Elliot Lake’s Mt. Dufour operations director and treasurer Dave Brunet is cautiously optimistic the popular ski operation will reopen on Feb. 19 depending on the Ford government lifting of the province-wide lockdown.
“We have not been able to open at all this ski season due to provincial lockdowns imposed,” Brunet told ElliotLakeToday. “This was placed on all ski hills in Ontario, the only jurisdiction to do so in North America. This has been a very challenging year. We were all blindsided when we were told we could not operate at all.”
The Mt. Dufour officials thought the restrictions would only apply to indoor facilities, such as the chalet, and had prepared to put in place outside facilities to meet distancing protocols.
“We were prepared for that with outdoor porta-potties, patio heaters, outdoor fire pits, outdoor sanitation stations, extra signage and COVID-19 protocols on wearing face masks at all times,” Brunet added.
Closure of the facility has had an economic impact on the operation with its yearly expenses of about $250,000 offset by membership fees paid by its 250 members and by visitors to the popular ski destination.
“We usually pre-sell early bird season passes every year from September to December. This can vary from $40,000 to $65,000 typically,” Brunet said. “The impact on finances has been huge. It cost us approximately $80,000 plus in start-up expenses from September to the end of December. Once the Christmas break starts, we usually open and get some new money coming in from daily lift tickets, new memberships, kitchen sales, ski rental sales, etc.”
In anticipation of the provincial government’s announced lifting of the lockdown on Feb. 16 and the planned reopening at Mt. Dufour three days later, artificial snow is being laid down on the existing base of snow.
The operations director said he expects to hear about any further framework or restrictions the government will put in place once the lockdown is lifted in the next few days for the ski facility to be able to operate for the balance of the season.
Mt. Dufour Ski Area is a non-profit corporation that has been operating for more than 50 years with a volunteer board of directors. It employs between 15 and 18 people on a seasonal basis, as well as one full time employee. Those employees have been laid off due to the lockdown.
The organization has applied for financial assistance from federal and provincial governments.
“We have applied for both CEBA loans of $40,000 and $20,000,” Brunet said. “We are only using the forgivable portions of these $20,000 to continue keeping afloat. The $40,000 will be paid back (to the federal government). We have also applied for the Ontario relief grant, but have not heard back yet.”
Brunet acknowledged that the reopening date will also depend on how many COVID-19 cases surface in Elliot Lake.
“If Elliot Lake becomes a hotspot, it will be difficult for us to open.”
