The Scarborough Cross Country Ski Club is celebrating a milestone anniversary, the Tenth.

On November 15, 1978, with the help of Scarborough Parks and Recreation, I convened a meeting of people who might be interested in belonging to a Scarborough-based club devoted to cross country skiing. There was an excellent turnout of enthusiastic skiers, and the discussion ranged all the way from the type of programming the club would offer to the facilities available for skiers in the Borough.

It was agreed there would be a need for a fairly large executive, and a great many people signed up on the spot, prepared to volunteer their services. When we held a meeting on December 6, nearly all those who had signed were there. The Club was formally in existence.

1978 was the second year I had pestered the Parks Commissioner, B.F. Fleury, for assistance in creating facilities for cross country skiers in Scarborough. That year he assigned Paul McNabney to look into the matter with me. McNabney had a lot of experience in setting up local sports organizations. He brought in two men who had been teaching new skiers in the borough, Fred Burgener and Norm Wainio, both to be key executives in the club's early days and in Fred's case through to the present.

Between the four of us we ironed out some of the items that would need discussion at our early meetings: single and family membership, how the borough would help with our mailings, where the best places for local skiing were. We even discussed a permanent place for the club and its equipment. (At one stage we were going to have a room at Adams Park, but this little park has quite a few shortcomings and nothing came of the plan).
The people who came to the first meeting were largely those who had been through the annual Borough courses - an obvious pool of prospects.

We had an exciting first year. A newsletter - the precursor of the Bushwhacker - served to keep our members informed and involved. Thank goodness for Anne Hannah who worked so hard with me on this. We developed name tags for people to wear so they would know their neighbours on the trails. There were outings to the reforestation area above Markham, to Woodnewton and elsewhere. Plans were made for~ the first Skifest, although this didn't happen until the second season. Summer activities began to take place. Stalwart Bruce Scott reported a healthy balance in the club kitty.

For some forgotten reason I started the first year as Chairman and, still with the same duties, finished it as President. One of Life's little mysteries! As we moved into our second season I was able to persuade Gerard Baribeau to take over the helm of the club. Gerard, with much youthful energy, has served the club well for many of the first ten years, as has Helen James.

I have not been active as a skier or a club member for several years now. I split a leg muscle playing badminton, and I have had to be careful with exercise since then.

I started the club for selfish reasons. I was a clumsy skier and I wanted to improve by surrounding myself with people who were much better. I did improve. But I also enriched not only my life, but the lives of hundreds of men, women and children who have added new dimensions to Winter through the SCCSC. I am glad that has happened, and proud.

My wife, Joyce, and I miss being out there with you. But we are with you vicariously in spirit. As they say in the theatre, "Break a leg." In other words, "Have a wonderful winter."

Happy Anniversary and many more to come.

Brian Greggains"