It is disheartening to hear local governments have not engaged in assisting our local ski hill, Mt. Timothy.
As many know, or have experienced, the ski hill has been struggling for some time.
Broken down chairlifts, bad roads, no snow, too much snow, equipment failures and even a break and enter are just some of the unlucky breaks the Mt. Timothy Ski Society has faced.
Agreed, not all of these problems were an act of God, nevertheless, the non-profit group has done their best to keep the hill alive. They do so out of their love of skiing and snowboarding and the family-feel of the small hill.
Mt. Timothy members are locals who love the outdoors and the healthy lifestyle the sport promotes.
They are seniors, youth and families raising children in our area.
They are the hundreds of students from across School District 27 who look forward every year to the big school field trip to Mt. Timothy.
In an effort to keep the hill alive, Mt. Timothy president Michael Kidston confirmed this week that the 30-year-old ski hill is up for sale.
This may be a positive option, and the only one left for the non-profit society. But, so far, they haven’t had any takers.
Last spring the society reached out to the City of Williams Lake and Cariboo Regional District to come up with some kind of annual funding to secure a future for the hill.
They hoped the matter would be taken to referendum at this fall’s election, which would have been simple enough.
There is both support and opposition for the funding request and taking it to referendum would have given people a voice. Some feel local governments shouldn’t get in the business of funding non-profits with taxpayer’s dollars.
Others feel $300,000 annually divided between two communities and an entire regional district is a small amount to pay for a pastime that attracts many to the area, particularly professionals such as doctors or those considering raising a family here.
For those opposed, we would ask what’s the difference between a ski hill, or a pool, or a hockey rink?
Any facilities that promote families spending time together and healthy living should be supported whenever possible.
Surely with all the money that government has, and often wastes, they can find enough to save Mt. Timothy.
Or at the very least, have enough political backbone to talk about the issue before the next election.
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