Thunder Bay – Alpine skiing in Ontario is closed down as part of the provincial lockdown to eliminate the spread of COVID-19 in the province.
Ontario is apparently the only province that has closed ski hills. Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta hills and resorts are open, and following strict COVID-19 protocols.
Sunshine Village in Banff is restricting the number of people allowed on the mountain.
Here in Thunder Bay, both Mount Baldy and Loch Lomond are currently closed. Nordic skiing places like Kamview Nordic is open.
The move has put downhill ski hills in Ontario behind a serious financial eight-ball. Losing the holiday ski business isn’t something easily replaced. The $20,000 promised to Ontario businesses likely won’t cover the losses in revenues for these seasonal businesses.
Asking the Ontario Government for the science behind the reasons for the hill closures, when Nordic Ski areas are allowed to remain open brought this comment from Dakota Brasier, the Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary for Lisa MacLeod Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries tells NetNewsLedger, “As COVID-19 cases continue to rise at an alarming rate, the Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts, imposed a province-wide shutdown as of Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 12:01 a.m to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.
