Ski Mogul Carves out Success

COLLINGWOOD.COM Your Local source BOXING DAY for News, Entertainment, Weather BLOWOUT! Proudly serving Collingwood and The Blue Mountains Doors Open At 6am! THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016 READ US ONLINE AT SIMCOE.COM From everyone “he flipped a coin: at The Connection heads Canada, tails new Zealand.” George Weider OnlineOnline TODAY ON WIN CINEPLEX MOVIE PASSES Enter to win a Great Escape Movie Pass for two. Visit Simcoe.com for From left: Blue Mountain Resort president Dan Skelton, from left, former chairman George Weider, and former CEO and chairman Gord Canning are part of the more details. legacy of Blue Mountain Resort. John Edwards/Metroland SIGN UP FOR OUR DAILY NEWS ALERT AT SIMCOE.COM. Ski mogul carves out success Powered by JOHN EDWARDS that would change his life and the ing as a ski instructor at Alpine Inn ing the peak of the winter season [email protected] lives of thousands in a small com- and Chateau Frontenac. and attracting millions of visitors. A cornerstone of South Geor- munity more than 5,000 kilome- “He met a businessman from Blue Mountain Resorts Ltd. was gian Bay was determined by the tres away. Toronto, Peter Campbell,” George incorporated in 1941 and reached uReport flip of a coin. “He flipped a coin: heads Can- said. “He was a terrific entrepre- an agreement with Blue Mountain Jozo Weider had owned a cha- ada, tails New Zealand,” said son neur and very generous.” Ski Club on a 999-year lease for When you see news happening let in his native Czechoslovakia George Weider. Campbell, who later became a portion of the land that is now let us know... where he carried out mountain It was heads. a senator, backed Jozo in build- home to Blue Mountain. climbing, skiing and photography Jozo Weider came to Canada and ing the first lodge at Blue Moun- They sold the first lodge in 1956, [email protected] expeditions. eventually founded Blue Mountain tain’s north end, where Mountain buying a piece of land at the south- He left the chalet behind when Resort, which is celebrating its Springs Lodge is now located. ern end of the resort and installing www.facebook/SimcoeNews he fled the country in advance 75th year this ski season. What started as a single lodge the first pole lift. of the Nazi occupation. It was in The Weider family settled in has developed into the largest ski “From there, they just gradually @SimcoeNews London in 1938, while on a tour- British Columbia before moving resort in Ontario and a four-season expanded the area,” George said. ism mission, he made a decision to Quebec where Jozo was work- destination, employing 1,800 dur- See JOZO, Page 19 Are you! • Looking for work • 15-30 years old • Out of school • Not in receipt of EI benefits SKILL Now accepting applications This project is funded • Learn about yourself and employment by the Government of Canada’s • Earn while you add marketable skills to your resume Youth Employment Strategy. TRACKS • Plan your success on the job • Up to 18 weeks PROGRAM For an appointment call 705-444-1580 or drop by Tracks Employment 50 Hume Street - Collingwood 19 I Jozo Weider fled Czechoslovakia, founded resort in 1941 THE CONNECTION - DECEMBER 22, 2016 l Ski, from Page 1 ily involved in the development of where Bill’s son, current president Jozo added five more chairlifts snow-making. Dan Skelton, got his start. and had plans to expand the resort “Bill was the real contributor,” “I was 13, picking up garbage in to include homes. said Canning. “We didn’t have the the parking lot of the Great Slide Gord Canning, Jozo’s son-in- expertise for snow-making and Ride,” said Dan. law, was hired in 1968 and recalls lifts.” The resort continued its expansion seeing a map Jozo had of potential In 1972, a year after Jozo’s death, in 1980 when the Blue Mountain Inn development. the resort installed the snow-mak- increased to 100 rooms from 20. “He had single family dwellings ing system, which was a huge step Over the next decade, Monterra from one side of the resort to the forward. Golf Course and the Blue Moun- other,” Canning said. “He had a “That was a tremendous invest- tain Conference Centre would be community.” ment,” Canning said. added. George said Jozo also had plans Years later, Bill went to an open Dan said the real “game chang- to expand the resort to include sum- house at a ski resort near Pittsburgh er” was when Intrawest bought a mer activities such as music and a and learned about technology that 50-per-cent share of the company scenic chairlift. is still used in snow-making. in 2000 and began building the Vil- “I think he had enormous, incred- “He discovered these tower lage at Blue Mountain. ibly powerful vision,” George said. guns,” Canning said. “And this gun “It made us a destination ski “Some of his projects didn’t work. revolutionized snow-making.” resort in the vein of Whistler and The critical mass wasn’t there for Canning said the ’70s was a major Tremblant,” he said. concerts.” growth period for the resort, as the Canning said Blue Mountain Re- Jozo Weider, But before Jozo’s vision could be baby boomers were young, energet- sort had sold a piece of property founder of Blue implemented, he died in a car crash ic and full of disposable income. in 1985 and spent the proceeds on Mountain Resort in 1971. “It fit right in with what was going planning for what would become Below, early days Gord said the family took a step on demographically,” Canning said. the village. of Blue Mountain Resort. back, which included putting a “Young and energetic. They could “We envisioned the village, but Submitted $500,000 investment in snow-mak- party Saturday night and ski all day we didn’t have $200 million to photos ing on hold. Sunday. They just kept coming.” build it,” said George. While Blue Mountain is synony- In 1977, they also developed the George said Jozo would be happy mous with the Weider and Canning Slide Ride, which was a way to at- with the direction the resort has taken names, a key figure in the resort’s tract summer visitors. and how it’s become a destination. history was Bill Skelton. “They loved the thrill of that slide “There was always the vision but Skelton started work at the resort ride,” said Canning. he didn’t get around to develop the when he was 17 and was heav- It was the Great Slide Ride, non-winter aspect,” he said. Let it snow, let it snow, As the busy season is here, let it snow! give yourself some whine down time! Remember to maintain good posture & lift light. 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