It looks as though it will be another busy season for the Hay River Ski Club, but the organization is also facing some operational challenges heading into the new year.
The ski club is located just a short drive south of town on Highway 2. The first skiers started appearing on the club's trails in early November, not long after the first snow began to fall. By the middle of the month, the trails had been groomed, and traffic was picking up.
Kathleen Gilhooly, the president of the club, is optimistic they trails will continue to get lots of use over the coming months.
"We are always hopeful for a busy season," she said. "Around the holidays things really start to pick up, when people generally have more time."
The club had 116 members by early December, and Gilhooly expects to see more join later in the month. That's would be good news, as the club continues to deal with funding issues.
"Funding really is our main challenge," she said. "There hasn't been any new development with regard to long-term core funding.
She and her team are "continuing to apply for funding when criteria allow," she added, but membership is the club's "biggest source of revenue."
Unfortunately, the club cannot rely on its current membership alone SA国际影视传媒� not without increasing rates "far more than what we would ever expect people to pay," according to Gilhooly.
"The affordable family memberships and the fact that members also have access to equipment is something we pride ourselves on and want to continue to offer," she said.
For any residents eager to support the ski club, the best way to do so is by joining.
"It's a short drive from town, and it often feels warmer away from the lake," Gilhooly said. "The trails are accessible to all levels, and we have the dog loop for those who want to bring a furry friend along to ski, snowshoe, or simply walk with. Members have 24 hour access to the clubhouse and equipment. We have trail lights on a few of our loops, so the dark needn't deter anyone."
The club has a dedicated roster of volunteers that help keep it running. However, it would also benefit from more help, so prospective volunteers are "welcome," according to Gilhooly.
With another season underway, the club president is hoping there will be many more to come. The facility is beloved by its members, she contends, and offers something for residents of all ages and skill levels.
"The ski club offers people from as young as two years old SA国际影视传媒� if a child can walk, we have skis for them SA国际影视传媒� to seniors the opportunity to interact and be physically active together," she said. "Families ski and socialize together in an environment that is welcoming, safe, allows for much needed daylight and I think truly grasps the spirit of the North. It offers solitude, breathtaking views, the chance to get out of town... I could go on and on.
"Fresh air and exercise are a powerful combination and the ski club is the ideal place to find them both."
It remains to be seen what the future holds, but Gilhooly believes the club is valued enough that the community will not let it disappear.
"When the ski club first announced our funding was redirected and we faced closure people were so supportive and wanted to help; and continue to offer help where they can," she said. "People look forward to trails opening and will ski them until they are too slushy to do so.
"It takes a special kind of person to love bundling up, and heading out in the cold to feel the wind in your face as you're skiing down a fairway or through the trees, and we have 116 of them so far this season and would love to see more."
