Celebrate 35 years with Silver Star Adaptive Snow Sports this season!
How did SSASS begin?
If you have a story, a photo, an idea, please reach out to SSASS! With thanks to Andy Mather for compiling this timeline, here are how events unfolded...
1991 to 1992 - Lars Taylor, injured while bike training, teaches himself on his Mono Ski
April 4 to 11, 1992 - SSMR host the Disabled Ski Championships
1992 - Donna Carter, her daughter, Daniella with MS and her friends Shelly Hrynew and Brent Lloyd, all in wheelchairs obtained a government grant for $10,000. This grant provided the groundwork towards setting up of North Okanagan Disabled Skiers Association or NODSA. Equipment purchased included: 1 Adult Sledge, 1 Child Sledge, 6 used adult original outriggers, 2 used Bi-Uniques sit-skis w/pontoons and 1 used Mono-Unique Sit-Ski.
September 1994 - The first NODSA Board of Directors is formed with Donna Carter chosen as our first president
December 1994 - Our first CADS Level 1 Certification Course was held for 10 volunteer instructors: 5 SSMR Ski School Instructors and 5 interested volunteers (including Andy Mather)answering a local newspaper ad. The course was conducted by Herb Bradley, senior CADS Level 3 Examiner, who drove from Mt. Washington, Vancouver Island CADS Program.
October 1995 - Tricia & Bob Smode joined NODSA from CADS program in Edmonton, AB, with CADS Level 2& 2A certifications
December 1996 - Dennis McGuckin, another CADS Level 3 from Mt. Washington certified 10 more CADS Level 1 NODSA volunteer members
January 1996 - Brock Lawrence becomes NODSA’s president
April 1997 - Gord Johnson serves as NODSA's president
February 1997 - Brian Brownfield, now a CADS Level 2A becomes president of NODSA with Henry Swan as VP
May 2002 - Members vote to rebrand NODSA to Silver Star Adaptive Snow Sports or SSASS to incorporate all snow sports including snowboarding
December 10, 1997 - SSASS incorporated as a Registered BC Non-profit Society with our BN number allowing us to provide BC Tax Receipts for our donors
June 2002 to 2010 - Andy Mather serves as SSASS President
March 1998 - Andy Mather named our newest event: The CARTER CLASSIC FUNDRAI$ER, in honour of founder, Donna Carter and her daughter and our first student Danielle. Costumes were the hallmark of this event. Danielle passed away in 1997.
2010 to 2014 - Peter Lawson serves as SSASS President
2014 to 2020 - Dan Cook takes the role of SSASS President
2020 to 2023 - Peter Lawson returns as SSASS President
2023 - Andy McQuilkin currently serves as the SSASS President
March 2025 - SSASS hosts Shoulder to Shoulder (S2S) along with Vancouver Island Adaptive for the first time at SSMR.
February 2026 and 2027 - SSASS hosts Shoulder to Shoulder (S2S) at SSMR.