Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Grande Prairie Ski Club and Wapiti Ski Lifts Ltd. fonds |
| Reference code: | 0590 |
| Date: | 1962-2010 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 4 cm textual records
1 photograph 19 blueprints |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Processed by Leslie Gordon, October 2014 Added to new database July 2024 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
The Grande Prairie Ski Club was incorporated as a society on November 10, 1960. The first ski hill in the Grande Prairie area was near Bezanson in the Smoky River valley. Operations moved to the Wapiti River valley, directly south of the bridge on Highway 40. A 30 x 30 foot chalet was built and a towrope powered by Ford chassis motor erected. In 1971 the chalet was moved to a site 1.5 miles north of the Grovedale general store, becoming Grovedale Baptist Church. Early members included: Ken Hanson, May, McIntosh, Dr. Dobson, R. Wilson, R. Pirker, G. Wilson, Pitt Payne, J. May, G. Simpson, Dave Frevalia, J. Pirker, W. Camenzend, C. Macdonald, Mrs. Brown, R. Voss, Van Gitzel, T. Matheson, John Barilko, the Bormans, and Rick Campbell.
Wapiti Ski Lifts Ltd. was formed in June 1965 as a company to provide a ski lift facility for the Ski Club.To finance the lift, a cost of approximately $40,000, the group obtained a loan from the bank and sold shares and debentures. People involved included: Dr. Dobson (first President), Gerald Card (first Treasurer), Ken Hanson (first Secretary), Mervyn Lewis, Gordon Wilson, J. J. Ouellette, Ernie Harrison, Griff James, G. Simpson, Joe Pirker, W. Borman, R. Norton, Ed Forner, G. Patterson, Dr. Pitt Payne, Ernest Radbourne, Robert Wilson, Wayne Anderson, and J. H. Bennion.
In 1972-73, the ski area was moved to its current location west of O’Brien Provincial Park on Highway 666. A new chalet was built at the base of the hill and a T-bar lift erected. In 1987 the chalet was moved to the top of the hill, new runs created, and a platter lift built. In 1994, the T-bar was replaced with a triple chair lift, instead. Nitehawk also offers ski and snowboard lessons and rentals. In 2004, a new maintenance facility was built. In 2005, the Peace Country Luge Association built a natural luge track at the site. The Swan City Rotary Wilderness RV Park was opened in 2006. In 2007, the Gravity Mountain Bike Park was created. The Grande Prairie Ski Club continues to own and operate the Nitehawk Recreation Area.
Custodial history
Material was preserved by Ken Hanson, an executive member of the Grande Prairie Ski Club, and donated by his son-in-law, Harvey Pearson, to the Archives in October 2010. A couple of sheets appear to have been added by Ken Belke (another club member) in 2010.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of records of the Grande Prairie Ski Club and Wapiti Ski Lifts Ltd. The two organizations are closely linked and some of the records are inseparable. Records include minutes, financial records, correspondence, lists of members and contributors, ski lift plans, a ski school photograph, and Canadian Ski Patrol manual.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents
Arrangement
The order of the files was imposed by the Archivist in an attempt to separate the Ski Club records from those of Wapiti Ski Lifts Ltd., as much as possible. The original order within files was maintained in some cases, although loose documents and miscellaneous documents within other files were inserted in the file the suited them best. The correspondence was also compiled into one file and organized in reverse chronological order.
Other notes
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
- Architectural drawing (documentary form)
- Sports, recreation and leisure* (subject)
Table of contents
0590.01, Grande Prairie Ski Club series, 1963-2010
0590.02, Wapiti Ski Lifts Ltd. series, 1962-1978
0590.03, Canadian Ski Patrol System, 1966-1967
Series descriptions
| Series 0590.01: Grande Prairie Ski Club series
Date: 1963-2010 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of records of the Grande Prairie Ski Club. The records include meeting materials such as an amended ski lift proposal, statements of income, expenditures, assets and liabilities (1966-67, 1968-69), rough notes, a ski school financial statement (April 1969), member and executive lists (1960s, 2010), balance sheets (1963-65), Dawson Creek Ski Club and Bear Mountain Ski Lifts Ltd. financial statement (1964-65), a newspaper clipping (1974), a photograph of the Pro Ski Adventure Ski School (ca. 1985), and historical notes. Physical description: 0.5 cm textual records 1 photograph Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) • Graphic material – photograph (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
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| File / item list | |||
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 0590.01.01 | Item – Pro Ski Adventure Ski School | [ca. 1985] | 1 photograph : colour ; 11 x 14 in. |
| Scope and content:
Five men on skis in red and blue jackets, the Pro Ski Adventure Ski School. |
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| Series 0590.02: Wapiti Ski Lifts Ltd. series
Date: 1962-1978 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of records of Wapiti Ski Lifts Ltd. The records include the ski lift proposal, lists of contributors, donors, and shareholders (ca. 1965-69), meeting minutes (1965-1971, 1975), correspondence (1962-1978, some overlap with Ski Club), financial statements (1966-70), ski lift shipping documents such as the bill of lading, invoices, customs forms, offer, confirmation of order, certificate of insurance, and rough notes, ski lift specifications, and nineteen ski lift plans (ca. 1965). Physical description: 2.5 cm textual records 19 blueprints Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) • Architectural drawing (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
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| File / item list | |||
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 0590.02.01-.19 | Item – Doppelmayr Skilifte Konrad Doppelmayr & Sohn |
[ca. 1965] | 19 blueprints (Diazo plans) |
| Scope and content:
Nineteen plans showing various aspects of the Konrad Doppelmayr & Sohn T-bar ski lift purchased for the Wapiti hill, including: gate tower, foundations (upper and drive terms), anchor, motor, wiring, drive station, reversal station, and towing outfit. |
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| Series 0590.03: Canadian Ski Patrol System
Date: 1966-1967 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of Canadian Ski Patrol System material, including a letter of introduction to new members, schedule of first aid courses, on the hill training program synopsis, supply list, and training manual. Physical description: 1 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
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| File / item list | |||
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 0590.03.01 | Item – Canadian Ski Patrol System Training Manual Canadian Ski Patrol System |
1967 | 1 booklet : 8.5 x 11 in. (162 pp.) |
| Scope and content:
The manual of the Canadian Ski Patrol System, with sections on the Canadian Ski Patrol System, personnel requirements, officers and personnel, organization, reports and forms, awards and badges, general patrol procedures, safety, communications, lift evacuation, avalanche, toboggan procedure, skiing proficiency and toboggan handling, first aid materials and bandaging, shock, cessation of breathing, bleeding, wounds, head and spine injuries, unconsciousness, poisoning, fractures, dislocations, strains, and sprains, injuries due to heat and cold, transportation of injured, miscellaneous first aid, and emergency childbirth. |
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