The Idea

On the evening of October 6, 1978, members from the Relm club in Marmora listened to guest speaker, Dennis Fitzgerald of the Artic Sled Dog Club of Ontario, express the need for a long distance, sled dog race in Canada.  Marmora, he suggested, was an ideal choice since it was the focal point of the Highlands of Hastings with lots of snowmobile trails already.  The community’s response was immediate, and by the 12th of October, committee members had been chosen and a budget laid out.  A call went out to the village and surrounding areas to assist in the making the new venture the biggest event ever seen in Marmora.  The response to that call was nothing short of amazing.

1978/79 Committee Members

Chairman: Norm Bradley

Trails: Bob Drummond

Advertising: Sheila Golden

Fundraising: Carol Mawer

Prizes: June Vilneff

Accommodations: Renate Harder

Communications: Frank Randell

Parade: Lionel Bennett

Social Events: Gordon Bennett