CANSI Ontario – President’s Report 2024-2025

The role of President involves mainly the overseeing of CANSI Ontario meetings and the various projects which are being carried out by CANSI Ontario. This year, we had the following on the Ontario CANSI Board:

President                Wendy Grater

National Rep                Jan Vopalensky

Finance                Jan Vopalensky

Communications        Heather Steel

XC Technical Rep        Chris Clarke

Telemark Tech. Rep        Elizabeth Nicholson

XC Programs                David Wallin

Telemark Programs        Elizabeth Nicholson

Eastern Ontario Rep        Paul Graner

Member at Large        Alastair Dempsey

The 2024-25 Ontario season was more successful than the previous year, as once snow started to fall in south-central Ontario, it kept coming. This allowed courses to be planned and actually run. The Ottawa area was later to receive snow, but once it arrived, there were also a few courses there. Our challenges are a lack of XC Course Conductors, particularly at the higher levels as well as a lack of interest in courses (perhaps due to the dismal year last year?).

In a positive note, we were able to run a level II/III certification course which also certified one more level III course conductor (Yan Michaud). This will allow more higher level courses in the Ottawa area. On the telemark side, low interest levels resulted in minimal programs. A full report of the number of courses run and number of candidates certified or refreshed will be given by the Programs representatives.

Again, our on-line briefings and refreshers have been well received. These keep instructors in the loop and allow training when on-snow conditions are dubious. I feel these should be continued.

For next season, my objectives include:

1. Work with Jan V. to ensure CANSI Ontario meeting reminders, agendas and minutes are sent out in a timely fashion
2. Work with Heather Steel to ensure our Briefings, Courses and other events are well communicated to all members, and that members are encouraged to rejoin CANSI
3. Work with Dave Wallin and Elizabeth Nicholson to help facilitate the running of CANSI Ontario Telemark and XC courses. Work with Dave Wallin to ensure that there is a back up from XC Programs, in the event that Dave’s health requires him to step back.
4. Work with Dave Wallin and Paul Graner to facilitate more xc high level courses in South- Central and Eastern Ontario, and to certify more CC’s at Level II and III.
5. Work with Jan V to ensure that CANSI Ontario keeps financially sound.
6. Work to ensure that our meetings run efficiently and run for a maximum of 1 hour. (ha! ha!)

Thanks to all on the 2024-25 Board for your tireless work.

Wendy Grater

Created: Apr 14, 2025   Published Apr 14, 2025