HPSC Uniforms… So… Do you ski in High Park?
Staying at home… Staying alive…
Dear friends,
Our new social responsibility to stay at home is our new norm. We are at the state of emergency declared by the Canadian government. As skiers and riders we know the importance of the discipline very well. When it’s minus 30 outside and there are 56 members going together to do what we enjoy the most and also to take the risk together – we are all for one and one for all. We also know the importance of keeping safe distance on the snow. We deeply sympathize with those who are not well, who are quarantined at home, who are taking care of loved ones, who can no longer travel, who have lost money because of the travel cancellations, who had to postpone professional and personal projects or give up precious evenings with family and friends. Canadian Government and Health officials have repeatedly shared important information about the actions we need to take to protect ourselves from coronavirus and to help slow the spread of the virus. These include non-essential travel, and practicing social (physical) distancing. Homes are our own castles, where we are in full control. So let’s do what we enjoy doing at home the most, relax in your own thrones of games, enjoy the life ride and it’s unexpected turns, sip smoothie or cocktail and dream about new adventures and travels… Let’s all act together to keep everyone safe! At the same time we have to stay connected to support each other. Join us for the on-line socials and the most important – Election night on April 30. Registration is open, please register in advance and do attend, we’ll need a quorum. Read bios of the candidates who are stepping forward to lead us higher!
Together we’ll climb every mountain. Stay strong, be well, carry on…
Stella, HPSC Volunteer President
Social & Election – Zoom From Your Home
Connect with your winter friends during this challenging time of social isolation.
We’ll be conducting Election night on-line on April 30 – from the comfort of your home. You can register now here: https://hpsc.ca/event-3751842 You’ll receive an email with invitation to join Zoom meeting. The limit of participants is 100, we’ll need a quorum!
We have also planned on-line social gathering this week – Thursday April 9 at 7 PM. Register to receive the invitation. Prepare your delicious cocktail and share the recipe, share the pictures from club’s events. It’s the new way for us to stay connected! #TBT https://hpsc.ca/event-3807645
Front-of-the-Line (FOTL)
Coronavirus cancelled charter trips C7 France and C8 Taos. Members on these trips are now waiting for their insurance claims to be processed. It will be a lengthy process to get their money back due to the many thousands of claims from passengers all around the world on ski trips, vacation packages, cruise ships, flights, etc. But there is a small bit of good news for these members; they will be getting a FOTL privilege for 2021. When we reschedule the Club Med and Taos trips for 2021, the FOTL privilege will be used to get a jump on the rest of the membership to register before these trips go on sale. Since some C7 and C8 members received a credit instead of claiming a cash refund, the FOTL privilege will ensure that they can use their credit to get onto the trip.
Travel Insurance
This unprecedented stop of travel has highlighted the need for proper trip insurance. With 84 members affected by C7 and C8, we discovered that some members did not have cancellation insurance. With cancellation insurance, there will be full recovery of the amount paid or most of the amount paid. Without cancellation insurance, there is only a credit. Hotels and airlines are not obligated to give cash refunds. Where a refund is offered that is a bonus.
One member wrote, “Going forward, HPSC might want to re-emphasize the need for trip insurance and refer to this spring’s experience and remind club members that in most cases they will have to rely on insurance to get cash back and be the ones who have to chase after their refunds as the travel agents, resorts and airlines are not likely to refund payments and, at best, provide credits, often with deductions. Further that it is the members themselves who will have to do the bulk of the legwork and spend a lot of time chasing people and filing claims and then waiting for the refunds.”
HPSC has always strongly recommended trip insurance on our website and other documentation. For 2021 we may insist that every participant must have it, ie, both medical and cancellation insurance. Without it, you could not register for a trip.
W8 Tremblant-March
Tremblant-March was planned to be our biggest and wildest trip of the season… but now cancelled! Boo hoo! Now be patient, refunds are coming. It’s a big job and our volunteers are busily working on it. You’ll see the refund back on your credit card by mid-April.
Thank you from the Downhill Snow School
We want to thank you for participating in our snow school lessons or guided skiing and snowboarding throughout this past season. While cut too short we had a great time on snow while we were able. We recently sent out a survey to understand your experience taking lessons. Your responses will help the snow school executive to make decisions around our 2020-2021 snow school strategy.
Your input is greatly appreciated. Survey link closes on April 12. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HYHJZ39
HPSC Election 2020 Candidates
The first in the history of the club virtual on-line election will be held on April 30 2020. https://hpsc.ca/event-3751842
Clark Seadon – Candidate for Finance Director
Skiing has been a huge source of adventure and excitement throughout my life. It really started with downhill ski racing for my local club in Edmonton, and grew to include cross-country, a little back-country and trips to Europe. I became a new member this year to do more XC skiing and have been delighted to find so many people who enjoy winter. I’ve had many enjoyable conversations, and look forward to meeting a lot more members. In terms of Finance I have some useful experience to share, having been Acting Treasurer for the Charity my wife is in charge of, having been a Commercial Banking Lender throughout my career, and being a CPA, CA. Overall I really look forward to helping others enjoy skiing and winter with the Club, while helping to ensure the Club remains financially sound for years to come.
Erika Clark – Candidate for Downhill Day Trips Director
When I moved to Toronto in 2017 I decided I wanted to learn to ski, and to meet new people, so I chose to join HPSC. I immediately felt at home and that I had created a new family of friends within the club. I began volunteering as a bus captain on downhill day trips and since then have also been a trip leader on the recent weekend Tremblant trip, as well as volunteering in other capacities with the club. I was the Downhill Day Trips Director for one season (2018-2019) and worked to increase the attendance on downhill day trips, partner with cross country to offer more buses, partner with new hills to offer members more variety to improve their ski and snowboarding skills, and continued to welcome and support members to get out on the slopes through our day trips.
For the next two seasons, my goal as the Director of Downhill Day Trips is keep the momentum going. I want to build upon the fantastic success of the previous seasons and continue to fill buses, encourage new members and returning members to attend day trips and expand our ski and snowboarding program with HPSC’s snow school. With the help of the downhill volunteers, my desire is that every member looks as forward to, and enjoys, going on a HPSC day trip as much as I do. Joining HPSC is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I began as a new skier and have now travelled around Ontario, Canada and the US enjoying the best of winter skiing with my HPSC friends. Becoming involved as a volunteer has led to many wonderful opportunities. I encourage all members to get involved in any way they can!
Nemanja Davidovic – Candidate for Communications Director
I am an outdoor enthusiast. I spend most of my free time skiing, cycling or hiking, depending on the season. As a member of a ski club in my hometown in Serbia, I have skied downhill in European ski resorts. The first thing on my list when I moved to Toronto was to find and join the local ski club in my new home. I discovered HPSC and joined the club together my fiancée. So far, I have skied on daytrips with the club, and discovered some fantastic places in Ontario. Furthermore, I started learning how to cross country ski with amazing HPSC instructors. I find the club to be a great place to meet likeminded people, make new friends and grow your network. I bring volunteering experience from my previous ski club and project management skills from my day job. Life is better on the slopes!
Jennifer Beatty – Candidate for Marketing Director
I grew up in Calgary, Alberta and learned to downhill ski in Banff. I have skied several hill in Banff, as well as Golden, BC. And Whistler, BC. I moved to Toronto in October 2018 for a job in Marketing, and was looking for something to keep my active in the winter months. That’s when I discovered the High Park Ski Club and it’s been the best thing I’ve done since moving toToronto! Having never cross-country skied before this past winter, I advanced from Classic 1 to Classic 3. I also made some great friends, and had tons of laughs along the way! I’m a marketer in my day job, and also take marketing courses when I’m not skiing! – I’m excited at the prospect of using my skill set to further advance the HPSC member experience, and continue to attract new members to keep our club running strong for year to come!
Amy Lam – Candidate for Social Director
I love being active and being outdoors. In past winters, I casually went skiing with friends, but never took any lessons or joined a club. Last winter, I wanted to improve my skiing skills and meet other skiers. I googled “ski club”, and found High Park Ski Club’s website. Since being member, I have been blown away with the quality of lessons and trips the club offers. My skiing has greatly improved since taking lessons with the awesome HPSC instructors. This year, I started to volunteer as bus captain for Saturday alpine trips. I have such a blast meeting members, and being part of such a positive, active and winter-loving community. I recently completed my two year term as the Social Director for the Toronto Triathlon Club. I enjoyed organizing and hosting social events that bring together the community of athletes of all levels. I love seeing the joy that social gatherings bring to members, after training sessions and at the finish-line of various races. It’s the best way to meet new friends and be inspired by their journeys to be active healthy. I hope I can use my “party organizing” skills to come up with ideas for social events and gatherings that bring our wonderful community of HPSC members together.
Justin Graham – Candidate for HPSC President
Even before I started skiing as a teenager, I was aware of High Park Ski Club. I first learned about the club when it was profiled along with others in a local magazine. It seemed like so much fun! After graduating university, I talked a friend into joining with me, and was a member for about 6 years. After not skiing regularly for about 15 years, I wanted to get back into the sport, and since my old friends had stopped, decided to rejoin HPSC, and have been a continuous member since 2007!
I participate in most of the activities of the club (most weekends on alpine daytrips; a couple of snowshoe trips per season; a couple of long trips per season; SkiFit in the fall; Climb the Mountain each year; and many social activities) which has allowed me to develop a good sense of the various subgroups of members that make up our fantastic club.
We really are only as strong as a club as the connections we make with each other! Because of close friendships and a desire to give back to the club I started to volunteer. I have realized that the portfolios that I have assisted with have something to do with bringing our members together and in helping to make these connections! My desire as President is to ensure that our members continue to develop these friendships and as a result strengthen our club.
To paraphrase JFK, “Ask not what your ski club can do for you . . . “ My HPSC Volunteer Experience
- Alpine Daytrips team lead as Assistant Director of Alpine Daytrips (2019/20 season)
- W6 Killington trip – Trip Leader (February 2020)
- SkiFit group leader (Fall 2018; Fall 2019)
- Alpine Bus Captain (2017-2020)
- HPSC Volunteer of the Year – Silver (2018/19); Bronze (2017/18)
- Alpine Daytrips – Bus Captain co-oridnator (2018/19)
- Re-wrote Alpine Bus Captain Training Manual (2018/19)
- Assisted Communications and Marketing teams by creating and editing a lot of the website content (2018/19)
- Assisted Social Director in planning and organizing social events (Fall 2018)
- Attended numerous HPSC Board meetings as delegate for Social Director or Alpine Daytrips director (Summer/Fall 2018)
- Wrote SnoBiz articles for Alpine Daytrips and Social (2017-2018)
Profession and Education
- Professional public opinion researcher for approximately 25 years
- MA, Public Policy and Administration
- Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing major
David Manning – Candidate for Downhill Snow School Director
David is a downhill ski & snowboard (double double) instructor. David is also the past President, who has led the club successfully through the first wave of transformation and demonstrated the mindful leadership and long term vision for the club. David is the best candidate for the role, nominated by the entire Snow School.
Check out here the bios of the candidates, who are current members of the Board: https://www.hpsc.ca/Board-of-Directors:
- IT – Alex Radulescu
- Admin – Victor Schroter
- Overnight Trips – Bill Bates
- Membership – Ruth Schefter
- Cross Country skiing – Heather Steel
An Important Update – Coronavirus March 2020
Dear Friends,
The health and safety of our members and volunteers have always been our number one priority. Following recommendation against large events and public gatherings issued today by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health we have cancelled day trips and Tremblant trip. We feel that this is the most meaningful way to manage the risk. Members who have paid for the cancelled trips will be fully reimbursed. Our partners support our decisions and we are managing the minimum losses for us as a non profit organization. We will refund the full amount back to members credit cards. Please be patient because this is a lot of work for our volunteers. Long Trips committee is working on resolution for the remaining charter trips. These are unprecedented circumstances beyond our control. Let’s keep calm and carry on with our mission as a strong, fun, friendly and supportive community – High Park Ski Club!
At least we can say that we had a great season! It will definitely be a memorable one to go into history. We’ll monitor the situation to make a decision about 70th Anniversary Apres Season Snow Ball and will keep members updated.
Stella, HPSC Volunteer President & Board of Directors
It has been a great season so far . . . But it isn’t over yet!! Still 3 weeks left in our 70th downhill season!
It has been a great season so far . . . but it isn’t over yet!!
However, day trips will only run if members sign up. While buses in January and February were guaranteed to run, in March we need to ensure that trips are economically feasible. They will be cancelled if there are not enough members registered. And remember that if the bus doesn’t run, we do not provide lessons for drive up registrants.
Some highlights in March:
- Our only trip to Beaver Valley Ski Club – home of Avalanche, Ontario’s steepest groomed run, on Wednesday March 18th.
- Our one and only ‘Sleep in Saturday’ on March 21st to Caledon Ski Club. Pick up times are 45 minutes later than the usual Saturday times so you can sleep in. We will be departing from 400/7 at 8:45. If you usually ski on the weekend, and don’t get a chance to go to the private clubs, this is your opportunity!
- There will also be a Skiis and Biikes demo tent at Caledon that day (please see the separate article).
- Due to the popularity of this year’s Sundays at Blue trips, the board has approved adding in two more Sunday trips (March 15th and 29th) that were not on the original schedule. Way to go to the Sunday@Blue Crew for coming out regularly and making this possible.
- Due to popular demand, the Davenport and Yonge pickup location has been added to all weekend daytrips in March.
Come enjoy some spring skiing and before saying goodbye to our 70th HPSC season!
Spring is in the air
Spring reminds us every year about a new beginning, a fresh start… Spring skiing under the sun is the most delicious. Our 70th Anniversary season comes to the end and it only means that 71th season is about to begin. Our current Board of Directors is completing two years term and we are planning election night for April 30 2020. We now have very strong candidates for all Directors positions stepping forward or staying for re-election. Our club is very successful thanks to all volunteers work. If you are interested to join the force of volunteers – contact current Directors.
Meanwhile the celebration continues. Tremblant party trip with two buses is coming up. There will be a big party in Le P’tit Caribou! We are 60% sold out for the 70th Anniversary Snow Ball Dinner + Drink + Dance. There are teams forming up for the Trivia Challenge. The winning team will get additional sparkling wine for the table.
For the Apres party Drink + Dance we’ll have photo booth and a lot of dancing. Join the social event to learn how to dance Waltz. The first dance will be Snow Ball – couple who have met in the club, or join together will be invited to dance first, every time Dance Master will say “SnowBall” the couples will split up and grab another partners – until everyone is dancing. Oh what fun!
What good is sitting alone in your room?
Come hear the music play!
Enjoy the sun and the snow!
Stella, HPSC Volunteer President
All will be well! Keep calm and dream on!
Dear friends, we are living through challenging historical time. All of us in the Board of Directors send you warm wishes to stay well and healthy. Some things are beyond our control. What’s in our control is to take care of ourselves and our communities.
The current Board completes 2 years term. Our team has worked hard and has implemented a lot of changed to take our club to the new hight. Our membership’s record increase of over 20% is our biggest accomplishment that many of you have acknowledged. Our club is growing and blossoming with the new generation and members joining. Although the 70th Anniversary Season has ended suddenly and unexpectedly, we can say that it was an amazing season to remember. Coronavirus has rained on our parade – we had to cancel overnight trips to France, to Tao and to Tremblant. Today we’ve made a hard decision to cancel The Apres 70th Anniversary “Snow Ball’ in the interest of health and safety of our community and in the light of the growing concerns about economical situation. We’ll be back next season stronger and united more than ever to execute on our mission: to inspire and enable members to enjoy winter snow sports in a fun, friendly and supportive community. .
Election night for the new Board of Directors is scheduled for April 30 2020. Please note that we are testing the opportunity to conduct the meeting on-line using collaboration tools. The registration for the meeting will start two weeks prior. The registered 100 participants (maximum capacity of the tools that meets our quorum criteria) will receive an email invitation to join the meeting from the comfort of your homes. Our past President David Manning has started a very important initiative of Club house virtualization, which we have continued. Now we are forced to speed it up.
Please know that very strong new candidates step forward to volunteer for the Board for the next term of two seasons 2020-2022. Election rules and documents are posted on the club’s web site before the meeting. You’ve received by now an official notice of election via email. Remember, our not for profit club is managed by volunteers to keep the cost of our activities and membership low. If you are interested to volunteer – please contact me, current directors or new candidates – they will be building the new teams. It takes many awesome people to run our club.
Below is the list of the candidates for the HPSC 2020-2022 Board of Directors, based on the submissions to Colin Marsh, who is leading Election Nomination committee. Adrian Popescu is a Nomination Committee member and will conduct the meeting. New nominations can be submitted to Colin via marketing@hpsc.ca.
New candidates for HPSC Board of Directors 2020-2022:
- President – Justin Graham
- Marketing – Jennifer Beatty
- Finance – Clark Seadon
- Downhill Day Trips – Erika Clark
- Communications – Nemanja Davidovic (recently appointed by Board)
- Social – Amy Lam
- Downhill Snow School – the candidate will be nominated by the Snow School
- Directors who are running for re-election for their current roles:
- IT – Alex Radulescu
- Admin – Victor Schroter
- Overnight Trips – Bill Bates
- Membership – Ruth Schefter
- Cross Country skiing – Heather Steel
Spring is taking over from winter. All will be well. The cherry trees will blossom in High Park again soon. Keep Calm and Dream On about big mountains and fresh white blossom of snow… Please stay socially connected on-line!
Stella, HPSC Volunteer President 2018-2020