North Bay, Ontario — An Ontario city has decided against continuing to subsidize a popular ski hill and has instead bought it.
BayToday.ca reported last month that the City of North Bay acquired the Laurentian Ski Hill for $1.4 million CAD (around $1.025 million USD).
It was owned by the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority (CA), a non-profit environmental organization. The CA has its office in the cool-looking building at the ski hill’s summit. Under the new lease, it will remain under the operation of the Laurentian Ski Hill and Snowboard Club. The purchase reportedly includes that building, which the CA plans to lease back from the city. The amount is around $330,000 CAD (nearly $220,000 USD) a year. With the acquisition, the future of the CA is uncertain, although it will remain operational for now.
The reason for the acquisition is that the city has been subsidizing the ski hill. Since 2023, the city has been providing a maximum of $100,000 CAD (roughly $73k USD) to the CA. The goal of the acquisition is to preserve the slopes for future generations.
“We know that this is an economic development tool we utilize day in and day out within our City,” said North Bay Mayor Peter Chirico. “Having a ski hill in operation for our kids is no different than an arena, ballpark, or soccer field.”
About Laurentian Ski Hill
Located in the small city of North Bay, Laurentian Ski Hill has parking at both its base and summit. The ski hill features 11 trails, 1 glade, and three lifts (including a quad chairlift). The ski hill sees around 35k visitors a year, making it an important community asset. It’s also one of Canada’s most historic ski hills, as it just celebrated its 100th season. During the summer, the ski hill hosts group gatherings and events.
Image/Video Credits: ZingaBoards, Laurentian Ski Hill
