{"id":144805,"date":"2023-03-15T16:09:44","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T20:09:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/?p=144805"},"modified":"2023-03-15T16:27:49","modified_gmt":"2023-03-15T20:27:49","slug":"head-on-down-to-owls-head-to-join-the-canadian-ski-patrol-for-a-hoot-of-a-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/head-on-down-to-owls-head-to-join-the-canadian-ski-patrol-for-a-hoot-of-a-time\/","title":{"rendered":"HOOT of a time: Canadian Ski Patrol celebrates 50th anniversary of fundraiser at Owl\u2019s Head"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Canadian Ski Patrol at Owl\u2019s Head is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its famous HOOT event, the largest fundraiser created in the Canadian Ski Patrol - Eastern Townships Zone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Canadian Ski Patrol has been an integral part of Owl\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Other mountains that are served by the Canadian Ski Patrol in the region include Mont Orford, Mont-Orford National Park, and Mont Bellevue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Owl\u2019s Head HOOT was created by Tony Matthew in 1974 and some version of the event has take place every year since. This year\u2019s HOOT is taking place on March 25 and the day will be filled with contests, activities, entertainment, food, drinks, and fun, according to organizers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All proceeds raised from the event go back to the Canadian Ski Patrol at Owl\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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\u2019s Head family-oriented type regions,\u201d said Ross Forbes, who has been a member of the Canadian Ski Patrol at Owl\u2019s Head for 47 years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Forbes added that those who join the Canadian Ski Patrol get an extensive first aid course in their first year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIncluding 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,\u201d he explained.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Having been involved with Owl\u2019s Head since its beginnings, the Canadian Ski Patrol team has grown to 54 volunteers and eight paid patrollers this year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe first year we probably had ten patrollers and we\u2019ve gone as high as 65 volunteer patrollers. (\u2026) It\u2019s been an interesting dynamic that has shifted over the years. For the longest time it was Montreal based patrollers who came to Owl\u2019s Head and now there are more local people from the community,\u201d noted Forbes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Canadian Ski Patrol at Owl\u2019s 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\u2019s Head Team.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re 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,\u201d highlighted Forbes. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

The patrol also collaborates with the community and it gets involved where it can.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have worked different community events, specifically in Mansonville, during the summer. You know if there\u2019s 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. (\u2026) 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. (\u2026) We\u2019re all a part of it together, nobody is top dog,\u201d said Forbes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Speaking on the Owl\u2019s Head HOOT, Forbes explained that as a non-profit organization the Canadian Ski Patrol was looking to do a fundraiser of some sorts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBack in 1973, the Canadian Ski Patrol approached the hill managers and said \u2018we\u2019d 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 \u2018Yellow Snow Races.\u2019 The next year, sound or minds got involved and they said \u2018let\u2019s make something a little bit more family friendly.\u2019 They decided the Owl\u2019s Head HOOT was appropriate,\u201d Forbes told CIDI.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Owl\u2019s Head HOOT has costume contests, treasure hunts, races for children, hot dogs, beer, coffee, raffle, t-shirts for sale, and more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A new activity introduced just before the pandemic started is the \u201cskimming pond.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor years we had an event called the \u2018slush cup.\u2019 We\u2019d build a slush pit about five-feet full of water and people would go up and splash. Unfortunately, insurance companies don\u2019t appreciate that event anymore so we have a \u2018skimming pond.\u2019 (\u2026) It\u2019s basically a small, shallow, pool and people skim along the top of the water for as far as possible. Usually people don\u2019t make it to the end and end up knee deep in water. That\u2019s quite exciting,\u201d mentioned Forbes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Forbes described the Owl\u2019s Head HOOT as a \u201cgood community day where people get together, where they get back together.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also the largest fundraiser for the Canadian Ski Patrol at Owl\u2019s Head. All proceeds raised from the Owl\u2019s Head HOOT go towards first aid equipment, including bandages, splints, toboggans, for the patrol.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe money is shared with some of the hills that aren\u2019t in the position to do fundraisers so it helps there. Again, you talk community, it\u2019s exactly that,\u201d Forbes emphasized.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For more information on the Canadian Ski Patrol - Eastern Townships Zone<\/span><\/a> or to get involved.<\/p>\n

For more information on the Owl\u2019s Head HOOT.<\/span><\/a> The event is taking place on March 25 and it is free to attend.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Listen to the full interview below:<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Canadian Ski Patrol at Owl\u2019s Head is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its famous HOOT event, the largest fundraiser created in the Canadian Ski Patrol – Eastern Townships Zone.\u00a0 The Canadian Ski Patrol has been an integral part of Owl\u2019s Head since former owners, and founders, Fred and Lillian Korman opened up the mountain…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":144813,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[57,204],"tags":[13831,24332,5698,1504,18527,1763,9875,7603,1579,9129,24330,794,11611,24331,4632],"radio":[246],"origine":[274,259,260],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144805"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/113"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=144805"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144805\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":144824,"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144805\/revisions\/144824"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/144813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=144805"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=144805"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=144805"},{"taxonomy":"radio","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/radio?post=144805"},{"taxonomy":"origine","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/origine?post=144805"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}