Norquay ski resort looks to expand summer operations

BANFF – Norquay ski resort wants Parks Canada to allow summer uses at the historic mountain destination, saying that continuing to stay a winter-only venue will be tough on business.

"It’s very competitive where we are. Most people in Banff would rather go to Sunshine or Lake Louise, which are much larger hills than us," said Norquay part-owner Peter Sudermann.

"I wouldn’t say we are struggling, but if we aren’t allowed to pursue summer business, it would be a real challenge for us business-wise."

Norquay is now working with Parks Canada to build a new set of site guidelines for the ski resort, north of Banff, as part of an effort to create more certainty for business while still maintaining ecological integrity and setting limits on future development.

Kevin Van Tighem, superintendant for the Banff field unit, presented the draft site guidelines for Norquay at a news conference in Banff on Thursday.

He stressed none of the guidelines is an actual proposal for Norquay’s future, but merely parameters around which the owners could make proposals.

Highlights include scaling back the leased area in which Norquay can develop by eight hectares. As a tradeoff, Norquay would be allowed to increase skiing terrain by 15 hectares, as long as it’s within the newly defined leased area.

Commercial space could also be increased by 1,200 square metres, allowing capacity for up to 3,800 skiers a day.

But Sudermann says with only 1,000 skiers now coming each day, expansion in the winter season isn’t necessary.

"Summer use is really the goal," he said. "Summer is when you get the highest amount of traffic to the park, but right now we’re excluded from operating at that time. As a stand-alone ski area it’s really tough to make a go of it."

Norquay’s push comes on the heels of a federal government decision last year to allow a number of new recreational options in national parks, like hang-gliding, kite-surfing, zip-lines, mountain biking and the European via ferrata which mounts ladders, metal rungs and bridges into rock, allowing climbers to access cliffs with ease.

"This allows you to climb and literally hang off a cliff, experiencing Banff in a completely unique way. And you don’t have to be an experienced climber to do it."

Sudermann said Norquay would open its since closed tea house at the top of the resort as a staging area.

The resort also considers a proposal to allow mountain biking in a restricted area along the mountain.

Van Tighem said that right now, Banff National Park is not allowing via ferrata within its boundaries, but discussions as to whether that can be an option for resort owners to propose is ongoing.

But conservationists argue a decision to consider introducing via ferratas and other summers uses in national parks is part of a trend where Parks Canada is sympathizing more with business owners than the public or environmentalists who want to preserve a pristine landscape.

"This ski hill, the whole slope, is an important area for grizzly bears, it’s an important travel route for wildlife," said Mike McIvor, president of the Bow Valley Naturalists.

"There’s a change in direction that is more friendly to business.

"The public isn’t asking for the park areas to be more busy, only the businesses are."

But Sudermann argues any changes in use at Norquay will be introduced with the utmost respect to wildlife. Efforts to improve vegetation so that it’s more suitable to existing wildlife are already underway, he added.

Public consultations on Norquay’s site guidelines draft will continue next week, with open houses in Banff on Jan. 19 and in Calgary on Jan. 20.

Calgary’s session will run from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Calgary Zoo’s Safari Lodge, Salon A.

A final decision on site guidelines and summer uses in Banff National Park is expected in late spring.

For more information on the guidelines and other open houses go to www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/plan/norquay-2011.aspx.