Did you know that? On the occasion of the 1988 Canadian Winter Olympic Games, held in Calgary, Alberta, the Olympic Flame was carried on 18 000 km throughout Canada and 2 800 km of the distance was done by snowmobile, from Shanty Bay, Ontario, to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan – a first in the history of the Games! The snowmobile was a 1988 Bombardier Ski-Doo Safari 503 E model. It was equipped with both skis and wheels, for travelling on snow and asphalt surfaces.
Father Maurice Ouimet, a missionary friend of Joseph-Armand Bombardier, is seen here proudly holding the Olympic Flame. Father Ouimet was the owner of the first Ski-Doo snowmobile, which was given to him by Mr. Bombardier in 1959. This vehicle was acquired by the J. Armand Bombardier Museum in 1969.
You would like to see other machines of champions? That’s easy! Come to the J. Armand Bombardier Museum at 1001, J.-A.-Bombardier Avenue in Valcourt for free from the 12th to the 14th and from the 19th to the 21st of February 2010. For more information, go on our web site at bombardiermuseum.com.
