The Tawatinaw Valley Ski Club, via the Friends of Tawatinaw fundraising group, has received a $75,000, three-year boost from the Westlock Rotary Club to obtain new-to-them equipment to keep the hill open.
Friends president Wendy Batog and vice-president Colin Felstad made a presentation to the club’s fall assembly meeting Sept. 13 stating their priority of replacing the ski rental equipment and asked for $75,000 over three years. Last month, the group also received $10,400 from the 100 Women Who Care group.
At that meeting, club treasurer Dave Snyder made a motion to donate the money and it passed by secret ballot.
On Oct. 6, at a work bee at the hill, club president Ken Ebeling presented the Friends with the first installment of $37,500.
The group will get the remainder of the money in 2019 and 2020.
“There is a social responsibility to have recreation in our community. We’re trying to be responsible stewards with their (Westlock County) tax dollars running this business,” said Batog.
“We want to utilize what’s there and make it successful, and make it for everybody, as our goal is to make it a four-season facility.
“The Rotary Club’s donation has enabled us to fund our new ski rental inventory, which is a huge asset to our business venture at the Tawatinaw Valley Ski Hill. We want to express our sincere thanks to the Rotary Club for their support.”
Friends secretary Toni Siegle noted the purchase of the new equipment, which includes 232 sets of skis, 40 snowboards, 300 sets of ski boots and 55 sets of snowboard boots, is vital to keeping the hill running.
“Children and families benefit from Westlock Rotarians’ generosity. Approximately one-third to one-half of our visits each year are by school-aged children who attend as part of organized school Learn to Ski Programs (3,000 to 4, 000 visits),” said Siegle.
“We actually got a good deal. We are purchasing second hand.”
The group’s operating agreement with the county is dependent on them fund-raising and between the two recent donations, they are almost there.
“Our focus this year is just to get up and running and run really well as a ski hill,” said Siegle.
She said there are other ideas and opportunities for year-round use they are exploring at this point, adding they are also looking at ideas the public has for how they can use the hill in the summer as well as the winter months.
In the meantime the equipment and hill are being readied for this winter, with lots of volunteer help.
“If you could hear the story of how the skiing and snowboard community has come together to support our hill … it’s really remarkable, Siegle noted.
Batog also noted that there will be an open house at the hill Oct. 20 where they will be selling season passes.
Also available will be donation forms for anyone, or groups, who want to support the hill and they will also be taking applications for those wishing to volunteer this coming winter season.
