Locals step in to save ski trails
Cross-country routes boosted by volunteers
Aone-year agreement has been reached to save some of the cross-country ski trails in Yoho National Park after business owners and local ski clubs volunteered to help out.
The trails, which were being groomed by Parks Canada, were in jeopardy after the federal government announced cuts that will affect 138 employees in Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Waterton Lakes national parks.
As part of the move, the Parks Canada reception centre in Field, B.C., is being closed during the winter months and the agency will no longer groom cross-country ski trails in the community of Field and near Emerald Lake.
Locals were concerned it would mean the loss of the trails because they wouldn’t be able to find track-setting equipment before winter.
On Friday, Environment Minister Peter Kent told the Herald his department has reached an agreement to make the Parks Canada equipment available for use by local volunteers and businesses.
“This agreement focuses on the Emerald Lake area,” said Kent, noting it restores about 15 kilometres worth of trails in Yoho National Park. “It’s about half of the track that we pro- vided a year ago, but … it’s a terrific compromise.”
The one-year agreement includes Emerald Lake Lodge, the Kicking Horse Ski Club and Emerald Sports and Gifts.
Denise Toulouse, co-owner of Emerald Sports and Gifts, said it will help to maintain the cross-country ski trails in the area for the coming winter.
“It’s a Band-Aid solution,” she said, noting the lodge, which did not return calls Friday, will hire someone to maintain the trails this winter.
Toulouse, who helped start the Kicking Horse Ski Club, said they’re hoping the Town of Field gets on board with the agreement as well.
Residents of Field have been worried that the decision, which saves about $62,000 annually, would hurt the community because hundreds of cross-country skiers visit the area every winter.
Craig Chapman, community council chairman, said the agreement with Emerald Lake is a good first step.
“There’s definitely a positive momentum,” he said, noting they are thankful to the Emerald Lake Lodge and the ski club for coming forward to maintain trails in that area.
Chapman said they would have preferred a one-year moratorium on the decision because it could be difficult to find volunteers to operate the track-setting equipment from the community of 134 residents.
“This is a solution that gets us skiing this year and gives us time to work on it,” he said. “Parks Canada is definitely expecting businesses to do more and more.”
The Parks Canada budget cuts will also see several other changes in the mountain parks, including the proposed privatization of the area’s three hot springs. It could also lead to contracting out landscaping and custodial work, according to the union representing parks employees.