Peter Bassin
Inducted In
2007
Peter Bassin was born in 1935 in Madulain, Switzerland, a country that cultivated two of his biggest passions: a devotion to athletics and a love of the culinary arts.
Bassin immigrated to Canada in 1957 after accepting employment with the Walper Hotel in Kitchener. In 1972 he created the Hospitality Management (Food and Beverage) program at Conestoga College; he headed and taught in this award-winning program for 25 years.
It was during this time that Bassin’s marriage to Maggie DeGroot in 1961 cemented his love of competition – this time in sailing. After only five years of self-instruction, they won their first Canadian National Championship – the first of many more National and International titles they would garner.
In 1968, Bassin was hired at Chicopee Ski club in Kitchener as a coach. Armed with his aptitude for instruction and a drive for athletic excellence, after only four years Bassin quickly climbed the ranks at Chicopee. In 1973, now Head Coach, the Chicopee Race Program was recognized as one of Ontario’s top racing clubs with many team members winning championships, titles, and a few rising to top competitive circles, participating as members of provincial and national teams.
Bassin left his position as Head Coach in 1996 to personally train the now world-renowned Kelly VanderBeek, then a promising 13-year old. With VanderBeek’s natural talent Bassin cultivated her innate skills, and in 1998 VanderBeek earned her first Canadian Juvenile slalom title.
It was this work with VanderBeek that caused Bassin to be selected as Team Canada Coach for Whistler Cup and World Topolino Games, in Italy in 1998. By 2000, the Canadian Ski Coaches Federation recognized Bassin’s work with top athletes and awarded him with the Award of Excellence in 2000. Not one to rest on his laurels, Bassin continued to coach the Quebec Women’s Ski team in 2001, where he coached another female athlete to be selected to the Canada’s Alpine Team.
Bassin now acts as a personal ski coach. It comes as no surprise that in 2003, yet another one of Bassin’s athletes was named to the Ontario team.