Hall of Famer
H Rae Grinnell
Rae Grinnell’s achievements as a capable ski club and association executive and builder were formidable in the post-World War II period when far-reaching developments world-wide were occurring in the sport of skiing. He was, as described by the late H. Percy Douglas, first President of the Canadian Amateur Ski Association (CASA) in 1920, ” … a truly great Canadian “ski-man”.
Competition and Career Highlights
1939
Winner of the Ontario Downhill Interscholastic Championships.
1942
Attended the 2nd Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance (CSIA) course (on leave from the Royal Canadian Air Force).
1943
Won both the Slalom and Downhill events as Captain of the Royal Canadian Air Force ski team in an international military meet.
1946
First Honorary Life Member of the Toronto Ski Club.
1947
President of the University of New Brunswick Ski Club. Hosted the first Maritime Intercollegiate Ski Championships. As a 4-way competitor at
intercollegiate championships he won the downhill event twice.
1950
Southern Ontario 4-way champion, 1st place downhill event Eastern Canadian Championships.
1951
President of the Huntsville (Ontario) Ski Club.
1952 – 1956
Chairman, Southern Ontario Zone, Canadian Amateur Ski Association (CASA).
1956 – 1961
President, Ontario Division, Canadian Amateur Ski Association (CASA).
1960 – 1970 Director and Vice President of the Canadian Amateur Sports Federation. He played a role in developing the Fitness & Amateur Sports Directorate, (federal department) Health & Welfare Canada, and in creating the 1st Winter & Summer Canadian Games in 1967 and 1969.
1961 – 1964
National President, Canadian Amateur Ski Association (CASA).
1962 – 1975
Member of the Eligibility Committee, Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS).
1962
Director of the Calgary Olympic Development Association. In 1963, presented Canada’s bid for the 1968 Winter Olympic Games to the Federation International de Ski (FIS) at Chamonix, France, Zakopane, Poland and Athens, Greece.
1963 – 1971
First Canadian representative elected to the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) Council.
1964
Initiated the organization of Biathlon in Canada and brought the sport under the wing of the Canadian Amateur Ski Association (CASA).
1965
Presented Canada’s bid for the 1972 Olympic Games at Mamia, Roumania.
1966
General Controller, Federation International de Ski (FIS) of the United States bid for the World Ski Championships.
1966
Chairman, Canadian Amateur Ski Association (CASA) Committee responsible for the development of the Canadian Ski Museum and the Canadian Ski Marathon.
1968
Presented proposals for revision of the Federation International de Ski (FIS) Amateur Rules.
1969
Presented Vancouver, B.C.’s bid for the 1976 Winter Olympic Games bid to the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) at Barcelona, Spain.
1969
Chairman, Interim Planning Committee of the Canadian Ski Museum.
1971 – 1987
Chairman, Canadian Ski Museum, Ottawa, Ontario.
Director of the Canadian Olympic Association for several years.
Presented with “Achievement Award” by the Province of Ontario for his work in the development of fitness and amateur sport.
Presented with the “Centennial Medal” in 1967 by the Government of Canada for his work in the development of fitness and amateur sport.
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.
FIS Congress in Athens, 1963 [L to R]: Rae Grinnell, Pat Ramage, Henry Sotvedt, Arnold Midgley. CSHFM Collection.
FIS Congress in Athens, 1963 [L to R]: unknown, Rae Grinnell, Mrs. Stanley Muller, Betty Grinnell. CSHFM Collection.
FIS Congress in Athens, 1963 [L to R]: Rae Grinnell, Mrs. Stanley Muller, Betty Grinnell. CSHFM Collection.
Rae Grinnell (inductee) and Canadian Ski Museum Chair, Bill Tindale, at 1987 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. 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.
[L to R]: Pierre Alain, Rae Grinnell,… Frank Shaughnessy. Alpine Canada Alpin.
[L to R]: Rae Grinnell, Jackrabbit, Marcelle Tremblay (National Capital Commission – Director of Outdoor Activities) at 1984 Canadian Ski Marathon Dows Lake Pavillion, Ottawa, ON. CSHFM Collection.
[L to R]: Doug Firth, Harry Pangman, Fred Hall, Betty Grinnell, Rae Grinnell. CSHFM Collection.
Rae Grinnell at 1983 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. CSHFM Collection.
Rae Grinnell (right) at 1983 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. CSHFM Collection.
Rae Grinnell and Gaby Pleau at 1984 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. CSHFM Collection.
Canadian Ski Museum Chair Rae Grinnell at 1985 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. CSHFM Collection.
1988 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony [L to R]: Betty Grinnell,?, Ray Grinnell, Bruce Carnall. CSHFM Collection.
Tea group in honour of Mr. Herman Smith-Johannsen (seated). Standing behind him are [L to R]: Ray Grinnell, Mrs. Grinnell, Mrs. Jane Kelly, Mrs. Frances Starke, Governor General Jeanne Sauve, Miss Alice Johannsen. Photo taken at Government House in Ottawa, ON, November 9, 1984.. The Ottawa Citizen / Derek Oliver.
Jackrabbit (center) with Rae Grinnell (right) at Official opening of the Canadian Ski Museum on Sparks Street, Ottawa, ON, May 10, 1971. Dominion Wide Photos.
Jackrabbit and Rae Grinnell (far right) at Official opening of the Canadian Ski Museum on Sparks Street, Ottawa, ON, May 10, 1971. Dominion Wide Photos.
Jackrabbit (left) with Rae Grinnell at “Jackrabbit 110” fundraising event during 1984 Winterlude – Dows Lake Pavilion, Ottawa, ON. CSHFM Collection.
Mr. Herman, Jackrabbit, and Rae Grinnell (Canadian Ski Museum Chair) at “Jackrabbit 110” fundraising event during 1984 Winterlude – Dows Lake Pavilion, Ottawa, ON. CSHFM Collection.
Mr. Herman, Rae Grinnell (Canadian Ski Museum Chair), and Jackrabbit signing guestbook at “Jackrabbit 110” fundraising event during 1984 Winterlude – Dows Lake Pavilion, Ottawa, ON. CSHFM Collection.
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