A. Sidney Dawes

Sidney Dawes’ lifelong association with skiing began on the slopes of Mount Royal in Montreal before the First World War and continued into the 1920s in Quebec’s Laurentians. While an avid skier, he is best remembered for his major contributions to the organizational development of skiing in Canada.

A respected builder and leader in sport, Dawes served as president of both the Canadian Amateur Ski Association and the Canadian Olympic Association, and later became Canada’s representative to the International Olympic Committee.

After the 1960 Olympic Winter Games in Squaw Valley, he was invited by B.C. Premier W.A.C. Bennett to help identify a site for a future Olympic bid. Rejecting Diamond Head as a candidate, Dawes instead recommended London Mountain — later renamed Whistler Mountain — calling it one of the best ski sites in North America. Although the site was originally identified by Sidney for a 1968 Olympic Winter Games bid, it was not until 2010 that Whistler Mountain was finally given the opportunity to host the Olympic Winter Games.

In July 1990, provincial and sport leaders gathered at the Whistler Mountain Ski Club to honour Dawes and Premier Bennett, unveiling a commemorative plaque recognizing their pivotal roles in the mountain’s development.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 1928: Early member, Red Birds Ski Club, Montreal, Que.
• 1932: Competitor in the first Quebec Kandahar race
• 1944: President, Canadian Amateur Ski Association
• 1946: President, Canadian Olympic Association
• 1947: Appointed Canadian representative to the International Olympic Committee (IOC); active through the 1950s and 1960s
• 1960: Recommended London Mountain (later Whistler) as Olympic-calibre ski site following Squaw Valley Games
• 1990: Honoured with a commemorative plaque at Whistler Mountain for contributions to its founding

Note: The information gathered in this biography was compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments. Copyright © Canadian Ski Hall of Fame & Museum. For personal and/or educational use only. All rights reserved.