June 01, 2011 (Ottawa, ON) – Beckie Scott, from Vermilion, BC, who won Canada’s first Olympic gold medal in cross-country skiing, headlined three honourees who were selected earlier this week to be inducted into the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame. Scott is Canada’s most successful cross-country skier and during her 11-year career garnered 17 World Cup medals including Olympic gold in the 10km pursuit in 2002 at Salt Lake. Scott was first awarded the bronze medal but when the two Russian skiers ahead of her were caught doping she pursued a two-year process that saw her awarded the silver and eventually the gold. She also won Olympic Team Sprint silver with Sara Renner at the 2006 Games in Torino.

An IOC athlete member, Scott was at the forefront of the sport for many years and played leadership roles on many stages including anti-doping in the sport and was instrumental in establishing an independent drug-testing agency that became the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA). Among the awards she has received are the John Semmelink Memorial Award, the Governor General’s Award for meritorious service, and membership in the Canadian and Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.

Read the exclusive 4-part Beckie Scott story only at skitrax.com Part 1 HERE.

Joining Scott in the induction to the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame is Laurie Kreiner, of South Porcupine, Ontario, who was named to the Canadian Alpine Ski Team at age 14 and went on to build an impressive record in Olympic and World Cup competition. Following her racing career Kreiner also made valuable contributions to Canadian skiing both at home and abroad.

The third inductee is Mark Labow, of St-Sauveur-des-Monts, who spearheaded the development and success of the Canadian Ski Patrol System (CSPS) and the Fédération Internationale des Patrouilles de Ski (FIPS). He was also instrumental in the formation of the Canadian Ski Council which represents most of Canada’s major ski organizations. His numerous awards include the Queen’s Silver Jubilee medal (1977), membership in the Laurentian Ski Hall of Fame, and honorary membership in the ski patrol systems of the United States, Australia and France.

The Canadian Ski Hall of Fame, formerly known as the Honour Roll of Canadian Skiing, was created by the Canadian Ski Museum in 1982 to honour individuals who have made distinguished, sustained and substantial national contributions to the growth and development of snow skiing and/or snowboarding in Canada.

The Canadian Ski Hall of Fame is comprised of over 140 members. Scott joins other xc ski greats such as Pierre Harvey, Sharon and Shirley Firth, Angela Schmidt-Foster and Heinz Neiderhauser, The Canadian Ski Hall of Fame’s current plans are to hold an induction ceremony in the fall of 2011. The date and location of the ceremony will be announced at a later time.

Visit the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame HERE.