Little Ski-Doo is a Sudbury Christmas classic. Now it has its own classical arrangement

A Christmas song that has become synonymous with Sudbury now has its own classical arrangement.

On Nov. 30, the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra performed Bert Collins's Little Ski-Doo at its annual Christmas concert with the Young Sudbury Singers.

"It's an infectious little tune about this little Ski-Doo that has to help Santa," said Bill Rowson, the conductor of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra.

Collins, who didn't consider himself a professional musician and worked for Ontario's Ministry of Transportation, wrote the song in 1967 and recorded it 10 years later in a Sudbury basement.

The song was featured in Collins's 1981 children's album, Imaginary Friends. It gained cult status and remains a Christmas classic for many people in Sudbury and other parts of northern Ontario.

Rowson, who is originally from Vancouver, said he first heard about the song from his sister-in-law, who is from Sudbury.

"So I immediately found the album Imaginary Friends and had a listen and thought it was a lot of fun," he said.

The theme for the orchestra's 2024-2025 season was "listen local" so Rowson said it was a must to cover Little Ski-Doo.

"Most cities don't have their own Christmas song, Sudbury does, so we have to do it," he said.

When he decided the orchestra would cover the song, he searched for sheet music and couldn't find any.

So Rowson took it upon himself to write his own by listening to the song continuously, and transcribing the notes.

"In the arrangement that I made, I tried to make it as versatile as I can because we hope to be able to travel to other communities around the north," he said.

Rowson said that a full orchestra can perform the arrangement, but it can also be pared down for a string orchestra, a wind band, a children's choir or a solo singer. 

He said performing the song has been one of the highlights of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra's season.