Josl Huter

Young Josl (http://www.mslm.on.ca/history-1950s.htm )

You and your family are enjoying a fun day of skiing at Mt. St. Louis Moonstone in Ontario, you look at your watch its nearly 12:00, you decide to eat lunch. As you sit down at a table a kindly old man walks over to you and asks about your day of skiing, as he cleans off your table you wonder who he is and what got him there. Seeing that puzzled look he sits down and explains himself he tells you his story of fighting, illness following your dreams and letting them bring you to the top. Later that night you think his story over again and realize he has changed you and he is a hero.

Josl Huter is the proud owner and founder of Mt. St. Louis Moonstone. He was born in Austria and always had a love of skiing. He would spend hours skiing each day. He dreamed of competing. Over time he won many minor competitions until one day he achieved the honour of competing in the Austrian National Alpine Championships. In 1956, Josl immigrated to Canada and worked in automotive industry in Toronto, not thinking he would ever get back into the ski business. Josl had a friend who instructed skiing at Limberlost resort near Huntsville; over the Christmas holiday he became sick and Josl took over his position. Josl was later offered the full time position as ski school director and during the summer was sports director and in charge of running and organizing the pro shop.

In 1957 Josl had problems with his sight, he met with many eye specialists but none knew what was wrong. In December, 1957 Josl was on his way home from Quebec where he was becoming a certified ski instructor when he stopped at the medical arts building in Toronto where he spoke with Canada’s first neurosurgeon Dr. Ken Mackenzie. He sent him to see Dr. Herb Highland, who was the head of neurosurgery at Toronto general hospital. After 12 days of examinations and tests Josl was sent home for Christmas and New Years and was to come home in January. Josl went back to the hospital on January 6th, 1958 and 4 days later, Dr. Harry Botterel performed the surgery that removed a ping pong ball sized tumor from his brain that was blocking circulation to his eyes. Josl was only the second person in Canada to ever have the surgery. When he was well enough again he had to receive 3 weeks of intensive radiation.

“Stay involved with your business and be honest. If you do that you will succeed.”(Josl Huter) He did and it worked.

In 1959 while Josl was on a summer trip to Austria he met his future wife Elfriede. In 1960 they got married. Josl was offered a job at Muskoka Sands Ski Resort as ski school director and running the pro shop. Josl thought the hill was not very big and needed a bit more of a challenge so he went to the local mill and used scrap slab wood and sawdust to give the hill more of a lift. Josl always wished he could have his own ski resort. In autumn 1963 Josl’s friend told him about a property that could possibly be turned into a ski resort. Josl went to the property and knew that if he bought the property they would make it into the business. Josl and Elfriede went back to Austria and sold their Inn. They then used the money to buy the property and start their business. Mt. St. Louis Moonstone now supports kids skiing and snowboarding and is a very friendly family oriented business.

Josl stuck with his business, fought his illness, and kept a positive attitude, which allowed him to show his skills and used them to create a business, promote athleticism, bring families together and show what it takes to be successful. He is an inspirational hero.