A Canadian skiing icon is sharing a golden anniversary with a Prince George skiing institution.
They will stand together at a special set of events starting March 1 at a fundraising dinner. That's when Sen. Nancy Greene Raine will personally celebrate the Hart Ski Hill's 50th year in operation.
"It is also 50 years since her medals at the Olympics, and 50 years since the start of the Nancy Greene Association. She's a great ambassador for the sport," said Jess Hudson, manager of the hill.
At those 1968 Olympics in Grenoble, France, Greene Raine powered her way to a gold in the giant slalom and a silver in the slalom, plus a strong 10th in the traditional downhill event. As a result, she was named the world's No. 1 female skier in the combined event. That came a year after upsetting the European domination of the sport, winning the women's World Cup title in 1967.
Those two years she was named Canada's Female Athlete of the Year then was named Canada's Female Athlete of the 20th Century in 1999.
She went on to become the most decorated individual in the history of Canadian downhill racing, and then was named a Canadian senator in 2009 until her retirement in 2018.
To demonstrate her standing in the pantheon of Canadian sport, it was Greene Raine - along with Steve Nash, Rick Hansen, Catriona Le May Doan and Wayne Gretzky - who ignited the Olympic cauldron to commence the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.
Greene Raine is still a household name in Canada, as the namesake of the nation's children's alpine skiing league that introduces the sport to children. The Hart Ski Hill is home to the city's Nancy Greene Ski League.
"We are so proud that Nancy Greene (Raine), with all her stature, is coming to Prince George to help us work towards our next 50 years," said Hudson.
The ski hill has, in recent years, added better lighting, a terrain park, snow-making equipment, and soon a "magic carpet" conveyer lift to go along with its two other short lifts that service the 22-acre facility.
Greene Raine will be the keynote speaker at a dinner March 1 at the Hart Community Centre. The event will also include a silent auction, 50-50 draw, a catered meal and dancing. Price is $60 regular, $30 for kids under 12.
Greene Raine will also take part in a pancake breakfast and will take to the slopes of the Hart Ski Hill that weekend as well.
For tickets to the dinner, buy them by email inquiry ([email protected]) or in person at the Hart Ski Hill during their hours of operation at 3740 Winslow Drive. There are daytime and nighttime hours almost every day.
Call 250-962-8006 for information.
