Peter W. Webster

From the early 1960s, Peter W. Webster played a central role in advancing Canadian skiing through management, fundraising and officiating.

His connection to the sport began as an alpine competitor in the late 1950s and early ’60s while studying at Lower Canada College and Macdonald College. During this time, he was active in managing the Laurentian Ski Zone and served as an executive member of the Ptarmigan Ski Club. He later joined the Red Birds Ski Club, where he remains a proud member.

In 1963, Peter became the first manager and public relations officer for the Canadian alpine ski team. By 1968, he was managing the Canadian alpine FIS team. He was part of the group that secured the first international competitive ski event in Canada with sponsorship from Du Maurier in the early 1960s. Those races evolved into annual signature stops on the World Cup circuit.

Peter’s responsibilities with the national team included travel, accommodation, education, scholarships, equipment and publicity. The scholarships he helped establish were the first athletic scholarships offered to Canadian national team athletes.

Together with his friend Ben Fuller, Peter co-founded the National Ski Team Fund — the country’s first private funding source for competitive skiing. Through the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, he remained instrumental in developing and fundraising for Canadian ski teams. In 1985, he served on the organizing committee for the FIS Congress in Vancouver.

He has volunteered on more than 14 ski and sport-related committees, including the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame, the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, the Canadian Winter Games in Lac-Saint-Jean, and most recently the successful Whistler-Garibaldi Olympic bid. He remains an active alumnus of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team and was honoured as the National Ski Team Alumnus of the Year in 2002.

Peter’s lifelong dedication to the skiing community and his support for athletes and organizations earned him induction into the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Late 1950s–early 1960s — Alpine competitor while studying at Lower Canada College and Macdonald Colleg
• 1963 — First manager and public relations officer for the Canadian alpine ski team
• 1968 — Manager of the Canadian alpine FIS team
• 1970s–1990s — Co-founded the National Ski Team Fund with Ben Fuller; led development and fundraising initiatives for Canadian ski teams
• 1985 — Member of the organizing committee for the FIS Congress in Vancouver
• 2002 — Named National Ski Team Alumnus of the Year
• Inducted — Canadian Ski Hall of Fame

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.