Local group plans to commemorate legendary skier with bronze statue downtown

Olaus Jeldness

During this year's Golden City Days, the Spirit of Red Social Club Society will be embarking on an ambitious project: raising $20 000 for a bronze statue of Olaus Jeldness, the father of skiing at Red and--by extension--in Western Canada.The statue would be placed at the main intersection on Rossland’s Columbia Avenue and would be based on an iconic photograph of Jeldness with his skis [see the photo that accompanies this article--ed.]. It would be cast larger than life size in keeping with his stature as the inspiration to so many skiers.

The Spirit of Red Social Club Society is a registered society established with one of its goals being to gather, collect and protect historical photos, film and stories of Red Mountain’s history. The group hopes for full support from the community for this worthwhile addition to Rossland's streetscape and to the atmosphere of our unique city.

Consequently, the society will work with other interested parties for this project, notably the Rossland Historical Museum and Archives Association and the Rossland Council for Arts and Culture. In addition to local support the Society has received word that support may be forthcoming from both the Norwegian Embassy in Canada and the Canadian Embassy in Norway.

The Society has obtained the approval of Rossland City Council and the owner of the former Bank of Montreal building which is located adjacent to the proposed site of the statue. The City of Rossland is currently conducting a public planning exercise to determine what changes will be made to the layout of Columbia Avenue when it is rebuilt in the summer of 2011. The statue project will receive due consideration during that planning exercise.

Rossland is regarded by many as the heart and soul of skiing in Western Canada and Olaus Jeldness was the person who started it all with his daring exploits on skis in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. The tradition of excellence in the world of skiing has been carried on by Olympic gold medal winning downhill skiers Nancy Greene Raine and Karen Lee Gartner as well as many other members of Canada’s ski teams who learned their skills on the slopes of Red Mountain.

The Society is hopeful that the project will be completed and a statue unveiled during Rossland’s 115th Winter Carnival in January, 2012.

[Please see the attached biography of Olaus Jeldness, courtesy of the Canadian Ski Museum.--ed]