The future of North York’s Earl Bales ski hill will be determined with the approval of the 2010 operating budget later this month. The city is considering a proposal to rent or lease the Earl Bales and Centennial Park ski hills, as well as the Glen Rouge Campground to third parties.
The city would save $700,000 in what a staff proposal called, “the best possible option” for the future operation of the facilities. The city’s five golf courses are currently run in the same way by third parties. City councillor and budget committee member Joe Mihevc said the current day pass price of $25 would likely not last under third party operation.
“The long and short of it [is] that the operator would basically have to increase the fees,” he said. An increase in user fees could have a serious impact on those that use the facility. “The families that we are dealing with are sort of modest means, so they can’t afford to go belong to private clubs up north,” said Clive Kessel, president of the North York Alpine Racing Club, which trains at Earl Bales.
For the last 10 years, Kessel has led the program for skiers ages six to 19 previously run by the city. “Essentially, we break even,” Kessel said. “So any increase in cost would be cost we would have to pass on. And we don’t know whether there’s much room to pass on much more cost.” Kessel said he is concerned about the future of the hill if the city is unable to find someone to take over operations. He pointed to Chedoke Winter Park in Hamilton, which was shut down by the city several years ago, forcing the local racing program to find a new home.
The facility and the program he offers are important to the Toronto area, Kessel said. “This is an opportunity for regular people and kids and their families to participate in alpine skiing. It’s an amazing facility, given where it is.”
