Due to Mt. Timothy Ski Society ceasing operations for the upcoming season, the Timberland Ski Club will also not be running this season.
“We’re definitely not going to close the program permanently. If Timothy is able to reopen we will certainly restart the club,” said Tera Grady, a director of the Timberland Ski Club.
In addition, the Timberland Ski Club will also not be organizing their annual ski swap this year, the club’s main fundraiser. Without a club to raise funds for, Grady said it didn’t seem like something the club could plan to go forward with.
Timberland Ski Club will still have their annual general meeting this year, but nothing else has been planned at this time.
The Mt. Timothy Ski Society came to the conclusion that they couldn’t operate the hill this season after the South and Central Joint Committees of the Cariboo Regional District rejected their application to take a referendum to the public to secure funding.
RELATED: “Funding through taxation was not a viable option,” for Mount Timothy Ski Area
In the end, the struggling hill was put up for sale by the society on June 8.
RELATED: Struggling local ski resort in South Cariboo up for sale
“It’s a bit heartbreaking. Thirty years is a long time to run and the community has always relayed on Timothy being there. For a number of years they’ve been in bad financial status and yet every year they still manage to operate. I think a lot of members of the community expected it would still operate even though they are aware of the financial issues,” said Grady. “I think this year will be a rude awakening for people who aren’t privy to all the internal issue’s the board and management have had to face over the last several years.”
RELATED: Mount Timothy under threat of permanent closure
The Lightning Creek Ski Club based on Troll Mountain, 255 kilometres north of 100 Mile House, has invited families from the area to register with them.
“Timberland skis with the Lightning Creek Ski Club a few times a year at reciprocal races so we are familiar with their club and they certainly feel for our families who won’t have their local hill to ski on,” said Grady, who has been skiing at Mt. Timothy since she was 13 and will now be travelling a lot farther to ski this season.
Prices for season passes at Troll Resort can be viewed here.
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