The Craigleith Heritage Depot Exhibition

Willi Winkels jumps over a corvette before landing on a skateboard on the pavement
Willi Winkels
Until April 24, 2020

Wee Willi Winkels’ contributions to the skateboarding and snowboarding industries cannot be understated, and his innovations had a great impact on the sports. Many of the skateboards available in Canada from the mid 70s to the early 80s were made by Wee Willi Winkels Inc. in his Brampton, Ontario, factory. At that time brands like Alva, Toft Designs, Hosoi, and Sims were also contracting Willi to make some of their boards. 

Willi and his friends tested early snowboard prototypes on the slopes of Blue Mountain, Mammoth Mountain in California, and beyond. Blue Mountain Resort has honoured Willi – later an instructor there - with a run in his namesake.

The Craigleith Heritage Depot seeks the public’s contributions of memories and pictures of Willi Winkels and Wee Willi Winkels Inc. products to expand a new online exhibit about this legendary man and inventor with ties to the Blue Mountains area.

Public are invited to submit original digital content through an online submission form, https://bluemountains.librariesshare.com/williwinkels/, which accepts video recordings, sound recordings, word processed documents, images and more. Add memories of Willi Winkels and his skateboard team, of Willi riding his Motoboard in the GTA and later in the Blue Mountains/Collingwood area. Share personal stories of riding a Wee Willi Winkels skateboard, or riding Willi’s early snowboard designs on Blue Mountain.  

As of April 2019, over 50 items were available to view online, and more content will become available as people share content. View the exhibit at library.biblioboard.com and search for “Willi Winkels.”

The public is invited to contact the Craigleith Heritage Depot with any submission questions or if they prefer to share stories and pictures in person: depot@thebluemountains.ca

Target Audience: 
People who grew up in the 60s-80s in Canada and the US, athletes, sports historians
Partner(s): 
The Blue Mountains Public Library