Harry Wheeler

Harry Wheeler made major contributions to the development of skiing in Quebec’s Laurentian Mountains over a 60-year period.

Born on Oct. 25, 1903, Wheeler is best known as an original co-owner of the internationally renowned Gray Rocks Inn and as the father of Lucille Wheeler, Canada’s first Olympic alpine skiing medallist. Lucille won bronze at the 1956 Winter Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, and two gold and one silver medal at the 1958 world championships in Bad Gastein, Austria.

Tom and Harry Wheeler were the first to climb Mont Tremblant on skis on March 17, 1916. Harry went on to play an active role in developing skiing at Mont Tremblant in the 1920s and ’30s, blazing trails and building the Gray Rocks Cabin near the mountain’s summit. Mont Tremblant would eventually grow into eastern Canada’s largest destination resort, well known both nationally and internationally.

Harry met Lowell Thomas at the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y. Five years later, Thomas — an American broadcaster — visited Gray Rocks at Harry’s request. While Harry, Thomas and Stuart Forbell were planning a ski ascent of Tremblant in the Gray Rocks lobby, Joe Ryan — recently returned from a mining expedition — overheard their plans and asked to join them. During the climb, Ryan began to struggle without climbing skins, so Harry lent him his own.

At the summit, Ryan reportedly declared he would build a ski lift, setting the stage for Tremblant’s future. Lowell Thomas and Joe Ryan became close friends, and Ryan’s vision and investment would transform Mont Tremblant into a world-class ski destination.

From 1930 to 1960, Wheeler was the driving force behind the Taschereau Ski Race, promoting and organizing the event sponsored by Gray Rocks Inn. He prepared the course, purchased prizes and arranged accommodations for officials and competitors.

In 1938, Herman Gadner arrived from Austria and brought the name “Snow Eagle Ski School” with him, which would become one of the top ski schools in North America.

In 1940, Wheeler guided the development of the Gray Rocks Ski School, which helped spark the formation of the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance (CSIA) and the adoption of standardized ski teaching methods nationwide. He took ski teams to competitions in the United States and, in 1949, managed a downhill and slalom team at Aspen, Colo., and Sun Valley, Idaho. There, he learned about the packaged “Learn to Ski Week” and later convinced Gray Rocks to offer a similar program — a concept that would be widely adopted across Canada.

In 1950, Wheeler officially launched Learn to Ski Week at Gray Rocks, expanding on what he’d seen in Sun Valley. The package included accommodation with meals, ski lifts and four hours of daily lessons, quickly becoming a popular model for ski vacations.

A man of considerable foresight, Wheeler installed one of Canada’s first extensive snowmaking systems at Gray Rocks in the 1960s, ensuring reliable snow conditions for winter guests — one of many innovations from this pioneering figure in Canadian skiing.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 1905 — George and Lucile Wheeler (Harry’s parents) become original owners of Gray Rocks Inn, Mont Tremblant, Que.

• 1916 — Tom and Harry Wheeler become the first to climb Mont Tremblant on skis.

• 1920s–1930s — Develops ski trails and builds Gray Rocks Cabin near the summit of Mont Tremblant.

• 1930–1960 — Promotes and organizes the Taschereau Ski Race for 30 years.

• 1932 — Represents Canada in dogsled racing at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics (demonstration sport); meets Lowell Thomas.

• 1937 — Key catalyst in Joe Ryan’s decision to develop Mont Tremblant resort.

• 1938 — Snow Eagle Ski School founded; becomes one of North America’s leading ski schools.

• 1940 — Establishes Gray Rocks Ski School, helping inspire the creation of the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance.

• 1949 — Introduces the “Learn to Ski Week” vacation package concept to Canada after observing the model in Sun Valley.

• 1950 — First Learn to Ski Week offered at Gray Rocks, combining accommodation, lifts and lessons.

• 1956 — Daughter Lucille Wheeler becomes Canada’s first Olympic alpine skiing medallist (bronze, Cortina d’Ampezzo).

• 1958 — Lucille Wheeler wins two gold and one silver medal at the world championships in Bad Gastein.

• 1960s — Installs one of Canada’s first large-scale snowmaking systems at Gray Rocks.

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.