THE BLUE MOUNTAINS Mother Nature s generous dusting of fresh snow comes at just the right time, as ski resorts across Ontario prepare to open on Tuesday. Ski resorts across Simcoe County spent Monday preparing to manage anticipated crowds safely. The province-wide shutdown has already cost Alpine resorts critical holiday periods, and now that the province has moved March break into April, they will miss that too. Even so, resorts are committed to reopening with limited capacity so that the reopening can be done safely. Tomorrow, we will be running six lifts to start, and if we need to add more we will add more lifts, said Mount St Louis Owner Rob Huter.
Published Tuesday, February 9, 2021 4:37PM EST Last Updated Tuesday, February 9, 2021 4:52PM EST A number of major ski hills within a short drive of the Greater Toronto Area are preparing to reopen next week once the Ford government lifts stay-at-home orders across most of the province. Ski hills were prohibited from operating as part of a provincewide lockdown that took effect on Boxing Day. But the Ford government announced on Monday that they will be allowed to reopen with new restrictions, as the stay at home-order is lifted and regions are transitioned back into Ontario’s existing five-tier framework. That means that both Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood and Horseshoe Resort in Barrie will be permitted to resume operations on Feb. 16.
BARRIE, ONT. Ski resorts feel the pinch, with the lockdown s price tag hitting steep heights. Probably close to $90 million just for the 50 resorts in the province, said Ontario Ski Resorts Association s president, Kevin Nichol. Nichol says that for the first time in 30 years, the industry may have to look to the government for a bailout to survive. He says 9,000 jobs were lost before Christmas. Our protocols were working well, and then all of a sudden the government has decided that they don t want us to operate, Nichol says he feels the ski industry was singled out. The fact that we re the only jurisdiction in North America not skiing right now, and we worked side by side with all the other regions and developed all the same procedures. and yet, here we are in Ontario. I don t know why we are being treated differently, he says.
BALA, ONT. More people are getting to know the great outdoors the longer the pandemic goes on. There are lots of fun and safe things to do to get outside and keep active. While alpine skiing is on hold, Horseshoe Resort reports double the demand for nordic activities. With 30 kilometres available for snowshoeing, cross country skiing and fat biking, the resort has plenty of space for everyone to enjoy with all the fresh snow over the past week. However, guests need to bring their own equipment as rentals aren t available. Further north at Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery, the skating trail is up and running for its sixth season.
BARRIE, ONT. Boxing Day weekend at Barrie s Georgian Mall is one without shoppers, crammed stores, and the post-holiday hustle and bustle. There was eerie quiet at the mall Sunday on the second day of the second province-wide lockdown of the year. In-store shopping is off the table, but shoppers can pick up items purchased online. It isn t only shops feeling the pain, but restaurants that depend on mall traffic to survive. It s kinda hard to see, said Anabela Santos, franchise owner of the Georgian Mall Sunset Grill, pointing to the empty dining room. But we have to do what we have to do.