Local History & Genealogy

Machine-guns are towed on boggans by the white-shrouded figures and; when needed; can be set up and in action like a flash (1941). Photo from the Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

A Brief History

Equipped with cross country skis, troops fighting for Finland pushed back and defeated Soviet forces in the Winter War (though Finland lost some of its territory). The war started on November 30, 1939 when the Soviets invaded Finland — it ended three and a half months later with the Moscow Peace Treaty. Allied Forces took note of the success the Finnish had on skis. 

In Canada, military ski instructors received training at the Dominion Experimental Farm in Ottawa before they fanned out across Canada to instruct troops and airmen in winter warfare techniques. Valcartier base in Quebec hosted the first Canadian French language ski instructor school "en plein air" (outside). In addition to the Canadian Army, the Women's Transport Service of the Canadian Red Cross also practiced ski traversal in Toronto.

A Toronto Star article from 1943 reports about the military trainees: "There are tumbles once in a while as the officers get their 'ski legs.' Object of the course is to make them 'passable' skiers, but not necessarily experts at the game."

After the war ended, large quantities of surplus army ski equipment came on the market at low prices. This offered post-war families everything they needed — large heavy skis, metal-framed khaki rucksacks and bulky canvas parkas — to enjoy some recreation in the snow. There were no ski lifts to take up the hill or cozy ski chalets to escape the cold, yet skiing gained popularity. Canadians skied cross country to the hills, climbed up, then slid directly down.

Photographs

These photos of Canadians in training are are available on Toronto Public Library's website, Digital Archive Ontario. They have been digitized from our Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Dominion Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ontario

This Ottawa location was the first ski school for military training in Canada (1940). Photo from the Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

A squad of future instructors practice the "bear walk", gripping the ski harnesses with their hands (1940). Photo from the Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Petawawa camp, Petawawa, Ontario

Members of the 47th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery (1941). Photo from the Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Original newspaper caption: "Fancy ski work is not taught; the idea being that the men shuffle along until they become unconscious of their skis or snowshoes" (1941). Photo from the Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Camp Borden, Borden, Ontario

Ski troops being pulled by a small tank, or "Bug" (1941). Photo from the Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Lieutenant Joseph Donihee of Cornwall eating stew before spending the night in his bivouac (1943). Photo from the Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Valcartier camp, Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, Quebec

Training included simple drills in addition to more difficult manoeuvres (1943). Photo from the Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Toronto, Ontario (Women's Transport Service of the Canadian Red Cross)

Red Cross workers doing practice drills in formation in the Rosedale area (1941). Photo from the Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Red Cross workers trained on the snow-covered fairways of the Rosedale golf course (1941). Photo from the Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

See more photos of Canadians training on skis on Digital Archive Ontario.