with the approved Liability Waiver for your e-signature shortly.  You will automatically be sent a copy for your records, while a copy will be sent to the club for our records.    Please sign the waiver as soon as you receive the link.

My last note is not club policy but just my personal observation based on years of trips but especially our trip to Mount St. Louis on Saturday, January 18^th.  As the temperature dropped during the day, the ground went from soft snow to become very slippery, especially with the long down slope walk to the buses. A number of members slipped on this icy path to the buses, including a member carrying his skis that caused a gash on his forehead requiring stiches when he got back to Toronto. An instructor from NTSC also slipped and suffered a very serious injury. (We sent a message to Mount St. Louis regarding this dangerous situation.) Getting to my point, please remember that there is danger not just on the hill. One thing you can do is to purchase some ice cleats you put on the bottom of your shoes for a safer walk back to the bus at the end of the day. As well, you might want to consider carrying your skis in your ski bag up to the lodge instead of tossing your bag in the storage bin under the bus. It makes transporting your skis much easier and safer especially for the long walk back to the bus at the end of the day.

It has been great to see and speak with many of you on the day trips and at the Information Night so far this season!

Cheers!

Justin Graham

President, High Park Ski Club

It is fantastic that when we actually experience a normal winter, HPSC members turn out for trips!!  

Over the last week, we had more than 500 members on day trips, including 150 for our annual Double Double lesson day last Saturday at Mount St. Louis Moonstone. On Sunday there was a sold out bus for what I like to call the Sunday@Blue Crew. Not too long ago, we were very concerned about the small numbers that were going to Blue on Sundays. However, over the last couple of years that has not been an issue. Monday’s Blue trips are consistently sold out, so don’t delay registering. Remember to join the waitlist if a trip is full – we will add a second bus if there is enough demand based on the waitlist.  

After last year’s issue with having to cancel Wednesday trips it is fantastic to see that this week’s trip to Alpine (my personal favourite of the private clubs) is full, and next week to Osler has a good number currently registered.  

But the best news is that after a terrible season last year, our cross-country skiers and snowshoers have had a fabulous start to their season. Every Saturday trip so far this season has consisted of two buses. And the trips are selling out fast so again if you are interested, please register asap when the trips open.  

In addition to the great news regarding day trips, our charter trips are off and running. Currently we have members on a trip to Japan, and in the next three weeks we have trips to France, Italy, and Sun Valley, Idaho.

We are not forgetting the club’s social side either. On Thursday we are hosting an Information and New Member night at the Black Sheep in Liberty Village. We have topped out our number of registrations (who receive a free drink ticket) at 125, but everyone is still welcome to drop by.  

Justin Graham

President, High Park Ski Club

When and where:  Saturday, January 18th (2pm) @ Highlands Nordic

Participate as part of a group and/or in a pair. 

How to participate:  

• Sign-up on the bus
• Wear your brightest tuque
• Bring your Club spirit!

First event will be in larger groups doing a “Chase the Tail” relay (instructions will be sent out in advance). Second relay will be in pairs (beginner + experienced skiers to be matched up). Great for skiers of all levels! Thanks to Clark Seadon for coordinating this fun event! 

First off, I would like to wish all of you a very happy and successful New Year!

As we move into January, the club starts our season completely. In the next few weeks our schedule of day trip and charter trips will be running fully, including our annual downhill Double Double (morning and afternoon lessons) on January 11^th.  Please continue to follow all club communications to keep up with when trips open for registration. 

As well, please familiarize yourself with when registration closes for the different day trips. Be aware that registration may close early if the trip sells out. While we may be able to arrange for a second bus if there is enough interest (based on the wait list), it is not guaranteed, so it is best to sign up as early as possible so as not to be disappointed.      

In addition to trips, we are also moving forward with social events to bring members and potential members together, including an Information Night in the Liberty Village neighbourhood on Thursday, January 16^th at the Black Sheep (see below for registration information).  All those who register will receive one drink ticket. As well, we will be giving out our new 75^th Anniversary pin. Please bring any friends, colleagues or family members who you want to introduce to the club. As a reminder, if a new member indicates that you referred them to the club, you will receive a bus voucher.  

On the topic of social events, I would like to thank all of those who came out to our post-holiday gathering last Friday night. It was fantastic to catch up with everyone.

Looking forward to connecting with many of you on upcoming day trips and social events.

Cheers!

Justin Graham

President, High Park Ski Club

Looking back to last year when we were waiting for snow in order to start our season of activities, this year we have been much luckier. This past weekend we were able to run our first day trips of the season to both Mount St. Louis and Blue Mountain. Members also returned from the first charter trip to Panorama, and this coming weekend our downhill instructors are off to Mont Tremblant for their annual training weekend. 

On the cross-country front, many of the resorts are already operating and our first trips are open for registrations and have filled quickly – if you would like to go please join the waitlist and if there are enough members we might be able to run a second bus.

As a reminder, we have downhill day trips scheduled for December 28 and 29 so if you want to get out over the holidays please register quickly. January trips will open soon. As a heads up, our annual Double Double day with both morning and afternoon lessons is scheduled for January 11 at Mount St. Louis. 

I would also like to thank everyone who attended our First Tracks Holiday Party last Friday at the National Yacht Club.  It was a fun evening catching up with so many members.  We have more social events planned for the new year, including our special 75^th Anniversary Gala next spring, so please keep reading all of the communication from the club.

Please take care over the holidays and stay healthy!  See you in the new year!

Justin Graham

President, High Park Ski Club