Edmonton Ski Club sets sights on transforming the River Valley

WATCH ABOVE: The Edmonton Ski Club has big plans to turn an outdated facility into a winter hub. Margeaux Morin explains.

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Ski Club has a bold vision for the city’s River Valley: a new year-round recreation facility that would be the first of its kind in North America.

The 105-year-old ski club wants to turn its outdated facility into a multi-activity hub. Among the desired upgrades? Upgraded lifts for skiers and snowboarders, a two-storey chalet, as well as a tube park and ice-climbing wall.

“There are also plans for the skating loop where, from the club house, people can skate across the property and around through Cloverdale,” said the ski club’s president, Ken Saunders.

Summertime amenities would include a mountain-bike skills park and ziplining.

And once the Valley Line LRT is complete, there will be just steps away from the facility, behind the Muttart Conservatory.

“The Edmonton Ski Club will be the only ski club in North America that has light rail access for its users,” Saunders said. “That’s a pretty powerful statement when you think about it.”

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The Edmonton Ski Club has undergone a recent management change and saved itself from the brink of financial ruin. Its next challenge will be to fundraise the money needed to build the new facility, which is expected to cost between $10 and $15 million.

“The challenge is going to be money and the club has always felt that they could take that on and go for that,” said Councillor Ben Henderson. “And they have been fundraising for a while, and I know that there is a lot of support from the community for them down there as well.”

Margaret Smith, who works nearby, believes anything that gets people out and about during the winter months is a great idea.

READ MORE: Grassroots movement urges Edmontonians to ditch cars and ski to LRT

“I think the amount of winter, the length of winter, it’s something that we need to embrace,” said Alex Hamilton, who also works in the area.

“With the views we have, with the location we have,” added Saunders, “there’s an opportunity to make this the gem of the River Valley.”

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With files from Margeaux Morin, Global News