Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors (CANSI) – how it all began
In the early years of the twentieth century, learning to ski was a difficult problem for many people. Every ski school and almost every ski instructor taught a distinctive personal technique. When a person went from one ski centre to another, the new ski instructor would point out the faults, even though they were the exact techniques the former instructor had carefully taught. For their own safety and enjoyment, skiers were anxious to learn but many who moved from one ski centre to another were exposed to conflicting instruction and thus failed to progress.
All these confusing technique differences were mostly just below the surface, because all instructors were aiming at the same advanced technique.
Primarily formed to teach alpine (downhill) skiing, the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance (CSIA) was founded in 1938 and is the professional ski teaching body in Canada. It is a federally recognized teaching institution and it trains and certifies ski instructors to best serve its partners such as ski schools and the Canadian alpine skiing public.
In the late 1930s, Canadian cross country skiing was in decline as the all-purpose ski equipment which had formerly been used by all skiers was giving way to specialized and rigid downhill equipment that made cross country skiing difficult and even uncomfortable. In the late 1960s there was a popular renaissance of cross country skiing and a demand for specialized cross country instruction was met by the Cross Country Committee of the Canadian Ski Association (CSA). However, Cross Country-CSA could not meet the demand and the CSIA began teaching as well.
As the popular demand for specialized cross country skiing instruction grew, a new association was formed with the cooperation and support of the CSIA and the CSA. This new organization was named the Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors (CANSI) and it was founded in 1976. In May of that year, representatives from the Canadian Ski Association (Cross Country-CSA), the CSIA and Ski Quebec met in Banff, Alberta to design one cross country certification body and standard courses for Canada. As well the format for the new organization was also agreed upon.
By the end of the meeting, on 6th May, 1976, the organization had been set up with by-laws and the first slate of officers named as below:
President Dave Rees (CSA)
Vice-President Boris Brumat (Ski Quebec)
Technical Director Heinz Niederhauser (CSA)
Course Director Sigge Bjorklund (CSIA)
Publicity Director Paul Throop (CSA)
Secretary Thelma Sittler (CSA)
Management Advisor Jim Suttill (CSIA)
L-R: Jim Suttill, Paul Throop, Thelma Sittler, Sigge Bjorklund, Boris Brumat, Dave Rees and Heinz Niederhauser
Sources: Personal Files (Dave Rees), Canadian Museum of Skiing and Wikipedia