Awards

2023 Award Recipients

Congratulations to the 2023 recipients of the CWSAA Awards:

Pat Boyle, 2023 Jim Marshall Leadership Award
Wayne Wiltse, 2023 Rod Chisholm Operations & Maintenance Award
Jana Gainor, 2023 Lars Fossberg Excellence Award
CWSAA 2023 Peak Performance Recipients:
- Kaitie Koch: Volunteer President at the Manning & District Ski Club, in Manning Alberta.
- Heather Dufty: GIS Analyst, Utility Advanced Line Locating, Mountain Planning at Whistler Blackcomb, BC.
- Mike Varrin: Senior Manager, Mountain Dining at Whistler Blackcomb, BC.
- Heather Moore: Occupational Health & Safety Manager at Big White Ski Resort, BC.
- Caleigh Christie: General Manager at Falcon Ridge Ski Area, Manitoba.

Jim Marshall Leadership Award

The recipient of the Jim Marshall Leadership Award is recognized for their exceptional skills and dedication to their chosen profession and has made meaningful contribution to the sport of recreational skiing. This is a presentation of a personal gift by Rab and Olive Marshall from a trust in memory of Jim Marshall, who did not live long enough to give back to recreational skiing and the joy he experienced in the sport. The recipient of the Award is chosen annually by the CWSAA Board of Directors, with input provided by the past chairmen of the association.

Recipients:

2023 Pat Boyle
2022 Debbie Muirhead
2021 Bob Bell
2020 Rob McSkimming
2019 Danny Cox
2018 Darcy Alexander
2017 Stuart McLaughlin
2016 Jamie Tattersfield
2015 Tom Prentice
2014 Norman Duncan
2013 Peter Gibson
2012 David Gibson
2011 Warren Sparks
2010 Don Muirhead
2009 Doug Forseth
2008 Lawrence Blouin
2007 Bob Hall
2006 Lorraine Martinek
2005 Ken Graves
2004 Fred Bosinger
2003 Previous Shareholders Marmot Basin
2002 Mark Kingsbury
2001 Peter Schroecksnadel
2000 Charles Locke
1999 Jim Buckingham
1998 Artur Doppelmayr
1997 David G. Morrison
1996 Mike Wiegele
1995 Hugh Smythe
1994 Robert Kennedy
1993 Jim VanderKelen
1992 Rab Marshall
1991 Jimmie Spencer
1990 John R. Gow
1989 Rodney Touche
1988 Hans Gmoser
1987 Ivor Petrak
1986 Peter Alder
1985 Paul Mathews
1984 Jerry Johnston
1983 Lars Fossberg
1982 Earl Pletsch
1981 Franz Wilhemsen
1980 Cliff White

Lars Fossberg Excellence Award

The Lars Fossberg Excellence Award is presented annually to a manager or supervisor who shows a high degree of initiative and creativity together with the ability to improvise when dealing with the unexpected. The award recognizes the perseverance and talent of the next generation, and encourages them to contribute to industry leadership in the coming years.

Following his passing in 2001, the Lars Fossberg award was created by Lars’ family in remembrance of a remarkable person, to acknowledge emerging leaders that exhibit the attributes and passion that was Lars.

The idea for this award originated with Lars’ grandchildren. Hildur’s daughter, Helen, felt very strongly that there should be some way to remember her beloved “bestefor” (Norwegian for grandfather). Hildur’s son, Steven, participated by making the wooden base for the first award.

Recipients:

2023 Jana Gainor
2022 Rebeckah Hornung
2021 Sam Oettli
2020 Pat Boyle
2019 Dan Wilson
2018 Christian Theberge
2017 Ryan Stimming
2016 Jurgen Grau
2015 Mike Manara
2014 Allana Williams
2013 Marlin Van Zandt
2012 Kevin Fischer
2011 Flynn Seddon
2010 Rob Ellen
2009 Nate Nadja
2008 Mike Morin
2007 Jason Hand
2006 Erik Meertens
2005 Jeff Davies
2004 Tim Foster

Jimmie Spencer Lifetime Achievement Award

This award is given to an individual that has shown exceptional leadership and lengthy service to the ski industry (and/ or affiliated industry) in a senior management, ownership or consultant capacity.

This award is not necessarily awarded annually but awarded to individuals identified by the CWSAA Board or brought to the Board for consideration by industry members.

Recipients:

2022 Lawrence Blouin
2021 Bill Dunlop
2020 Mike Wiegele
2019 Peter Alder
2018 Fred Bosinger (posthumously awarded)
2017 Don Murray
2016 Bob Dufour
2009 Hugh Smythe
2006 Jimmie Spencer

Rod Chisholm Operations & Maintenance Award

Rod Chisholm spent his entire career of 36 years with Sunshine Village and passed away on July 30, 2021 at the age of 56. His calm and quiet demeanor, intelligence, problem solving skills and devotion to our industry were second to none.

In memory of Rod, each year the CWSAA Board of Director’s will select one recipient who has provided immense contribution and knowledge in the operations and lift maintenance field. The recipient would be widely regarded as having high expertise in relation to ski area operations and lifts. They may have ‘worked through the ranks’ and perhaps a quiet leader like Rod preferring to remain outside of the spotlight. They are likely an indispensable part of the senior management team within a ski area, or may have made significant contributions in related fields supporting the outdoor operations of a ski area.

Recipients:

2023 Wayne Wiltse
2022 Rod Chisholm

CWSAA Peak Performance Award

This award is given to individuals whose concept/idea/contribution has provided value to their employer, that furthermore benefits the industry. Each year, the CWSAA Board of Director’s will present the Peak Performance Award to a few deserving recipients that have been nominated by their peers.

The CWSAA Peak Performance Award is a new award launching in 2022 to recognize the incredible people that have excelled in their career in the ski industry. Each year the Board will determine how many recipients will receive this award (generally more than 1 and less than 5).

Recipients:

2023 Kaitie Koch
2023 Heather Dufty
2023 Mike Varrin
2023 Heather Moore
2023 Caleigh Christie
2022 Chris Theed
2022 Paul Robinson
2022 Wendy Robinson
2022 Helen Davies