Over 70,000 Sign Petition Urging Ford to Open Ontario Ski Hills
A petition signed by over 70,000 people is urging the Ontario government to allow skiing this winter.
Launched by Bradford resident Dwayne Cardoso, the petition, which has garnered more than 70,000 supporters since Dec. 21, wants Premier Doug Ford to allow ski hills to operate during the province-wide lockdown that went into effect Saturday.
“Skiing should be the safest sport to participate in with face coverings, mandatory space between patrons (skis and snowboards easily facilitate social distancing),” Cardoso said. “Riding chair lifts with only family, in a time of immense negativity, this can also help our mental health, not to mention the exercise that we all desperately want.”
Ski hills forced to close during Ontario s COVID-19 lockdown
Hill operators are expressing frustration with the order.
Dec 23, 2020 11:39 AM By: Gary Rinne
Skiers and snowboarders enjoyed Mount Baldy s earliest season opening in memory on Oct. 31, 2020 (TBNewswatch)
THUNDER BAY Along with every ski hill in Ontario, the Loch Lomond and Mount Baldy ski areas must shut down their operations by Saturday because of new COVID-19 restrictions.
Under the province-wide lockdown, outdoor rinks may stay open but ski hills are required to close. After absolutely busting our tails day & night to make this season the best, safest and earliest yet we get yet another Covid blow..We are forced to close during our busiest time Dec 26th and have decided to have our last day on Dec 23rd, the message states.
BARRIE, ONT. Ski hills across the region will have to close amid the province-wide lockdown on Saturday. The news comes just days after most resorts opened for the season. This is 28 days in the middle of peak season. It will be a tough pill to swallow for the ski industry, said Jonathan Reid, Skyline Horseshoe Resort. Kevin Nichol, president of the Ontario Snow Resorts Association (OSRA), was disappointed in the government s choice to close the slopes. Despite working with the Government of Ontario over the past several months, despite nearly 2,500 Ontarians sending letters through the Save Our Skiing campaign, and despite investing heavily into this year s season to keep Ontarians safe, the government has decided to shut down ski hills, Nichol stated in a release.