The city’s Community and Public Services Committee decided Monday it is in favour of providing $388,000 in emergency funding to keep the Edmonton Ski Club open this winter.
The ski hill asked the city for $1.3 million over the next five years. That funding request is still to be considered. The Edmonton Ski Club needs $388,000 of that amount to run the hill this winter.
READ MORE: Edmonton Ski Club needs $1.3M from city or could cease operating
Support on the committee level was unanimous. The five-year plan will be considered by all of city council during budget deliberations that start in November.
According to an executive summary that was submitted to the city, the funding is necessary so the club “does not cease to operate” while the city develops the master plan for Gallagher Park, which has forced it to slow down plans for expansion.
“We need city assistance to keep the doors open,” executive director Ken Saunders said.
He said this is the first time in the club’s more than 100-year history that it is approaching city council for funding.
“To get to the point of redevelopment, we are in a holding pattern,” Saunders told 630 CHED on Monday. “We need the city’s plan to be completed and from there sustainability is our absolute goal.”
READ MORE: Edmonton Ski Club sets sights on transforming the River Valley
The ski hill operates from November to March, sees between 15,000 and 32,000 skiers per season, and expects to see skier visits increase five to 10 per cent every year.
“Despite this growth, the facility is rapidly approaching the end of its usable life because upgrades are required,” the report reads.
Another holdup is the Valley Line LRT planning.
The Valley Line LRT is expected to run through the ski hill, which Saunders said will force it to relocate ski lifts and towers as well as reshape runs that will be shortened by the construction.
“The uncertainty of a construction timeline, the uncertainty of what the impact will be to the hill plays into the ultimate design of the master plan. With the limited capacity here, with the very aging infrastructure, we really have done all that we can do to be profitable,” Saunders said.
Councillor Mike Nickel expressed some frustration with how slowly the process is moving.
“We can write them a cheque now but I want to provide them some certainty so they can chase some options so they can achieve sustainability,” he told 630 CHED. “We’re holding back this asset that has such great potential. The lines are moving in the right direction. The last thing we want to do is slow them up. But of course, due process is always the devil in getting things moving.”
With files from Julia Wong, Global News and Scott Johnston, 630 CHED
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