What is Ski North?
Ski North is a grassroots-focused ski promotion project that is principally funded by the NWT Ski Division, the sport’s Territorial Sports Organization, with supplementary support from NWT Recreation and Parks Association, and Government of the Northwest Territories’ Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Since its inception, the program has offered a range of ski supports to encourage the sport's development in various NWT communities.
In partnership with the NWT Ski Division, the NWT Recreation and Parks Association has administered and delivered the program since 2004, guided by the following goals:
• Increase participation in the sport of cross-country skiing
• Improve skier skills
• Increase physical activity and healthy lifestyles
• Develop sustainable ski programs in NWT communities
Support Offered To Communities:
The support program aims to increase skier participation in under-serviced NWT communities (i.e. without conventional ski clubs) by helping realize these objectives
- Support the certification and training of ski leaders/coaches
- Encourage and support the construction of dedicated ski trails and/or provide training on ski trail grooming and maintenance.
- Support the construction of ski funparks (playground or terrain parks that encourage ski skill acquisition through play) and provision of ski equipment in communities where limited ski facilities and equipment exist.
- Providing support to volunteer organizers of community or regional ski events
Current Events
Stay tuned as we get the program up and running for the 2011-2012 ski season.
Past Community Work/Involvement
2011/2012 Ski Season
We are currently talking to communities who would like to start a ski club by joining the Ski North program.
2010/2011 Ski Season
The main focus was a great Fast and Female Northern Youth Empowerment weekend in Norman Wells. It was attended by 45 girls from 19 communities!
2009/2010 Ski Season
The target communities were:
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Gameti
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Lutsel K'e
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Tsiigehchic
Ski programs were set up in each of these communities. The communities acquired skis, coaches were trained and they took many youth out skiing.
Gameti
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Introduction to Community Coaching Course
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Grooming Clinic
Lutsel K'e
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Grooming Clinic
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Introduction to Community Coaching Course
Tsiigehchic
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Grooming Clinic
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Introduction to Community Coaching Course
Norman Wells
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Introduction to Community Coaching Course
Tulita
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Community Coaching Course
Yellowknife
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Fast and Female Northern Youth Empowerment Weekend
2008/2009 Ski Season
Dettah
- Target in the Akaitcho Region
- The Dettah ski program was a joint partnership between Kaw Tay Whee School and Yellowknives Dene First Nation.
- Ski North provided equipment loaners to the school's entire K-6 population, as well as most staff members
- Dettah became Associate Members of the NWT Ski Division.
- The school-based program was an element of Kaw Tay Whee’s Physical Education program:, students were on skis at least one 90-minute session per week – more frequently if the weather cooperated. Optional, after-school ski sessions were also offered to KTW students.
During the season-end ski jamboree – Akaitcho Super Ski Day – YK Dene Recreation and Kaw Tay Whee students, staff and parents played host to visiting skiers from Kalemi Dene School in Ndilo for an afternoon of food, relays and games.
Fort Liard
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Target community in the Dehcho region
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Ski North Coordinator visited Fort Liard on two occasions to deliver 25 sets of equipment, facilitate coaching and trail grooming clinics, promote ski funpark construction and ski trail development.
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20 members of the Track and Trails ski and snowshoe club, volunteer coach and parent were active at least twice per week.
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The club was supported by three trail groomer volunteers who set tracks on ~3km of shared-used trails with a recently-acquired tracksetter.
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Special events during the year included weekend ski clinics and family-focused activities at a temporary ski fun park at a nearby hill.
Tulita
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Target community from the Sahtu region.
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Chief Albert Wright’s Kindergarten class ran a 36 session, 12-week ski program as part of the class’ course of study. The Recreation Department actively supported the school program, as well as an after school ski program for older skiers.
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Ski/Trail Coordinator assisted with a weekend ski event; a planned third visit to the community to deliver the Community Coach (CC) module of the NCCP certification program was postponed until fall 2009.
Behchoko
The two communities that comprise Behchoko were both recipients of Ski North/NWTRPA support in 2007/08 for the Tlicho region.
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The funpark concept was piloted at Elizabeth Mackenzie School (EMES), in Rae.
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Chief Jimmy Bruneau School (CJBS), in Edzo, accessed Trail Building Fund support to purchase a ski tracksetter and develop dedicated ski trails around the high school.
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A one-day ski clinic was held at Chief Jimmy Bruneau School, seeing some 30 students and staff on skis.
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Introduction to Community Coaching workshop was facilitated for six Behchoko teachers and community members.
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A ski enthusiast at Chief Jimmy Bruneau School organized a long-distance "Ski to Rae" day for high school students.
Deline
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Ski/Trail coordinator visited the community in late January
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Skiing was introduced to a broad number of students at ?ehtseo Ahya School, many of whom went on to join the school-based, NWTSD-affiliated, ski club over the course of the season.
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The Deline skiers participated in a Sahtu-wide ski event in Norman Wells.
***Ski North has also worked with N’dilo, Tuktoyaktuk, Whati, Coville Lake, Hay River, Nahanni Bute, Fort McPherson, Norman Wells, Inuvik, Fort Providence, Aklavik, Fort Liard and Kakisa.
Ski North Supported Events
2010/2011 Winter Season
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Fast and Female in Norman Wells
2009/2010 Winter Season:
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NWT Arctic Winter Games Trials
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Fast and Female
2008/2009 Winter Season:
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NWT Teachers’ Association Workshop
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Camp Akaitcho
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NWT Ski Champ
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Top of the World Ski Camp and Loppet
Inuvik's Top of the World Loppet 2009
Whati Skiers .... Check out the camera and say "Ski!"
NWT Teachers Sharing Ski Tricks at the YK Conference '09
Ski Equipment Library
This equipment is available to accepted target communities on a loan to buy system. The amount of equipment varies from year to year. Many of the target communities from last year are in the process of purchasing the equipment from Ski North.
Traveling Skis
Ski North currently possesses a 14 sets of skis, 11 pairs of poles 18 pairs of boots intended for occasional use by school aged skiers during Ski North clinics and events. The equipment has seen substantial use over the last five seasons and Ski North currently restocking its Traveling Ski equipment.
Karen Johnson - Ski North Coordinator
Phone (867) 669-8379
Sheena Tremblay - Ski North Coordinator
Phone (867) 873-5340
Fax (867) 669-6791