Michel (Mike) Dehouck

For almost 70 years, from 1921 to 1976, Michel (Mike) Dehouck’s contribution to Canadian skiing in general, and skiing in the Quebec City region in particular, was outstanding.

Born in 1884, he arrived in Canada from France in 1910. Two years later, he took up cross-country skiing on the Plains of Abraham and, in 1920, founded the Club de ski Orléans, becoming its first president.

He is best remembered, however, for his involvement in interscholastic skiing and the organization of weekly Nordic and alpine events, which began around 1932 and were held at Lac Beauport. So successful were his training methods that five of his students represented Canada at the 1948 Olympic Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland; the 1952 Games in Oslo, Norway; and the 1956 Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

In 1958, he founded an interscholastic meet for girls, funded by the Quebec government with a grant for transportation to and from Lac Beauport. In 1967, his ski club was dissolved and the interscholastic program suspended. That changed in 1968 when, at the age of 84, he was persuaded to restart the program.

Earlier, in 1937, with the assistance of Herman “Jackrabbit” Smith-Johannsen and $1,000 to purchase land, Dehouck opened a ski area on Murphy Mountain (St-Castin, Que.). He also pioneered the opening of another ski area in Quebec in 1943, which would evolve into one of Canada’s most outstanding resorts: Mont-Sainte-Anne.

Five skiers, including Dehouck, borrowed $700 from a bank to pay local farmers to clear the first trails. In 1946, the fledgling resort hosted its first race, which was a great success.

Through vision, perseverance and passion, Mike Dehouck helped shape the foundation of organized skiing in Quebec and across Canada.

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.