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Valley Ski Club Slope Stabilization Project is awarded CFEP Grant

With forecasts predicting continued mild weather, the board made the decision not to proceed with the current season
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The Valley Ski Club (Castor Association) is pleased to announce that it was the successful recipient of a CFEP grant, funded through the Alberta Lottery Fund, in support of the Ski Slope Stabilization and Snowmaking Upgrade project.

The Valley received $437,802 from the Ministry of Culture, Multiculturism and Status of Women towards project costs. The funding will complement support already received from Paintearth County, Flagstaff County and the Valley Ski Hill community.

The Ski Hill first experienced a slope failure in 1997 and it has continued to worsen ever since.

Over the past 24 years, through the hard work and generosity of the community, the slide has been repaired annually to enable ski hill operations. This summer, after many years of planning, work commenced on a permanent stabilization of the slope.

This grant will enable the club to finish the slope stabilization project this summer as well as install upgrades to snowmaking and electrical infrastructure.

“We are excited for what the future has in store for The Valley Ski Club” says Club President Grant Boddy.

“This project will decrease the work required to prepare the hill for snowmaking and increase our snowmaking efficiency. Now, as long as the weather cooperates it should put us on track for earlier openings in the future.”

Unfortunately, the weather has not cooperated with the club this year.

The unseasonably warm temperatures significantly hampered snowmaking efforts in December.

With forecasts predicting continued mild weather through mid-January, the board made the difficult decision on Jan. 8th not to proceed with the current season.

Those who purchased season’s passes have been given the option to receive refunds or roll their passes over to the 2021/22 season.

While the suspension of this season may be disappointing for local snowsports enthusiasts, there is also cause for a renewed sense of optimism for the long-term operation of the club. As the membership prepares to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the club next season, the future looks bright indeed.

The CFEP Large Funding Stream is administered on a yearly basis, and has an annual intake deadline of June 15th. For more information or to apply for a CFEP grant, go to https://www.alberta.ca/community-facility-enhancement-program.aspx