It is difficult to discuss Manitoba’s waterski history without mentioning the Reid family. Through a love for the sport, handed down to him from his father Dr. William S. Reid, Dr. Ian Livingstone Reid dedicated over 30 years of his life to waterskiing.

Ian Reid captured numerous provincial titles but never competed nationally as the sport was in its infancy. Reid founded Manitoba’s first waterski club, the Selkirk Seals, in 1951. He was also a founding member of the Manitoba Waterski Association (MWA) in 1953, the first of its kind in Canada.

He served as President of the Seals from 1958-59, 72-77, and 83-84. In 1964 he was Vice-President of the MWA and President in 1965-66. He was named a Lifetime Honorary Member of the Manitoba Waterski Region in 1978. On the national scene, Reid served as Vice-President of Competition from 1972- 76 and President of the Canadian Waterski Association in 1974-75. Internationally, he was the Canadian representative to the World Waterski Congress in London, England in 1975, the Pan-American Congress in 1976 and Chef-de-Mission of the Manitoba Contingent to Curacao, Venezuela at that same year. In 1979, Ian Reid was named Assistant Tournament Chairman of the World Waterski Championships.

Amongst his contributions to the sport, Reid introduced safety-helmets to waterski jumping. He was the author of “A History of Waterskiing in Manitoba” and the creator and curator of the Manitoba Museum of Waterskiing in Selkirk (the only one of its kind in Canada).

Dr. Ian Livingstone Reid will glowingly tell you that his greatest contribution to the sport were his three children (sons Kim and Bruce, and daughter Patricia), all three of which competed both nationally and internationally. In recognition of his dedicated efforts, he was awarded the prestigious Order of Canada in 1983.