The Canadian Ski Patrol at Owl’s Head is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its famous HOOT event, the largest fundraiser created in the Canadian Ski Patrol - Eastern Townships Zone. 

The Canadian Ski Patrol has been an integral part of Owl’s Head since former owners, and founders, Fred and Lillian Korman opened up the mountain to skiers in 1965. The group is primarily made up of trained volunteers and it ensures the safety of those on the mountain through prevention, raising awareness, and by providing first aid services directly on the hill. 

Other mountains that are served by the Canadian Ski Patrol in the region include Mont Orford, Mont-Orford National Park, and Mont Bellevue. 

The Owl’s Head HOOT was created by Tony Matthew in 1974 and some version of the event has take place every year since. This year’s HOOT is taking place on March 25 and the day will be filled with contests, activities, entertainment, food, drinks, and fun, according to organizers. 

All proceeds raised from the event go back to the Canadian Ski Patrol at Owl’s Head to purchase the first aid equipment it needs to fulfill its mission. The group also shares some of the funds with the other mountains served by the Canadian Ski Patrol. 

“The history of the Canadian Ski Patrol started with the 1940-1941 season in Toronto. They were working with the National Ski Patrol out of the United States and they wanted to have a Canadian entity. It expanded from there to across Canada. The Canadian Ski Patrol is mostly volunteer members and we do train with paid patrollers across the country. Right now, we service over 200 ski hills all similar to the Owl’s Head family-oriented type regions,” said Ross Forbes, who has been a member of the Canadian Ski Patrol at Owl’s Head for 47 years. 

Forbes added that those who join the Canadian Ski Patrol get an extensive first aid course in their first year. 

“Including anatomy, physiology, CPR, life-saving techniques, bandages, splints, a variety of any first aid training. It is a 70-hour course in the Eastern Townships and then after that every patroller is required to do a refresher course every year. After they do the first aid, they get to the mountain and they are taught on how to bring down the many types of injuries that we have. We put them in a toboggan and they are taught how to go down the mountain safely,” he explained. 

Having been involved with Owl’s Head since its beginnings, the Canadian Ski Patrol team has grown to 54 volunteers and eight paid patrollers this year. 

“The first year we probably had ten patrollers and we’ve gone as high as 65 volunteer patrollers. (…) It’s been an interesting dynamic that has shifted over the years. For the longest time it was Montreal based patrollers who came to Owl’s Head and now there are more local people from the community,” noted Forbes. 

The Canadian Ski Patrol at Owl’s Head provides more than just first aid care. For example, it raises awareness around safety and the rules and regulations of the mountain for those schools that bring students there for the day and it works closely with the Owl’s Head Team.

“We’re very involved with the overall safety and traffic patterns of how people descend, where they stop. So we do work with the hill on signage even though that is controlled by the ASSQ (Association de station de ski de Quebec), which is the governing body for all ski hills in Quebec,” highlighted Forbes. “We work with them on signage, on rules and regulations, and the skier responsibility code developed by the Canadian Ski Council about 25-30 years ago, which has been implemented across Canada.”

The patrol also collaborates with the community and it gets involved where it can.

“We have worked different community events, specifically in Mansonville, during the summer. You know if there’s a road race where they need first aid services. We do provide for four season events when required and if requested. We have a small team of people available. (…) We work very closely there. At the ski hill, I choose to believe that we are an integral part of the community. We work closely with the ski school, the ski management, and the ski club. (…) We’re all a part of it together, nobody is top dog,” said Forbes. 

Speaking on the Owl’s Head HOOT, Forbes explained that as a non-profit organization the Canadian Ski Patrol was looking to do a fundraiser of some sorts. 

“Back in 1973, the Canadian Ski Patrol approached the hill managers and said ‘we’d like to sell hot dogs, maybe have a bunny race, and a jump.' At that point, the people in charge of the patrol thought it would be funny to call it the ‘Yellow Snow Races.’ The next year, sound or minds got involved and they said ‘let’s make something a little bit more family friendly.’ They decided the Owl’s Head HOOT was appropriate,” Forbes told CIDI. 

The Owl’s Head HOOT has costume contests, treasure hunts, races for children, hot dogs, beer, coffee, raffle, t-shirts for sale, and more. 

A new activity introduced just before the pandemic started is the “skimming pond.”

“For years we had an event called the ‘slush cup.’ We’d build a slush pit about five-feet full of water and people would go up and splash. Unfortunately, insurance companies don’t appreciate that event anymore so we have a ‘skimming pond.’ (…) It’s basically a small, shallow, pool and people skim along the top of the water for as far as possible. Usually people don’t make it to the end and end up knee deep in water. That’s quite exciting,” mentioned Forbes. 

Forbes described the Owl’s Head HOOT as a “good community day where people get together, where they get back together.”

It’s also the largest fundraiser for the Canadian Ski Patrol at Owl’s Head. All proceeds raised from the Owl’s Head HOOT go towards first aid equipment, including bandages, splints, toboggans, for the patrol. 

“The money is shared with some of the hills that aren’t in the position to do fundraisers so it helps there. Again, you talk community, it’s exactly that,” Forbes emphasized. 

For more information on the Canadian Ski Patrol - Eastern Townships Zone or to get involved.

For more information on the Owl’s Head HOOT. The event is taking place on March 25 and it is free to attend. 

Listen to the full interview below: