Photo by Marcel Vander Wier
CLOSING ON A LOFTY NOTE – Mount Sima's winter season closed on a positive note, as seen above, as record numbers of people visited the hill. Five hundred lift tickets were sold over the Simapalooza closing weekend festivities. Craig Hougen
The Great Northern Ski Society has released its financial statements going back to the 1990s.
The Great Northern Ski Society has released its financial statements going back to the 1990s.
It did so as it continues to seek $400,000 in short-term funding as well as a long-term plan to continue operating the Mount Sima recreational facility.
"People wanted to see (the financial records),” ski society president Craig Hougen said in an interview this morning on why he posted them online.
The society and a number of user groups approached the city last month asking for the $400,000 short-term cash to keep things going into the summer.
It also noted the longer-term plan could include another $400,000 in annual funding depending on what comes out of the plan.
That comes after the city has provided $3.5 million to the facility in the last three years for a new quad chair and to support year-round operations.
Hougen cited issues with construction delays of the adventure park and zip lines last year which meant the full complement of summer activities wasn't open until the end of the season.
It marked the facility's first summer season, with the additional activities being brought to help fund the winter season.
While the financial records have now been released, the formal statements only go as far as May 31, 2012, with that being the end of Sima's fiscal year.
The figures show that from June 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012, Sima brought in $2.2 million while spending $1.7 million, $581,492 of which was spent on staff salaries and benefits.
It was the city's contribution of more than $1 million that was the largest contribution to revenue, which was provided for the year-round operations.
The territorial government also contributed $87,500, with INAC providing $5,721.
The hill itself brought in $67,276 in the form of season passes, $24,814 in five-day passes, $144,774 came in day passes, while half-day passes brought in $126,880.
The concession brought in $111,625 while ski lessons brought in $40,323 and rentals brought in $4,783.
With the financial year ending for the hill just as the summer season was getting started, the adventure park is listed at bringing in $2,009, though the specific expense of running the park is not listed.
The ski society expenses include things like advertising and promotion at $68,991, insurance at $47,892, repairs and maintenance at $84,216, fuel and lubricants at $2,089, utilities at $47,041, snow-making at $47,236, supplies at $47,029, freight at $2,089 and so on.
A summery document on the adventure park and chairlift operations to March 2013 shows the adventure park was funded with $1.1 million from INAC in 2010/11 with a further $428,804 from INAC the following year.
Finally, the $149,650 the park brought in funded zipline 3 last summer.
The records are available at: http://mountsima.com/financials/
This morning, Hougen said he has not heard any comments about the records, though he also pointed out many people likely haven't had a chance to fully review the documents.
Meanwhile, Sima's winter season closed on a positive note as record numbers flocked to the hill, with 500 lift tickets being sold over the Simapalooza closing weekend festivities.
That's in addition to numerous season pass holders who turned out for the events.
While official numbers still have to come in, Hougen said it appears both February and March were slightly better than average.
Work is also continuing on the Sima summit session that is proposed to gather all the Sima players to look at what's needed to keep the hill operating.
While the city didn't approve the society's funding request, it was proposed that the summit be hosted to look at solutions.
Hougen said he's hopeful a meeting will happen as early as next week.
While officials have said without the additional funding the hill could close, Hougen noted there's a gap between when the winter season ends and summer season starts where a solution may be found.
"Everyone knows there's a sense of urgency,” Hougen said.
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Comments (21)
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Just a thought on Apr 17, 2013 at 2:04 am
I have a couple of questions:
What is the name of the family that owns most if not all of the sporting goods stores in Whitehorse that sells top of the line snow boards, skis and all the accessories needed to go to Mt. Sima in style?
Who is the president of this non profit society?
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Mandeep Sidhu on Apr 16, 2013 at 6:40 am
... weren't the financials and audits prepared by BDO (As per the header)...
if not... my apologies for the mistake... doesn't change much
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flyingfur on Apr 15, 2013 at 3:43 am
What is a second-hand zipline worth? It has hardly been used; sell it off to the highest bidder. A really stupid idea and a stupid move by the former mayor and councillors that voted for it...they dug a deep hole for Sima for their mis-management team. COW needs to protect tax dollars a whole lot better than this.
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yukonpete on Apr 13, 2013 at 12:26 pm
It's simple. Raise the users fee! Why should I continue to fund someone else with a hobby? No one funds mine except me! Most people here including myself probably would not have any issue with a once of funding rescue package. But no way am I going to fund your hobby on a continuous basis! I suggest the hill find some of these sooks and start volunteering.
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Refutal on Apr 13, 2013 at 3:55 am
@ B. Foster- While I have no quarrel with you I believe your viewpoint would be different if you were an actual taxpaying resident of Whitehorse. I'm delighted you are able to make use of Mt. Sima on a occasional basis.
I on the other hand am one of the lucky ones who owns a home in Whitehorse, nothing fancy just a place to call home. In the last 7 years my property taxes have ballooned to the point where my City of Whitehorse tax bill (not including water& garbage) is now more than my annual heating bill. On a monthly basis I have to try and put aside well over $200 to put away towards the annual tax bill.
So when you basically state that Whitehorse residents are to cheap to foot another 1% for Sima I believe I can speak for a lot of us and say we are tired of being bent over the barrel every time some sports facility or community organization needs funding. 1% here, 2% there, over and over, we have had enough of it! It's getting to the point where it's just kind of assumed and expected homeowners will foot the bill.
I also have friends who have deliberately moved outside city limits just so they can get out of the COW taxation area but still be close enough for a short drive into town to enjoy all the facilities. Is this fair to myself and other Whitehorse residents who foot the bill for all this? Of course not.
I believe mayor Dan Curtis has said there will be no tax increases to fund Mt. Sima and I firmly support that stance.
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B. Foster on Apr 12, 2013 at 5:02 am
Many many things many many people say on here is true. Maybe Sima will never be a destination type place, maybe the summer ops are not the way to go..on and on..but the whole infrastructure is in place and the money to put it in place has been spent, yet many would see that money wasted by closing sima altogether. That the taxpayers of Whitehorse would let the whole show slide off the map to save a 1% increase in taxes is despicable, short sighted and wasteful in my estimation.
No doubt there will be many that clap their hands in glee were sima to fold...so I just don't get it I guess.
Sima provides many benefits to the community....not the least of which is employment. Folks that don't patronize the hill don't get it I suppose. I wonder what folks would say were the CGC financials to reveal that it is unsustainable without infusions of our tax dollars. I have no idea if that might be true but judging by the size of the place, the staff, the o&m it would be no surprise.
I mean I've only been to sima myself perhaps 5 times in the last three years as I live outa town and really can't afford to go regularly were I to live in town anyway.
Still...the "I told you so-ers" may get to celebrate yet. It's an unfortunate situation.
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Another Idea on Apr 12, 2013 at 1:54 am
Back in the late 80's a chiropractor here in Whitehorse, Dr. Bridgeman, wanted to set up a world class ski resort on a mountain outside Whitehorse using private capital that he had lined up mostly from down south. He was a go getter who had a grandiose vision that he thought would put the Yukon on the ski world map and turn a profit the way other major ski resorts do. To my understanding he was fought every step of the way as he wasn't an insider with the local business community, or with anyone really. He was just a person who wanted to do something and had the gumption to put a lot of effort into it. Due to local opposition he finally got discouraged, dropped the idea and left the territory.
So guess what, we now have little local ski hill that wants to rely on taxpayers to fund it and will never be anything but a small local ski hill money pit, which is exactly what Dr. Bridgeman had predicted would end up happening. It seems to be the pattern in the Yukon, start something up and then expect government (taxpayers) to pay for it.
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James Roy on Apr 12, 2013 at 12:06 am
BF: it appears from the information provided in this article that the wages paid are in excess of the real revenues generated excluding Gov't donations. Pretty simple - this present situation isn't sustainable.
Sima will never be a destination facility. The summer operation looks to be a complete waste of money, as do the monies spent on elaborate advertising and the high salaried positions.
Sima has to revert back to a community ski hill that operates seasonally, relying on part-time staff and a seasonal facility manager in order to keep costs in-line.
BTW, I support having a community ski hill and want my daughter to be able to continue to have it available to her. I am concerned Sima won't be available for us if Sima carries on they have been.
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Dustin on Apr 11, 2013 at 7:33 pm
I would like to know the statistics of how much of a proportion of the populace of Whitehorse uses the Canada Games center vs Mount sima.
Then I'd kinda like to know the cost difference in renting and/or purchasing of equipment for either option.
Canada Games center:
Skates
Hockey equipment (though this is for a specialty group that already uses previously existing infrastructure in other areas of town like takhini arena)
Swim Suit
Sneakers
hmm I guess track suit...
Sima:
Down hill Skis
Ski Boots
Snowboard
Snowboard boots
Protective gear
I am not familiar with the costs nor am I very interested in taking the time to look them up but are the CGC items somewhat more utilized in other areas (many subdivisions in town have ice rinks in winter for skating).
So whats wrong with my argument sima lovers.
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north_of_60 on Apr 11, 2013 at 9:49 am
The ski bum society has conned the taxpayers into paying them wages and benefits to enjoy their hobby.
They can get corporate sponsors to cover their fuel and electricity costs. Staff and management should volunteer their time in exchange for lift passes until it turns a profit.
Operating and maintenance costs should be limited to what they can raise with user fees.
Taxpayer money should only be used for capital expenditures, not operating costs.
The ski hill could survive within it's means if there weren't so many people treating it as a taxpayer funded gravy train.
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Private on Apr 11, 2013 at 7:57 am
Sima is NOT a Private business, they are a non profit society.
Yes they need to fund raise more, a lot more.
As a taxpayer I would support this just like I support (even though I was against it) the Canada Games Centre (which I never use nor does my family, but we pay for it.)
Options for the youth of today is something that is dearly needed in the north and my generation never had these options growing up here and that may have bettered many lives if we would have had the opportunity to do so.
I do agree that the society does need to do more itself in trying to get the monies it requires, but just simply shutting it down is not the right answer. Getting them the help they require is the right answer, help such as perhaps a consultant to help with the staffing, but I am sure there will be no one to step up and volunteer their services....everybody wants to make a buck right!
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B. Foster on Apr 11, 2013 at 4:58 am
Jackie...no..I wasn't there, I live out of town. I have more reason than most to poo poo Sima, truly, but as I said I can see the value, especially when considering the youth element.
Incidentally Sima is run by a not for profit organization as I recall. I don't believe this has changed. If it has I stand corrected.
I notice in your prolific posts that you have a very decided opinion on a wide variety of topics. Kudos to you for being willing to state your plethora of opinions...I look forward to one day reading one that has a positive outlook.
June...I'm here all week...
Matt...a great percentage of the populace does not patronize the Canada games center yet manages to see the value. Why should Sima be any different.
Fact is folks the hill is a huge undertaking that provides recreational opportunities, both summer and winter, and I strongly suspect there are no whiners present that have a clear picture of the history of the hill or the efforts that have been made to come up with ways of generating revenue.
One of Sima's biggest stumbling blocks over the years has been a high turnover in staff, particularly management. I worked there for three years (a record at the time)and saw four managers come and go, myself being one in the end. This led the to a great many problems over the years with the lack of continuity in the vision of the hill moving forward. You have to retain staff, hire locally and be willing to train in order to provide a safe, quality experience. This does not come cheap.
Alrighty then...back to your regularly scheduled whining.
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Matt Cooper on Apr 11, 2013 at 1:39 am
The financial statements have to become public the moment Sima begins asking the City for an additional $400,000 after already receiving 3.5 million dollars. B Foster can complain all he wants about the public complaining, but seeing as there is a certain percentage of the public that does not use Mount Sima, and then having my tax dollars allocated to Sima because of potential mismanagement of funds, Mount Sima should be absolutely clear what they've spent every penny on without complaints.
If you want our tax dollars after already receiving a few million dollars, show us what the hell you've done with the millions and why Sima seems to be still failing. Perhaps it's time to take a closer look at Sima and changing some of the people managing Sima, as apparently they're not doing an efficient job.
Sima needs to start working on a long term plan to continue to run Sima without taxpayer funds, or face dire consequences...
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Jackie Ward on Apr 11, 2013 at 12:47 am
B.Foster. You seem to be the one who is crying. And you are a very small minority that are defending this hill. Everything you say is irrelevant in regards to why people are pissed off. A private business is that, PRIVATE. So I expect to never see any business in town go under because they just should just go to the City and demand they give them money. The issue, which you seem very confused on is, OUR TAX MONEY is going to a private business. Do you understand? I bet you were one of the many who went to City Wall and "waaaa'd" about how important Sima is and they just should shut up and stop asking questions and gimme gimme gimme. Correct?
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June Jackson on Apr 10, 2013 at 1:25 pm
Well Mr. Foster... you are good for a laugh.
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Arn Anderson on Apr 10, 2013 at 12:05 pm
LOVE IT! Haha! Give them more of these "hard-earned" tax dollars, MORE! muhahaha! Great entertainment value, oh yes, its a serious issue like skiing therefore GIVE THEM THE MONEY!
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In the know on Apr 10, 2013 at 11:42 am
Mandeep, unfortunately you have your facts wrong. The bookkeeping was not done by the same firm that performed this audit. That is unethical and a violation of professional standards. Please find out the correct information before you make a such statements.
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B. Foster on Apr 10, 2013 at 4:45 am
frikkin people....waaa...somebody call whine one one.
600,000 per year for the wages on the whole hill? What about it? Ever consider the amount of staff it takes to run the place...even for a moment? Or was it just waaa waa waa right off the hop? Kitchen staff, office staff, lifties, mechanic(S), managers (inside & out).
It's no small task to run the hill. Did you know that in the industry and from a risk management perspective a chairlift is likened to running a passenger jet? You load people on lift them in the air and drop them off. All the people tasked with running the lift have to be trained in order to manage the risk effectively. These people also need to be paid...in the vein of getting what you pay for, would you want a skeleton crew that was ill trained to send your kids up the hill? Hell, why not just fire up the lift and let everyone self load...minimal lift staff required...
You folks seem to have a bug up yer butt about the Hougens more than anything else. Ya'll whine on and on about them but never seem to stop and consider they run many business' and have for generations....if the hill could fly on it's own I suspect they would be the people the do it.
The hill has many many positive elements from a community and youth perspective. It's obvious y'all don't patronize the hill...so quit yer whining and consider that many others do.
Unbelievable to make misappropriation accusations! People whined about financial transparency....poof....the financial records appear online. Go look around at other hill's sites and compare the numbers....oh wait...you'll likely not find a hill that posts this information. But still, folks find fault with that too.....pffft...
Makes me ill...I used to work there and left under not great circumstances from my perspective. But I can still see the worth of the place and the huge task of running it.
WAAA...get a frikkin grip...
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Mandeep on Apr 10, 2013 at 3:02 am
The 2012 statements are audited by the same company that does your books. An independent audit would be more interesting.
Also these are broad scope financials I.E. . .
we can see numbers but there are no associated values (receipts would be nice to see the companies you are paying)
These financials aren't substantive; it's easy to move money from O&M and categorize it under supplies, revenue, loss, etc.
The majority of your expenses (2012 against 2011) went up and the million dollars from COW somehow led to a $488,343 "excess" ... but if that is removed the loss went from $98,015 to $511,657.
Basically for every million given... you'll lose an additional 50k. Maybe for money taken away you'd increase revenue?
Good luck to the ski hill but to take taxpayers money and squander it with no accountability...
P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C
Of note:
snowmaking increased 46k, supplies increased 25k, phone went up 10k. Wages went up 80k, advertising went up 50k (because locals don't know the hill is there?), concession 17k...
Give a person a dollar they will learn to save, give them a million they'll learn to squander.
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Jackie Ward on Apr 9, 2013 at 5:36 pm
I was listening to the radio yesterday and some spokesman (not sure if it was Hougen) said that all their financial records are now available for viewing. I honestly could not believe his tone. "Why does everyone care about our records now?" "No one cared before". Excuse me? No one cared because before there were not as many problems as there are now. We didn't have stupid little rallies at City Hall with people telling sob stories about how important a stupid ski hill is.
With the amount of money they are demanding, people have all the right to want to know where OUR TAX dollars would go or have been going. I hope a few people heard that guy on the radio because I hope that sinks their boat. The arrogance around "Give us millions every year and shut up" attitude has no place here. The questioning of why we are more curious about your finances? You guys just really have no clue what you are doing do you? Just please admit it. It's the blind leading the blind IMO.
As said weeks ago, this stinks like a setup. Hopefully I'm wrong. But what I do know, is the current management at Sima needs to go. What? All 12 of them or is it 6? They should volunteer their time until they can turn a profit. And the funding should be cut off from the city. YOU ARE A PRIVATE BUSINESS. If your 6 managers can't fathom that then I suggest handing in a resume at McDonald's as I think they are hiring.
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June Jackson on Apr 9, 2013 at 10:47 am
Holy crap.. $581,492. in WAGES?? Who got this money? Honorariums to the Board perhaps? Almost 600,000. in a payroll that could not be guaranteed through revenue? Unbelievable.
Does no one volunteer any of their time?
Its a good thing the Council said NO to funding..This Society hit up everyone for millions..YTG, (not quite a million) INAC, Canada Winter Games, Lotteries, CDF..as I said.. for millions..and that's outside what the City of Whitehorse has forked out. If the Society can't make it on what they have squeezed out of everyone else..close.