Radcliffe ski area lost about $40,000: mayor
Final tab for reopening hill not yet available
Posted By Douglas Gloin
Posted 1 year ago
The Radcliffe Hills ski area lost in the neighbourhood of $40,000 last season but the final financial details on the cost of reopening the facility last December aren’t yet complete, Mayor John Hildebrandt told the mid-May meeting of Township of Madawaska Valley Council.
“The final figure isn’t in yet,” Hildebrandt said. “It isn’t good.” The mayor added that he and other council members had heard a lot of rumours were circulating in the public about the cost of reopening the facility, which had been closed for several years. Some rumours put the costs as high as $80,000.
The issue was first raised at the meeting by Councillor Sylvie Yantha, who asked Hildebrandt whether details from the season were ready.
“What killed us was the late opening,” Hildebrandt said. “Those first two weeks can be 35 per cent of your season’s business.” Repairs to the ski lift and other last-minute glitches caused the opening of the facility to be delayed.
Bad weather was also a factor, and it saw many schools cancel their plans for group trips to the hill. “It was either 50 below or raining. There was just no in between.”
Nonetheless, the season was a success from “a public point of view,” Hildebrandt said. “We’re 100 per cent winners. The effect of our opening has awakened things.” Area businesses and the people who used the hill reaped the rewards of the decision to reopen the hill, he added.
Councillor Shelley Maika said a lot of costs were incurred this past season because the facility had been closed for so long. Some equipment needed repair – most notably the
T-bar – and inspections were required. She said that next season would most likely not see the same sort of costs to run the facility.
Lou Eyamie of Wilno, who was attending the meeting, asked council whether the township would open the hill next year.
The mayor said he hoped so, but it was not clear yet. But he too said that costs likely would be much lower for a second year of operation because the costly measures are now down.
Councillor Bonnie Mask said any decision on reopening would be made after the final figures were in.
