The Lively Ski Hill will remain open as a municipal recreational centre for at least one more winter season, the city’s elected officials unanimously agreed during Tuesday’s meeting.
Uncertainty when it comes to the ski hill’s longer-term future will be reinstated by the 2025/26 season, with city staff asked to issue an expression of interest seeking a third-party operator.
Ward 6 Coun. René Lapierre and Ward 9 Coun. Deb McIntosh have been leading the charge by looking into the ski hill’s operations for the past several months.
The effort was put on pause earlier this year upon the deaths of area city council members Michael Vagnini and Gerry Montpellier, and regained steam upon the instatement of Eric Benoit to Ward 2 and Michel Brabant to Ward 3 in March.
With the Lively Ski Hill located within Ward 2, Benoit worked alongside Lapierre, McIntosh and city staff in drafting Tuesday’s motion.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Benoit also tabled a 2,600-name petition calling on the city to keep the Lively Ski Hill open.
At issue is the hill’s low user rates and cost recovery, with only 6.7 per cent of the city’s cost to operate the hill recovered last year.
Adding to matters is that past city council-approved budgets would have seen $773,400 in capital work spent on the ski hill this year.
Lapierre and McIntosh’s motion called for a reconsideration of this budget decision. It slashes $396,000 from the capital work which was previously earmarked for the ski hill’s chalet, and for the old platter tow ropeway currently located at the closed Capreol Ski Hill to replace the aging t-bar lift currently located at the Lively Ski Hill.
During Tuesday’s meeting, city Leisure Services director Jeff Pafford said it would be “very difficult” to have the new infrastructure installed in time for this coming ski season, which typically begins in late December or early January.
Between weathering and vandalism, he said the Capreol infrastructure needs to be investigated and tested, with some additional components requiring between eight and 12 weeks to receive.
In the meantime, existing infrastructure in Lively will be tested and local contractors will be on standby to address whatever failures take place this coming season “to ensure that service interruptions are minimized and we’re able to reopen if we do experience those,” Pafford said.
Money previously earmarked for chalet refurbishments will remain in the community as part of the $4-million fund from selling Meatbird Lake Park to Vale. The city has reached out to the community to determine how to spend these funds.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Pafford said the city would be working with the community to help increase attendance at the Lively Ski Hill, including a greater focus on marketing and taking down current barriers around paying online.
For his part, Benoit said he has already reached out to community organizations to drive up interest in the ski hill, though no concrete plans have been made as yet.
City staff are expected to present a report to council by June 2025 which will include usage data, revenue generation, costs of operations and the result of the expression of interest and recommendations for council’s consideration.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.