Ski club rocks out for snow

BY LAUREL MYERS

As winter settles in, ski-hills around the province have opened their slopes for the season. And though Walden-area  skiers have a hill right in their backyard, they are forced to shoulder their skis and bring them elsewhere while their ski hill remains closed for another season.

However, by this time next year, if all goes well, the slopes of the Lively Ski Hill will be deep in snow, laced with ski tracks and bustling with activity.

For the past five years, the hill has remained closed as a result of vandalism to the tow-rope, which caused the equipment to fall below specified codes. The city did not make funds available to fix the problem until 2006, said Kelly Demers, marketing manager for the Walden Ski Club - a volunteer organization dedicated to running the Lively Ski Hill.

"I think they (the city) just didn't see the hill as being viable anymore," Demers said. "It took a big group of citizens and part of the Walden Community Action Network to lobby the city and say, please open this hill again."

In 2006, the city finally stepped up, fixed the damage and granted permission for the hill to open for the season.
However, a second contender - Mother Nature - stepped in, leaving the slopes without substantial snow cover.

As the 2007-08 season approached, the ski club was determined not to leave the fate of the hill up to the whims of the weather.

They began working tirelessly on fundraising initiatives, including barbecues, rummage sales and raffle draws, to raise money for the purchase and installation of their own snow-making equipment, an investment valued at approximately $50,000. The club is awaiting reply from the city regarding the final total.

"Having the ability to make snow when Mother Nature isn't helping would be instrumental to the sustainability of the ski hill," Demers said.

Last weekend, the group held their biggest fundraiser to date with a concert, Rock for Snow, held at the Kinsmen Hall in Lively. The concert featured the talents of Greater Sudbury-born artists, Angie Nussey, Superstack and Basement Arms. The event was a huge success, Demers said, bringing in over $5,000.

Ward 2 Councillor Jacques Barbeau lobbied for the group at the city, as well. Each ward is alloted $35,000 annually for community improvement projects and it is at the discretion of the councillor to determine how those funds are distributed, Barbeau explained.

Looking at the long-term potential for the ski hill, he handed over $12,000 toward the improvements.

"The long-term goal of that property is to be a multi-use area," he said. "We're hoping for sliding hills and a skating rink, in addition to the ski hill. This is just one more thing to get the area up and running."

In addition, Barbeau was successful in lobbying city council during budget deliberations for a one-time grant of $20,000 to be put toward the ski hill.

Vale Inco has also made a $5,000 donation, pushing the total of funds raised to approximately $42,000.

Demers added that if the remainder of funds are raised within the next couple of months, installation of the equipment will begin in the summer to be ready for the 2008-09 ski season.