Canadian Snowsports Honour Dedicated Volunteer Sport Leaders – Julie Klotz and Ron Read

Vancouver – The Canadian Snowsports Association has awarded the two most prestigious awards to respected sport leaders Julie Klotz and Ron Read, dedicated volunteers who have provided leadership and countless hours in support of athletes and events over many decades to Canadian snowsports.

Julie Klotz, a long-time leader of both officials and events has been recognized as recipient of the Dee Read Memorial Award, which recognizes exemplary commitment as a Technical Delegate of the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) and as a leader within the FIS community and in Canada.

Julie is a member of Club Mont Ste. Marie in Quebec’s Outaouais region, with a multi- generation tradition of ski racing excellence. Canadian Slalom Champion in 1987 and forerunner of the slalom at the 1988 Games, she has been a driving force in race administration, safety, medical services, fundraising and establishment of the Dusting Cook Training Centre which regularly hosts Nor-Am events.

Fellow FIS TD, Mark Sommers wrote: “Julie is passionate about alpine ski racing and is always willing to help with a wide range of roles from bib collector to TD and ROC Chair. If someone has questions, she is available to discuss. Her positive attitude and pleasant demeanor make her an excellent mentor for anyone interested in ski racing”

Julie’s contributions to ski racing reach far beyond her home club and region. She served as FIS TD for the 2003 Winter World University Games in Lake Placid and she, along with her husband, were valued members of the famous “Sled Dogs” volunteer course crew at the Lake Louise FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Races.

Ron Read, provided outstanding leadership as FIS Technical Delegate and FIS Committee member, serving Ski Jumping Canada and the world-wide ski jumping community for several decades, is recipient of the Patricia Ramage Memorial Award, which recognizes outstanding contribution to snowsport as a Canadian FIS committee volunteer.

Ron was an active volunteer and advocate of ski jumping in Canada for over 20 years.   As a volunteer at both the Calgary and Albertville Olympic Winter Games, Ron brought his passion to the ski jumps in Calgary leading the way in 1988 to start building up a base of young ski jumpers.  

His passion led him to become an FIS technical delegate and FIS Committee member.  Serving Canada proudly at a time when Canada was advocating for the entry of women into the Ski Jumping Events at the Olympic Winter Games.   As an advocate of Women’s ski jumping and board member of Ski Jumping Canada, Ron worked hard with the Vancouver Organizing Committee to try to get the women into the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.  Although the pressure from Canada was not successful, his hard worked motivated a change and we saw the women jumping in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Through Ron’s many roles (TD, Chair of Ski Jumping Canada, FIS Committee Member, etc.), Ron’s passion built the foundation for the success that the program sees today.  Along the way, he inspired athletes, including his son Stefan who represented Canada twice at the Olympic Winter Games, to pursue their goals, others to volunteer their time, encouraged some to become officials and FIS Committee members and was a vocal supporter of the sport in Canada.