Van Loan helps launch skiing and snowboarding week
By Bill Rea

Peter Van Loan was chatting with Juliana Molinari and Wayne Churchill of the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing.

There be snow on the ground, and that has come as great news to a lot of people; both winter enthusiasts locally and those to the north who cater to them.

The snow arrived just in time to officially launch the Samsung National Ski and Snowboard Week Friday, and York - Simcoe MP Peter Van Loan was on hand for the festivities at Horseshoe Resort, north of Barrie.

Getting people, especially the young, physically active during winter was a point stressed a number of times during the opening ceremonies, and the lunch that came after, at which Van Loan, former minister of sport was the main speaker (his cabinet responsibilities were changed the previous week).

There were also demonstrations of skiing and snowboarding, including from representatives of the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing (King City resident James Binsfeld was among those taking part).

"It's exciting to be here," Van Loan declared. "Sport is a very important part of the Canadian identity."

Representatives of the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing were on hand too, including sitskier and national team member Jeff Penner and James Binsfeld of King City.

He also pointed out the sporting aspects of Canadian culture tie in with such values as teamwork, competition, hard work and achievement.

"Sports unites us and makes us proud," he added.

He also spoke on the new Children's Fitness Tax Credit, which came into effect at the start of the year and can be applied to many sports and physical activities that kids 16 years of age and younger take part in.

"We know that families have limited budgets, and the Children's Fitness Tax Credit will help make it possible for more young Canadians to get involved in sport and physical activity," he said. "I am pleased that we are delivering on this important commitment for families and taxpayers."

Van Loan said some 60 per cent of Canadians are inactive, and that can have an impact on the health care system.

"Children and young people need to be active every day to promote a healthy lifestyle," he declared. "Of course, sports can be a lot of fun."

Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop spoke at Friday's event, flanked by Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton, Peter Van Loan and Colin Chedore, president of the Canadian Ski Council.

This is the 30th anniversary of National Ski and Snowboard Week, which is held to encourage people to get out and take part in winter activities, according to Colin Chedore, president of the Canadian Ski Council.

Chedore observed that for every 100 young people who give skiing or snowboarding a try, 17 stay with it, and they would like to see that number increased.

He added there are five million skiers and snow boarders in Canada, making 18 million skier visits annually.

Friday's festivities were attended by a group of Grade 5 students from Brampton, who received a free day on the slopes, including lessons and rentals.

"It is important to get these kids active and healthy in winter, because when they are active and healthy in winter, they are active and healthy all year long," Chedore remarked.

The opening of the slopes was very good news to those who depend on those sports for their livelihood.

"We've had a really tough start to the season," commented Martin Kimble, chairman of the Ontario Snow resorts Association, but he expressed the hope the mild winter is behind them.