This article was found in a scrapbook at the Canadian Ski Museum, Ottawa and refers to a series of movies made in 1925 in and around Ottawa of local skiers showing off their chosen sport.
Shoot Local Skiers on Gatineau Invasion
Movies Taken of Crowd That Fills 14 Coaches
Thanks to the efforts of the Motion Picture Bureau of Ontario and the co-operation of the Ontario Athletic Commission, other provinces in the Dominion may soon have the opportunity of seeing to what degree the fine sport of skiing is being enjoyed by residents of the Capital. On Sunday, Mr. G. E. Patton, director of the Ontario Motion Picture Bureau, and Mr. H. M. Blake, editor of the bureau, began shooting a series of motion pictures showing Ottawa skiers at play.
About 750 skiers congregated at Union Station to take the C.P.R. train for Chelsea, Kirk’s Ferry and Wakefield, Que. The members of the bureau caught interesting scenes as the hundreds of skiers clambered aboard the C.P.R. train of 14 cars with two engines that took them to their playground up in the Gatineau Hills. The skiers also posed on the steps of the Chateau Laurier.
At Kirk’s Ferry and Chelsea the photographers were kept busy with their cameras catching glimpses of the ski-jumpers taking off, in mid-air and landing. Members of the local ski clubs had their crack skiers out and splendid exhibitions of fancy skiing were put on for the benefit of the camera and the thousands who will view the finished pictures.
Some beautiful pictures were taken at the various lodges belonging to the clubs, and the rugged scenery of the Laurentian and Gatineau districts afforded a picturesque background for the figures in the pictures.
Of the 750 skiers who took the train up, only about 300 returned on the train, the others skiing down.
Some splendid scenes were shot at Fairy Lake where the huge ski jump afforded the photographers and skiers splendid advantages. Movies were taken at Rockliffe and other popular skiing spots around the city.
As reward for their co-operation the Ontario Athletic Commission will receive one of the prints of the finished picture, which they will be able to keep as history in pictures of local skiing.
Source: Canadian Ski Museum