1968 video fron Orienteering Ontario

Check out this gem of an orienteering video made in 1968 by Orienteering Ontario.

Guelph Orienteering Conference

Guelph conference back in 1974, 1975 or 1976 (can someone help us confirm?)

L to R
Back row: B1, Brian Malone, B3, B4, Ted de St. Croix, Dick de St. Croix
Middle row: M1, M2, ? Bailey, Leif ? (Dane), Arne Naess (with hat), Pat Dunlavey, M7, M8, Jack Lee, M10, M11, M12
Front row: Colin Kirk,  F2

Can you help us identify folks in this picture - and the year. Send an email to oc50th@orienteering.ca or leave a comment.

Submitted by Oivind Naess

Guelph Spring Festival 1971

Click on image to view the pdf file.

Submitted from Jack Lee's files

First Ontario Orienteering Championships Program 1967

Click on image to view the pdf file.

Submitted from Jack Lee's files

Biography of Sass Peepre

Sass Peepre
A Canadian Orienteering Pioneer

Alex "Sass" Peepre, a youth sports leader in Estonia, came to Canada with his family via Finland and Sweden, where, after the war he learned about the sport of orienteering. During his early days in Canada he organized basic orienteering events at youth and scout camps using topographic or simple hand-drawn black and white maps. In the mid-1960s, competitive orienteering got a big push when orienteering was taught at the national track and field coaches clinics held at the University of Guelph. Along with Britain's John Disley, Sass introduced many of the early Canadian orienteering leaders to the sport.

In 1966, Sass observed the first World Orienteering Championships in Finland, bringing that experience home to organize the first Ontario Championships near Guelph in 1967, and later, with Bob Kaill, the 1969 Canadian Championships. During these early days Sass organized orienteering clinics across Ontario, the Maritimes, in BC, and even for the US Marines out of Quantico. He also co-organized the first US Championships in 1970, in Carbondale Illinois. Sass was meet director for the popular annual Guelph Spring Festival orienteering as well as many high school and university events.

Sass was a founder of the orienteering association in Ontario, and also the COF, where he later served as President from 1974-1976. In 1974, pursuing his passion for leadership training, he organized the First National Orienteering Leadership Clinic at the University of Guelph.

Sass Peepre died in 1976. He is remembered for his endless enthusiasm in spreading the word about orienteering, and for his dedication to leadership and youth training. He has been called the Father of Canadian orienteering.

Submitted by Sass's son Juri Peepre

Map: First Ontario Champs 1967 Guelph

Map: First Ontario Champs 1967 Guelph
Submitted by: Juri Peepre

Map: Competition Map, Guelph, 1971

 

Map: Competition Map, Guelph, 1971, Fieldwork done by touring Swedish team
Submitted by: Juri Peepre

Map: 1969 Arkel Hills, Guelph

Map: 1969 Arkel Hills, Guelph, Waterloo Wanderer
Submitted by: Juri Peepre

Map: 1972 Guelph Spring Festival

Map: Hockley Valley 1972 Guelph Spring Festival
Submitted by: Juri Peepre

Map; 1970 3rd Annual Guelph Orienteering Meet (hand-coloured map)

Map: 1970 3rd Annual Guelph O Festival, hand coloured map
Submitted by: Juri Peepre

Map: The Royal Canadian Legion's Sixth National Track & Field Coaches' Clinic

Map: The Royal Canadian Legion's Sixth National Track & Field Coaches' Clinic
Submitted by: Juri Peepre