Among the pending shutdown measures announced yesterday by Premier Doug Ford was a surprise for Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area (HVHSA) GM, Andrew Rusynyk: the ski hill would be forced to close for 28 days starting Dec. 26.
“The entire industry had been led to believe that alpine skiing was considered safe by the Provincial Government and that we would be an approved activity for people to get outside and stay healthy,” he wrote in an email sent on Dec. 21.
Rusynyk said that HVHSA, along with other members of the OSRA (Ontario Ski Resorts Association), would be calling on supporters to contact politicians “to let the Ontario Government know that they have made a huge mistake.”
He told Huntsville Doppler this morning that the decision was a “complete shock to myself and every other person who runs a ski hill in the industry in Ontario. We have done every single thing and then some that the government and our health unit has requested us to do in regards to making skiing a safe winter activity.”
Adding insult to injury is the fact that other outdoor winter activities, including ice rinks, cross-country, skating and snowshoe trails, and playgrounds, are permitted to remain open provided they follow public health guidelines.
“The industry has gone beyond what has been required of us and we were led to believe by the government that we would be able to operate if we went into a lockdown [the grey/lockdown zone of the province’s COVID-19 response framework],” said Rusynyk. “Then they invented this shutdown and why skiing is the only [outdoor] activity that is labelled as closed is beyond us.”
He noted that chalets are open only for emergency warmup and bathroom access. Food is available for takeout only. Lift lines are signed for social distancing and people are told to stick to their household bubble while riding the chair, or ride by themselves. A limited number of lift tickets are available online and in advance.
There is a ton of social distancing space on the slopes so there is absolutely no problem with being out on the hill.
“We have done everything that they’ve asked and more,” said Rusynyk.
He said that if the province doesn’t agree to reverse the decision, they are “all hopeful that we can reopen on the twenty-third of January. We hope that this shutdown is not extended. And it’s going to massively impact our ability to operate. You could see some ski hills not opening next year because of this..
“We’ve just gone through our most expensive part of our operating year by making snow. To be misled by the government while we’re making snow, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars making snow, is completely unacceptable.”
They plan to send a sample letter of support to those on their email list, along with contact information for the politicians it should be sent to, for anyone who also wants to urge the government to reverse the decision.
“We’re shocked, we’re distressed and we’re really upset that we’re not going to be able to provide a safe winter activity for thousands of people throughout the winter,” said Rusynyk.
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Dianne Adams
Nicely stated comments. Direct and to the point.
The ski hills must stay closed simply to stop the crowds they
would generate from the hot spots further south.
The news is reporting the new varient is already in Durham county to our south.
Not to worry. Mr Trudeau has stopped all air travel from the UK. As usual,Too little to late!
There are still people in the community that do not understand this is a life or death situation.
Human beings. We are out own worst enemy.
Hoping for change.
https://www.change.org/Keepskiingopen
I have mixed feelings about the ski hills closing, but it is in two parts. First, skiing is an amazing activity and distancing is possible at all times by each chair rider and lift operator. Unfortunately, the rest period most people want, or have to take, is the problem. After skiing many years at Hidden Valley and returning to the chalet for a short rest or some refreshments, there was NEVER anywhere to sit as it was always jam packed and you had to wait for space to open up. Not only skiers were there, but non-skiing family members as well. Suggestions made about going out on the balcony to have lunch were not received well as we all wanted to loosen clothes and get warmed up a bit. The folks working to provide food in the kitchen and ski shop would be totally vulnerable to any person who unknowingly had the virus, and this is just not acceptable to me. For those of us who have followed the protocols and are still healthy, thank heavens, but for front line workers who have to cater to many unknown visitors who may not have been so considerate, forget it. Our local folks deserve to be able to be in a self imposed safety environment just as much as are the rest of us, so I am in favour of closing down the hills for this short time. If people came to just ski, were able to buy lift tickets via a minimum contact pass thru window, brought their own lunch or purchased one from a portable outdoor vendor in the parking lot, and sat outside or in their cars to eat it, and used porta-potties for other needs, then I would agree to the opening of the outdoor skiing facilities only, but any indoor use would be totally out. I have no faith in, or knowledge of, the quality of air exchanging machinery in smaller buildings and prefer to stay away from them as do many others.
Well the people who want the ski hills open have real missed the point of this shut down. Why risk the livelihood of every small business . The answer is simple people aren’t staying put. They are flocking from the hot spots and bringing the covid with them. I get you want to do a healthy activity but your asking all the none skiers to risk community spread for your benefit, and what makes the ski industry more important then all the small business in Ontario effected by this shut down.
I saw two couples (the only ones without masks in the store) while shopping at Fresco yesterday. I decided to conduct my own survey.. I walked up to each couple and asked them where they were from. Although at first I thought I might end up with a black eye from their attitude, but eventually I did manage to find out they were from Troronto………… and were up here for the skiing.
Kinda’ makes ‘ya wonder?
Absolutely not. That is just asking to attract people from out of town which we don’t want at this time. About ad ridiculous as promoting a winter festival during covid.
Closing a ski hill isn’t ridiculous. What is ridiculous is the amount of people who don’t give a crap. Why not just keep everything open we all wear masks and hand sanitizer at doors of stores. Total PPE right there. Ummmm but the numbers keep rising and we keep getting more in muskoka but open the ski hills and let get some more people sick. Get ready for wave 3 and 4 with all these yahoos on here. Worth the risk? Please don’t fill our hospitals with sick people that didn’t care to begin with. Also think about some of the small stores that will remain closed or do very little curbside sales. Do you think they want to risk a 3rd shut down over the winter while this is another time they could make money but can’t. Who cares about the guy with the bigger back pocket for once.
I skied at hidden valley several times over the last week and I can tell you that there are issues with how well the rules were being followed. Firstly there were not staff at the lifelines making sure that people wore their masks. So many didn’t. Also it was difficult to maintain distance in the lifeline because there were only a few markers and signs closest to the loading area. The lift lines were uncontrolled and snaked all over the place not only making physical distancing difficult but were a safety hazard. It was obvious that people were riding the chairlift with people who were not from their household. Signs suggest people ride in their social bubbles but Social bubbles are not a thing anymore. If the hills want to reopen they will need to better that what I witnessed.
Closing the ski hills is ridiculous. The comment about how do you social distance on a chair lift? You only ride up with your cohort, not strangers.
People are already wearing masks and layers and gloves. Total PPE right there.
Hi agree with the closing of the ski hills . You people who don’t agree tell me how you social distance on a chair lift.
If people adhered to the rules, I would agree that the ski hills should be open however people DO NOT & therefore closure is THE only answer.
Here in Collingwood people from out of town have taken advantage of our small community & as a result the Virus has spread!
Here is a link to a petition asking politicians to reconsider their ski hill lockdown policies. Please sign
http://chng.it/TZZFYxytZf
Yes where can we complain about this! Really ridiculous move to close the hills. It’s killing the economy and people are literally so depressed. A good old adrenaline can fix this. And by removing jobs do you think people are gonna stay home ? Nope they’re gonna be hanging out with friends anyway so better keep people at work!
No they should not be able to stay open ,I live in a tourist area in collingwood people are coming into our communities not following rules ,putting local community at risk .right decision was made
It makes no sense. If i want to ski I now have to travel to the Quebec resorts which are open and are in a red zone. My local hill was in a green zone………
We agree that theski hill is the safest place to be .Well spaced a nd covit friendly r Ford this shutdown is a big mistake We have been out at snow valley and it was well spaced and everyone followed the rules and it’s not easy for seniors 78 and 74 to put boots on at the car I can assure you but we did so at least give us a chance to enjoy something that is safe and healthy
Could someone consider posting a link or contact for further action? Most rational people agree that ski hills should remain open. If we want to get involved, how do we do this? Perhaps some information on how to support HVHSA could be included.
Ski hills should be closed. They are just another reason to bring people up from the hot spots like the GTA. They don’t want to follow the rules down there so let them suffer the consequences
Too bad everyone else has to suffer because of them. Stay local like you are asked to.
I think everyone is looking at this from the wrong direction.
This is not a case of it being wrong to not allow ski hills to open, it’s about letting the others open.
How did we get to where money is more important than health and lives?
Why is the town going into lockdown but spending tens of thousands to get people to come to a winter carnival?
Has everyone lost their minds?
The logic eludes me. It’s damaging to the ski industry and and the skiers and I fail to see how it insures more safety with the covid 19 concerns. People need to use thier cars rather than the club house but they get the exersize and outing and support the industry.
Hmmm, Ya’ … Skiing – XCountry or Alpine where folks are kept apart seems a bit excessive.
If there’s a concern at all its the uncontrolled congregating of unconnected people that might be an issue but that could happen anywhere; in a mall parking lot or hiking / snowshoe trail.
Closing the ski hills is just wrong. If they can be managed safely, there is no reason to cripple another industry. Skiing will provide an opportunity for people of all ages to get outside, away from computer screens and to enjoy time being physically active. It will also employ many people. Open the ski hills, put strict measures in place and enforce the rules.
Absolutely! Ski hills should be allowed to remain in operation. Skiing is an excellent form of outdoor recreation for the mind and body. And, Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area is a source of employment for many people.
The ski kills are not the only business wondering what the hell is going on . Whoever makes these decisions should stop for a second and think about what they are doing to people that have spent thousands of dollars trying to do things in a safe way only to get told to shut down this whole thing is out of control just because of a few selfish people that still want to party nothing to do with stores or restaurants being open .