Hall of Famer
William B. Thompson
Affiliated Discipline(s):
Cross-country
Date of Birth / Death:
1905 - 1944
Hometown:
Montreal, QC
Active Career Period:
1923 - 1936
Induction CSHF:
1982
Induction Category:
Cross-Country: Builder
Born in Montreal, Quebec on May 18th, 1905, Bill Thompson was one of the country’s most influential figures in the formative years of organized skiing in Canada. From 1934 to 1936, in a period of political turbulence emerging between the eastern and western factions of the country, he was president of the Canadian Amateur Ski Association (CASA founded in 1921). His guiding influence in the repair of the schism cannot be underestimated as he succeeded in expanding the national organization from 19 to 62 clubs across the country. Working with
western figures of influence, Kennington Hague and Nels Nelson in particular, an improved organizational structure was developed which established a national “zone” system which still exits in modified form today.
At the same time, he affiliated organized skiing with the governing body of amateur sport in Canada in 1934, the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada (AAU of C) which gave official recognition to the CASA as the nation’s governing body for skiing. During his tenure as President of the CASA he established a “Committee on Ski Instruction” which eventually became an independent entity as the governing body responsible for a program of ski instruction throughout Canada, the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance (CSIA).
He was also Chair of the Canadian Olympic Ski Team Committee responsible for financing the national team sent to the IV Olympic Winter Games held at Garmisch-Partenkirchen Germany in 1936, the first to include both Slalom and Downhill as separate alpine events. In 1928, as a competitor, he represented Canada in the II Olympic Winter Games at St Moritz, Switzerland where he competed in the 18km cross-country event, placing 37th, the first Canadian to finish.
He was a founding member of the famous Red Birds Ski Club, associated with McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, and was its first president in 1928 and honourary coach of the McGill University Ski Team from 1929 until 1936. He was also Captain of McGill University’s Ski Team in 1926 and 1927 and Secretary of the International Intercollegiate Winter Sports Union during the same period.
1923 Montreal and District High Schools annual cross-country and relay skiing championships; best individual finishing times and member of the winning Westmount High School team
1924-1927 Representing McGill University, he won the Montreal Annual Mount Royal Cross-country Ski Race for three consecutive years. Representing Mcgill University, he won the Canadian Intercollegiate Championships for three consecutive years. In the International Colleges Skiing Championships in Quebec, his finishing positions in the six mile cross-country races were:
1924 – 5th place, 5th place in ski jumping
1925 – 1st place, 3rd place ski jumping
In the Annual Dartmouth Winter Carnival his finishing positions in the seven-mile cross-country ski race were:
1925 – 3rd place
1926 – 4th place
1927 – 2nd place
In the Annual College Week Ski Championships at Lake Placid, New York, his placings in the seven-mile cross-country ski race were:
1926 – 1st place
1927 – 1st place
In 1927 in the 10-mile cross-country race in the Canadian National Championships he placed 2nd and was the first Canadian to finish.
Please Note: The ski information gathered here is compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments.
Copyright © 2021, Canadian Ski Museum. For Personal/Educational use only. All Rights Reserved.
H.P. Douglas – far left W.B. Thompson – 2nd from left. CSHFM Collection.
1928 St. Moritz Olympic Winter Games [L to R]: W.B. Thompson, Merritt Putnam, Sepp Muehlbauer (captain of Swiss team), H.P. Douglas (manager), Gérald Dupuis. CSHFM Collection.
1928 St. Moritz Olympic Winter Games [L to R]: H.P. Douglas (manager), Gérald Dupuis, W.B. Thompson, Merritt Putnam,?, Sepp Muehlbauer (captain of Swiss team). CSHFM Collection.
W.B. Thompson near finish line of 18km cross country skiing event at 1928 St. Moritz Olympic Winter Games. CSHFM Collection.
W.B. Thompson on board RMS Arabic travelling to 1928 St. Moritz Olympic Winter Games. CSHFM Collection.
W.B. Thompson on board RMS Arabic travelling to 1928 St. Moritz Olympic Winter Games. CSHFM Collection.
W.B. Thompson on board RMS Arabic travelling to 1928 St. Moritz Olympic Winter Games. CSHFM Collection.
From Paris to London, on way to 1928 St. Moritz Olympic Winter Games. W.B. Thompson, Merritt Putnam. CSHFM Collection.
From Paris to London, on way to 1928 St. Moritz Olympic Winter Games. W.B.Thompson – 2nd from left Merritt Putnam – far right. CSHFM Collection.
1928 Canadian Olympic Ski Team [L to R]: Leonard Lehan, Gérald Dupuis, W.B. Thompson. CSHFM Collection.
1928 Canadian Olympic Ski Team [L to R]: Gérald Dupuis, Leonard Lehan, W.B.Thompson, Merritt Putnam, H.P. Douglas (manager). 1927-28 Canadian Ski Annual.
1928 St. Moritz Olympic Winter Games [L to R]: W.B. Thompson, Sepp Muehlbauer (captain of Swiss team), H.P. Douglas (manager), Gérald Dupuis. CSHFM Collection.
McGill Intercollegiate Team Seigneury Club [L to R]: Col. Bovey, W.B. Thompson, Bob Patterson, W.Billingsly (manager), Bill Ball, Ray Stott (snowshoer), Jack Houghton, Peter Renold, Walter Dorken, Col. Stack. Front row: Frank Campbell, Bill Tait, Major Forres, ?, ?, Ron Deaton c. 1933. Associated Screen News Limited / F8060-46.
W.B. Thompson – far left. CSHFM Collection.
[L to R]: Rae Grinnell (inductee), W.B. Thompson, and Canadian Ski Museum Chair, Bill Tindale, at 1987 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Photo A. Irwin.
1983 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony [L to R]: W.B. Thompson, Fred Hall’s son. CSHFM Collection.
1983 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony [L to R]: Sage German, W.B. Thompson, Martha Thompson. CSHFM Collection.
SUBSCRIBE
