Museum offers Nordic Nostalgia
The Canadian Museum of Nordic Skiing
Canmore, home to the National Cross Country, Para Nordic and Biathlon teams, is now also the venue for exhibits under the auspices of the Alberta Museum of Nordic Skiing Society. The Canadian Museum of Nordic Skiing (CMNS) is believed to be one of the only museums in Canada which is dedicated solely to Nordic skiing. Initiated by Dave Rees (1968 Olympian in cross country skiing), the museum is a project of the Alberta Nordic Ski Museum Society formed in 2012. At one time the CMNS Had three venues, one at the downtown offices of the Canmore Business and Tourism Association (CBT), another at the William Watson Lodge (WWL) in Kananaskis and a main one in the Daylodge of the Canmore Nordic Centre. Upon the closures of the CBT offices and the WWL the main venue has become the Daylodge at the Nordic Centre and the focus of the museum. Space is limited in the Daylodge so this website has been constructed to, in essence, expand the museum virtually.
On display in cabinets of the physical museum are boots, bindings, waxes, skis and roller skis used from the 1940s to the present, in both the classic and skating techniques. Included in the exhibits are photos of local and national Canmore Nordic and para-Nordic skiing medallists in Olympic Games and World Championships. What are believed to be the very first roller skis ever used in Canada, dating from 1958, are on display, as well as a ski more than ten feet in length, which is over 100 years old and which came from Finland via Thunder Bay.
Highlights and memorabilia of the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Nordic Events held in Canmore are prominently displayed. Clothing, trail maps and souvenirs of the event as well as photos of the Canadian Nordic ski teams and officials are also displayed. A pictorial history of the building of the Canmore Nordic Centre is presented. Another cabinet contains memorabilia of Winter Olympic Games other than 1988.
In addition to the indoor museum presence, two 1988 Olympic Trails (the Men’s 15 km and the Women’s 10 km) have been revived and track set for use. The trails are signed with the Calgary Olympic logo and the Olympic Rings in colour. A plaque details the trails on a map with the winning times for present day comparisons.
All exhibits are free for viewing in the Daylodge during business hours, 9:00 to 5:30
Example displays are featured below
Ski Displays
Ski History
Roller Ski Display
National Championship Trophies
Ski Personalities