Thursday, January 5, 2023
VOLUME 5 I ISSUE 28
MERIDIANSOURCE.CA
Mount Joy to open under a cloud GEOFF LEE
WRITER
.................................. Mount Joy Snow Resort is putting on a happy face for this weekend’s season opener, but the longterm picture is glum with soaring insurance and operational costs. The start to a fresh season, however, should be worry-free for skiers and snowboards with tons of natural and man-made snow on the slopes. “It is going to be excellent conditions on the first day,” said resort president Chris Bogue on Tuesday. “I was there Monday checking it out myself and we’re shaping up to have an amazing start to our season. It should be a good time.” Bogue says volunteers completed a first run of snowmaking without a hitch with plans for another as the season rolls along. In addition, the chalet has been painted inside and out along with some renovation and the lift Ts are rebuilt and serviced. “All off-season improvements we’re done on a shoestring
budget, knowing our insurance was going to be that much higher this year,” said Bogue. In fact, insurance costs have more than tripled from about $7,000 to $33,000 as a result of RMA Insurance cancelling coverage for at least eight resorts in Alberta. “Our power went up a couple of hundred dollars a month,” added Bogue, while operating costs are currently close to $50,000 a year. “So, everything has gone up. We’re hoping to lower it down if we could offset that burden with a major grant or a donation. “We need a good year this year so we can continue to open next year.” Bogue says if they don’t have the community coming out and enjoying the facility, it will close, noting that’s the harsh reality of being a non-profit organization. “This is a not-forprofit, but there is real business that has to go into it and there’s real work that has to go into it,” he said. “When it comes to
Buzz the Bobcats almost at goal! TAYLOR WEAVER
EDITOR
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File Photo insurance, power, gas, our utility and supply costs, our inspection costs, it adds up in a hurry.” Bogue says the resort is asking when people are thinking of skiing they think of Lloydminster first and choose Mount Joy. “We need the local support here so we can maintain and sustain teaching kids how to ski and snowboard as well as providing a safe area for all ages to come out and enjoy,” he said. Bogue says it’s also harder to find volunteers to keep on operating. He thinks long-term sustainability involves having another organization helping out in a grander fashion noting this could be a make-orbreak year financially. “We are rolling the dice on this. If we don’t have another year like
we did the last two years, we don’t know where we are going to stand at the end of this year or if we are going to have funds for the next couple of years,” he said. Bogue, however, believes the community is interested in Mount Joy and they are trying to do everything right for the community as far as decision-making goes and trying to run things as smoothly as possible. “We’re still one of the cheapest ski areas in all of Canada,” said Bogue. “Everything is easy until it’s not. That’s essentially where we’re at.” “The ski industry has taken a terrific knock on insurance. Our insurance premiums this year are 33 per cent of our annual revenue.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
The boys are almost there! Since October 2022, the Lloydminster Bobcats have been trying to reach a $25,000 goal through the Buzz the Bobcats fundraiser to support mental health initiatives throughout the Lloydminster public and Lloydminster Catholic School Divisions through the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation. If the $25,000 goal is met by the time the puck drops this Saturday night, all Bobcat players and coaches will have their heads buzzed on the ice after the game. As of Wednesday morning, the team had already raised $22,905 with a few days left to fundraise. “We are extremely excited to work with the Health Foundation on this initiative as they have gone above and beyond when it comes to giving back to our community,” said Bobcats forward Jayven Leslie.
“As a group, we understand mental health is not talked about nearly enough and affects so many people in our community in many different ways. Whether you are an athlete, parent, youth or young adult, nobody should have to suffer in silence and we hope we can do our part in changing that.” Players chose to put the money towards mental health hoping to bring awareness to the situation and do their part in ending the stigma surrounding mental health. According to a recent study, on average, onein-five Albertans struggles with mental issues. In Lloydminster, onein-three people on average struggles with mental health issues. Ultimately, the players hope to help tackle issues that affect our community so closely. Special Buzz the Bobcats jerseys will also be up for auction at Saturday’s game to help bring in even more funding. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.