The Great Northern Ski Society (GNSS) is pleased to announce that they have received additional funding in the amount of $30,000 from the City of Whitehorse.

The City of Whitehorse is taking the lead to help GNSS attempt to reopen Mount Sima for the upcoming 2008-2009 winter season.

The $30,000 will be used to pay labour costs for mechanics to repair the three lift systems (chair lift, t-bar and handle tow which services the bunny hill) at Mount Sima. The hill has hired Summit Lift Co. out of Kelowna.

The two mechanics arrived on Sept. 1 and will start work on the lifts immediately.

Summit Lift Co. is scheduled to be in town for a full month to complete all known repairs and service to the lifts.

Summit Lift Co. will complete the lift repair with the help of local Yukon resources, who will assist the company in this process.

Using Yukon resources will reduce the overall repair budget. As well, the Yukon resources will receive additional training from the visiting mechanics to ensure future maintenance and service can be completed locally, the society said in a statement

As well as helping out financially, the City has been providing some ‚ in-kind support by providing staff to help work on snow making repairs and future mechanical and service at Mount Sima.

They have also helped out with accommodations for the visiting mechanics from Summit Lift Co.

Discussions with the Yukon Government for additional funding are still in progress.

Without additional funding GNSS will not be able to open Mt. Sima this winter season.

Additional funding is required to hire and pay staff, pay insurance and start making snow.

All of these expenses occur prior to being able to open the hill to the public to ski and board.

While the $30,000 will help ensure that Mount Sima will be mechanically sound and ready to operate this winter.

If additional funding is not received in the next few weeks there will not be enough time to ensure the proper resources can be hired and pre-season activities can be completed, the society said.