The Canadian Ski Hall of Fame has revealed the place where the new pantheon of national skiing will be built. Station Mont Tremblant has emerged as the big favourite, ahead of other major destination centres, notably in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.

The new Ski Hall of Fame will be located very close to the Saint-Bernard Chapel, “at the foot of a mountain that has seen innumerable athletes grow up on the slopes,” we are told via press release. “The choice of location is even more significant when you realize that Saint Bernard was the patron saint of skiers,” says the organization. Luc Brisebois, mayor of the Ville de Mont-Tremblant, emphasized that the construction of the Hall of Fame will be in harmony with the chapel, which remains a symbolic place for the town.

Previously located in Pointe-Claire, the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame, founded in 1971, was looking for a new place to take up residence. The Hall of Fame organization and numerous partners from the ski industry indicated that they wanted to provide Quebecers and visitors with a world-class interactive site. “Here it will be possible to discover, or rediscover, the country’s sports heritage thanks to an exhibition of amazing artefacts arising from our winter heritage. This place, which will be an inspiration to young people, will provide a virtual reality experience, an attraction unique in Quebec,” they indicated.

A mountain steeped in history

“It’s really tremendous,” confides Peter Duncan, who grew up at the base of the slopes and knows the mountain better than anyone. Encountered at the Fairmont Tremblant, the former professional skier, double Olympian and member of the Canadian alpine ski team from 1960 to 1971, enthusiastically and excitedly relates some of the Tremblant events that marked the region. For him, it’s absolutely appropriate, because Canadian skiing was born here in the Laurentians.

“Tremblant opened its first mechanical lift in 1939. This is the second oldest ski centre in North America, after Sun Valley, Idaho,” says Mr. Duncan. “Joe Ryan wanted to do things differently than at Sun Valley. His goal was to have everyone able to ski to their door. So he built a village on the slope,” the 73-year-old skier recounts, his eyes sparkling.

Highlight the historical and sports-related heritage of the region

“We hope to draw skiers, but not just them,” Peter Duncan notes. “The schools – and the ordinary person, as well — should take advantage of it and come see it. We could have vignettes by Erik Guay, by Jean-Luc Brassard and by Nancy Greene telling us about significant moments in their respective careers. And Tremblant is not just a village, there is an amazing story here. On the slopes, there’s Peter Kirby and Jean-Guy Brunet, both Olympians and residents of Mont-Tremblant. Too few people know about their contribution to winter sport. It’s an important story for people from around here. It’s highly emotional for me,” he admits.

Making his dream a reality

The story goes that in 1937, Joe Ryan, accompanied by Lowell Thomas, climbed the mountain on skis equipped with sealskins and discovered exceptional views of the Laurentians. At the top, an exhausted Joe Ryan exclaimed, “This must be the most beautiful view in the world, but one thing’s wrong: it’s too hard to get up here. I think I’m going to fix that!”

Because he died in 1950, Joe Ryan had only a short time to appreciate his work. However, Peter Duncan believes that Joe Ryan would be happy to see what his ski resort has become and to learn that very close to the chapel – where he is buried along with his wife and son – a building will be erected where visitors can discover the sports heritage of the Canadian athletes who have contributed so much to the advancement of Canada’s ski-related sports.