2023 President’s Report

2023 President’s Report

The 2022/23 season proved to be a strong year for member enrolment, volunteer instruction and most importantly, student participation. Memberships were up 34% from the previous season for a total of 448.

In December, thanks to an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant, we were able to host a Volunteer Orientation clinic for new and returning Volunteers at Snow Valley which was attended by over 40 participants from several programs. Although we were not able to be on snow, we were able to cover a wide range of topics including overviews of VI, ASD/CI and ¾ track instruction along with an Administrators workshop. Special thanks to Ian Duff of Snow Valley and all the other Lead instructors who ran the various sessions that helped make the day a big success.

Beginning in January, Jack Sim and his team at Blue Mountain in partnership with CTN (Simcoe) ran successful CTN Try it On-Winter Recreation Days in January and February for children and youth with disabilities and developmental needs and their families. The days were set up so that children/youth and their families could try out a variety of winter activities including Skating (sledges available), Skiing (sit skis available), the Ridge Runner, and Snow tubing. Another example of a great community event that empowers children and youth with disabilities to participate in adaptive physical activity in hopes of increasing lasting participation.

The annual Spinal Cord Injury Ontario (SCIO) Ski Day returned in February and thanks again is due to our own Dave Scott who helped lead the CADS volunteers who, along with our friends at OT3, facilitated a very successful event.

This was followed by the Ontario Parasport Winter Games which were a huge success and once again hosted by Brimacombe who put on an excellent venue for the Para Alpine and Para Nordic events. Special shout out to Sarah/Maria and team with the CADS Durham program who supported much on the on-hill experience for the participants and their families including an open try it event that was hugely popular.

The 2023 CADS Festival at Kimberley in BC was well attended by CADS Ontario members and special recognition was given to:

Administrator of the Year: Diane Morrell, CADS Ontario – No Limits
Instructor of the Year: Bruce Elliott, CADS Ontario – CADS Durham
Ski Area of the Year: Brimacombe Ski Resort, Durham ON

and finally the President’s Award: John Ross, CADS Ontario, who we sadly heard, recently lost his battle with cancer. Our condolences go out to John’s family and a tribute to John’s legacy and contributions to CADS Ontario will made later this coming season.

The 2022/23 season closed in June with a dozen CADS members attending a day-long retreat at Osler Bluff to discuss strategic planning for the coming years while trying best to align with some of the National Strategic objectives being rolled out this year. We all agreed that focusing our efforts on:

  1. Expanding and improving Training & Certification opportunities
  2. Club and Program leadership and governance and;
  3. Volunteer recruitment, training and retention

will ensure the continued success and growth of CADS programs across the province. Thanks to Ingrid Watt and the Osler Bluff team for helping to ensure a successful event.

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