Hall of Famer

Ross Larway

Affiliated Discipline(s): Nordic Combined
Date of Birth / Death: 1903 - 1996
Hometown: Wexford, ON / Toronto, ON
Active Career Period: 1930 - 1996
Induction CSHF: 1984
Induction Category: Nordic Combined: Builder; Official
Ross Larway c. 1942. CSHFM Collection.

An active member of the Toronto Ski Club (TSC), Ontario, for over 65-years, J. Ross Larway contributed much to the history and early development of skiing in Canada, particularly in the Collingwood, Ontario, area. He was always in the forefront of Club activities whether in charge of special events, evaluating skiers, racing, fundraising or promoting junior activities as Director Of Sports in the 1920s and 1930s. From 1968 to 1975, he was the Club’s popular President, then Honorary Past President, remaining active in the TSC all his life.

He was a National Ski Jumping Judge active in the organization of a number of Dominion and Provincial Championships including the meet in Toronto in 1936 on the famous Thorncliffe ski jump and at Collingwood in 1956.

His influence, however, extended far beyond his involvement with the Toronto Ski Club. As a member of the Canadian Amateur Ski Association (CASA) he served on the Ontario Ski Zone Committee that helped to develop and integrate 48 ski clubs in Ontario into the CASA. As Secretary-Treasurer of the CASA from 1936 to 1945, he played a major role in the expansion of the CASA to include all the clubs in Western Canada at a General Meeting held in Banff, Alberta in 1937. This meeting coincided with the Dominion Championships which were the largest and perhaps the best ever held in Canada to that date. He represented Canada at a number of the United States Ski Association’s General Meetings and was elected an Honorary Life Member of that Association. For 13-years, he was president of the Ontario Division of the CASA from 1945 to 1958.

Of equal importance, was his role in assisting Dr. Douglas Firth in 1941 in establishing a safety patrol that would become the Canadian Ski Patrol System (CSPS.) Modelled after the National Ski Patrol system in the United States the CSPS was launched by Dr. Douglas Firth in late 1940 in response to a request from the Canadian Amateur Ski Association (CASA) to form an aid and rescue group in Toronto to assist injured skiers. From this initial request emerged a system that was to eventually encompass every region in Canada.

His contribution to skiing in Canada generally received international recognition when he was appointed an Honorary Member of the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS).

 

Please Note: The ski information gathered here is compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments.
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Nov. 2 1974. Edelweiss open house [L to R]: George Weider (President of Blue Mountain), Ross Larway (President TLC), Tom Stewart (Director TSC Edelweiss), Strath Wilson, Al Brechin (racing chairman). CSHFM Collection.

Ross Larway (back row – far right) and members of Toronto Ski Club. CSHFM Collection.

Ross Larway (right) and Michael Ziebart at Club Championships in February 1974. CSHFM Collection.

Ross Larway with Martha Hall at Club Championships, February 1974. CSHFM Collection.

Ross Larway at 1984 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. CSHFM Collection.

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