Jerry Johnston

Jerry Johnston’s contribution to Canadian skiing and ski racing is best exemplified by his total dedication to the development of skiing for people with disabilities, a process he began in 1963. His work often involved creating new techniques and equipment to enable adaptive skiing. His influence reached beyond Canada: in 1970, Japan invited him to help establish its adaptive ski programs.

As a member of two international committees, Jerry played an invaluable role in developing competition rules for disabled skiers.

He began his skiing career with the Banff National Park warden service as a ski patroller at Mount Norquay. After a season at Gray Rocks Inn in Mont-Tremblant in 1957, he returned to Banff, Alta., where he taught skiing for two years before moving to Sunshine Village in 1960. There, in 1963, he launched the first program for disabled skiers in Canada.

Jerry’s leadership in coaching and instruction was equally significant. He was appointed a director of the Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance (CSIA) in 1965, became vice-president from 1967 to 1968, and president in 1968–69 and 1969–70. He achieved Level IV Instructor designation in the Alliance and Level II Coach certification with the Canadian Ski Coaches Federation. In 2000, he was inducted into the CSIA Hall of Fame.

He founded the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing and served as its first president in 1976 and 1977, later becoming its executive director and examiner in 1978 — a position he held until his retirement in 2004. From 1972 to 1977, he was founder and president of the Alberta Amputee Ski Association, later renamed the Alberta Association for Disabled Skiers. He was also a delegate at Interski in 1968 and 1971.

Jerry received many awards for his work, including the Order of Canada in 2000, Alberta Achievement Awards in 1974 and 1979, induction into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 1980, a Special Award for Work with the Disabled in Skiing from the Canada West Ski Areas Association in 1985, the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in 2003, and the Pat Ramage Award from the Canadian Ski & Snowboard Association in 2004 for 35 years of tireless dedication to snowsports.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 1957 — Taught skiing at Gray Rocks Inn, Mont-Tremblant, Que.
• 1960–1963 — Taught at Sunshine Village, Alta.; introduced Canada’s first program for disabled skiers (1963)
• 1965–1970 — Appointed director, CSIA (1965); vice-president (1967–68); president (1968–69, 1969–70); delegate at Interski (1968, 1971)
• 1972–1977 — Founded and presided over the Alberta Amputee Ski Association (later Alberta Association for Disabled Skiers)
• 1976–1977 — Founded Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing; served as first president
• 1978–2004 — Executive director and examiner, Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing
• Awards and Recognition — Alberta Achievement Awards (1974, 1979); Alberta Sports Hall of Fame induction (1980); Special Award for Work with the Disabled in Skiing, Canada West Ski Areas Association (1985); Order of Canada (2000); CSIA Hall of Fame induction (2000); Queen’s Jubilee Medal (2003); Pat Ramage Award, Canadian Ski & Snowboard Association (2004)

Note: Information compiled from several sources; may not include all accomplishments. © Canadian Ski Museum & Hall of Fame. For personal/educational use only. All rights reserved.