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Is this really the end?

Is the long-standing situation with the Tawatinaw Valley Ski Hill really over? Or was the July 24 announcement of an impending Oct.

Is the long-standing situation with the Tawatinaw Valley Ski Hill really over?

Or was the July 24 announcement of an impending Oct. 1 closure by Westlock County council just what was needed to kickstart a grassroots movement to save the hill?

We now see a very dedicated and very motivated group in the Friends of Tawatinaw Valley, who are embarking on a path to seemingly do all they can to keep the hill running, starting with a public meeting at the chalet Aug. 9 at 7 p.m.

Unfortunately, after a second look at their proposal and much discussion at a three-hour long in-camera meeting Aug. 2, council stuck to its previous decision to close the facility if a buyer can’t be found.

Can we really blame them though?

They are tasked with being financially responsible and let’s face it, the ski hill has been a constant financial burden since the county acquired it. If the majority of voting ratepayers want it closed, as per last October’s plebiscite, what are those in the minority to do?

Sure, the results of the plebiscite are non-binding, but that’s democracy for you.

We’re basically down to three options: be prepared to subsidize it to the tune of six figures per year like Thorhild County does for its ski area at Long Lake; turn it over to a volunteer organization like Friends of Tawatinaw Valley, who will then be perpetually fundraising to keep it alive, like Misty Ridge, north of Barrhead does; or let it die.

Barring the appearance of some wealthy benefactor stepping forward to bail out the facility and take the hill off the county’s hands, we fear the resurrection of the jewel of the Tawatinaw Valley may never come. Considering the facility’s history and the price tag for upgrades, operations and maintenance, it is rather unlikely such a person will appear.

Option No. 3 is a very real possibility at this point.

Hopefully the Friends of Tawatinaw group can come up with an action plan that makes sense and one that everyone can get behind.

Let’s hope this turns out to be a good news story of the community coming together to work towards a common goal.

We urge all concerned parties to attend the Aug. 9 meeting at the chalet and for everyone to put their heads together and come up with a solution because it would be a shame to see such a valuable recreational resource go to waste.

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