Without funding, ski club in Hay River, N.W.T., could shut down in 2025, director says
CBC
The local ski club has been a staple in Hay River, N.W.T., since 1974, but without new funding it could be closing its doors by April 15, 2025, according to one of its directors.
Since the 1980s, the Hay River Ski Club has relied on the N.W.T. lotteries fund. In 2016, however, legislative changes meant the ski club would no longer qualify.
The territory's department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) offered transitional funding through an annual grant over five years. But the department says that was always meant to be temporary.
MACA also offered an additional "one-time contribution" to the club from 2021-2023 following the transitional funding.
But now, that money is running out and Hay River Ski Club director Chuck Lirette says the club won't be able to run without it.
"Without any funding coming in, we're basically surviving this season and next on money that we have in the bank," he said.
Lirette says the ski club operates a "top-notch" facility with 15 kilometres of trails, youth programs, cross-country skiing and biathlon. He pointed to Olympic biathlete Brendan Green, who is from Hay River and used to train at the ski club.
"The facility and the trails that we have in Hay River would rival any other cross-country facility across the country," Lirette said.
Lirette said he has petitioned to MACA for help, even having meetings with a former minister of MACA to try to get the department to maintain funding for the club.
"Thus far, we have been unable to do so," Lirette said.
A spokesperson for MACA said the department has treated the club like any other community sports group.
"MACA has also provided information to the Hay River Ski Club, to assist it in formulating its own long-term funding approach, consistent with how other community-based sport clubs operate within the Northwest Territories," the spokesperson wrote.
MACA has also encouraged the Hay River club to work with Sport North, a territorial organization. But Lirette said that Sport North's funding comes from MACA and the club would prefer to cut the middleman and go to MACA directly.
Lirette said that the club has been raising funds and has had some donations but that it's only had moderate success with proposal applications. He said most need to be tailored to events and not operational costs, which is where the club needs funding the most.
A New Brunswick tenant says he’s being pushed out of his rented bungalow as retribution for complaining about his landlord, but his landlord says she’s the victim of an unfair tenancy tribunal ruling that is preventing her from using the unit to house family.
Snow and freezing rain could affect morning commutes on Tuesday, according to a special weather statement issued by Environment Canada.
Daniel Jolivet, 68, had his first taste of freedom this weekend after spending the last 33 years behind bars.
Peguis First Nation is suing former chief Glenn Hudson over allegations he failed to act in the best interest of the band and financially benefitted from breaches of duty — including claims that he enriched himself, his family and supporters.
The Saskatchewan NDP's pace in 2025 has been frenetic.
If you’re ever walking down this east Hamilton neighbourhood during the holiday season, there’s a festive house that just might grab your attention.
It was just a few months ago that U.S. President Donald Trump told the world he doesn’t want Canadian cars.
Flu cases across Canada are on the rise and may push hospitals to their limits over the holidays and into the new year, leading health officials in regions across the country to warn people not to visit emergency rooms unless it's absolutely necessary.
More than 30 years after Canada's military allowed women to serve in combat roles, it's now specifically designing uniforms and body armour to fit their bodies.
The holiday season has arrived in Thunder Bay, and that means reduced hours, or closures, for businesses, city offices, and other amenities.
As Toronto’s food scene continues to grow, some in the industry say the pool of professional chefs hasn’t kept up with demand.
Police have charged a truck driver from the Hamilton area in a hit-and-run crash that killed a tow truck operator who had been stopped while helping a driver on the side of Highway 401 outside Woodstock, Ont.
Power has been restored to most of Haines Junction after a problem earlier on Monday at the local generating station.