About Nordiq Canada
We are the governing body of cross-country and para nordic skiing in Canada. Our 80,000 members include athletes, coaches, officials and skiers of all ages and abilities. We are grateful for our valued corporate partners—Pembroke, Swix and Lanctôt Sports, and for the ongoing support from the Government of Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee and Own the Podium.
Our Strategic Blueprint
Our Purpose – Our Reason for being
Our Vision – What we see in the future
Cross-country skiing is Canada’s sport for life and our Olympic and Paralympic super-power.
Our Mission – How we will make it happen
As the national sport organization for cross-country and para-nordic skiing, Nordiq Canada partners with divisions, clubs and others to provide the leadership, support and resources needed for all Canadians to find their own greatness in our sport, whether they aspire to ski for their country or for fun and fitness.
Our Values – our non-negotiable behaviours
- PASSION: We are committed to make a difference at all levels of our sport
- RESPECT: We believe in providing a safe, fair, fun environment for all participants
- IMPROVEMENT: We innovate to continuously improve
- DRIVE: We pursue our goals with absolute determination
- EXCELLENCE: We set the bar high to achieve sporting success — fairly and ethically
Our High-level Goals
We are:
- Aspiring to greatness: Canadian athletes, coaches and technicians achieve excellence and exemplify the highest standard of ethical behaviour.
- All in: The Nordiq Canada community works together to inspire and develop athletes of all ages and abilities, as well as the coaches, officials and wax techs who support them.
- The Nation’s love affair: Canadians, those who were born in Canada and those who are newly arrived, embrace cross-country skiing as the outdoor sport that provides fun, health and fitness for all to enjoy.
- Internationally recognized: Canadians are on the podium around the world, and the world comes to Canada to ski.
- Here for the long-term: Nordiq Canada has sustainable funding to grow the sport.
Our Value Proposition – how we add value to our sport
As the national sport organization for cross-country and para-nordic skiing, Nordiq Canada partners with clubs, divisions and others to provide the leadership, support and resources needed for all Canadians to find their own greatness in our sport, whether they aspire to ski for their country or for fun and fitness.
Our Mantra – the essence of our brand
Canada: home of polite people, maple syrup, the loon, the loonie and a trillion tons of snow. It’s bad for sidewalks, but perfect for making snow angels and snowballs and the sport of cross-country ski. It’s one part meditation, two parts stimulation and ten parts exhilaration. It’s a sport without borders, pretense or lift tickets. It will get you in shape and if you’re very good, it may even get you onto the podium. It will fill you with anticipation, joy and enough fresh oxygen to make you blush like a tomato and sleep like a baby. Come on Canada—get your skinny skis on.
Canada’s oldest form of skiing
Cross-country skiing was created more than 5,000 years ago by the Vikings for winter transportation. The sport came to Canada in the late 1800s and took off in popularity thanks to one of the world’s greatest ski pioneers, Jack Rabbit Johannsen, who promoted the sport until his death at 111 years old. Over the years, cross-country skiing has become a favourite winter activity for more than two million Canadians ranging from kids and families to celebrated Olympic and Paralympic athletes.