Photo by Vince Fedoroff
ON THE REBOUND – Mount Sima in Whitehorse opened the current ski and snowboard season Nov. 22, 2015.
Ski hill repays softball debt
Much has changed at Mount Sima since October 2013.
Much has changed at Mount Sima since October 2013.
It was at that time that Softball Yukon stepped up to the plate, providing significant dollars to keep Whitehorse’s ski hill open.
Yesterday, Mount Sima’s organizing group paid Softball Yukon back.
The Friends of Mount Sima Society (FMSS) announced yesterday that it will be repaying Softball Yukon $18,000 loaned two years ago.
Facing a bleak future prior to the 2013-2014 season, Sima was able to remain afloat thanks to some tremendous support from the Yukon government, the community and local businesses.
The hill is now closing in on its third successful winter season, general manager Cindy Chandler told the Star today.
“I would say, optimistically, that the future’s looking very bright,” she said, before providing her reasoning.
Outside teams that have used the hill in the pre-season have committed to return, while others are beginning to express interest, Chandler said.
The ski hill has sold upwards of 1,000 season passes this season. Numbers have trended upwards since 2013, to 600 in 2014 then 750 last year.
“That’s significant,” she said. “Three years ago, it was about 200. People have got confidence in the hill again.”
Additionally, lift ticket sales are up five per cent this season and more young families are using the hill, which is good news for the future.
Meanwhile, FMSS past president Laurie Henderson lauded Softball Yukon for their much-needed assist in the fall of 2013.
“The contribution from Softball Yukon came at a very crucial time for FMSS,” she said in a press release. “Having this level of support really turned the tide for us. It was a definite game-changer.”
Softball Yukon president Bill Stonehouse said it was his board’s pleasure.
“Softball Yukon saw how committed the community was to Sima and agreed that we could help out,” he said. “It’s important for sport organizations to help each other out where we can. It’s part of what makes Whitehorse and Yukon such a great place.”
Softball Yukon came forward in the fall of 2013 with a $20,000 donation to FMSS, to help re-open Mount Sima. It also agreed to loan FMSS up to $50,000.
“The donation was made to the operating fund for Sima and only $18,000 of the loan amount was used,” said Scott Casselman, the current president of FMSS.
“We used the loan to cover the deposit that ATCO Electric required FMSS to pay. The deposit has now been returned and we are repaying Softball Yukon.”
“I want to thank Softball Yukon – especially its board and executive director George Arcand,” said Henderson. “They took a chance on FMSS. Mount Sima is now a going concern in Yukon.
“It is a tremendous community asset and the pre-season training that happened this year is giving it increasing provincial and national exposure.”
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Comments (6)
Up 0 Down 2
June Jackson, leave Streiker alone on Feb 3, 2016 at 9:43 pm
June Jackson, leave Streiker alone. I read these comments all the time and I'm sick and tired of hearing you go on about John. It's said, done and GET OVER YOUR HATE. It's childish. You are entitled to think that Sima is a waste of money, June, but the rest of us are entitled to think that it helps out some people and keeps some kids out of trouble. I don't use the hill, but I'd sure rather see my tax payers dollars fund recreation than our multi million dollar jail. My elderly parents can't get any kind of help and they need it (useless Social Services and YTG having nothing in place for the elderly who are in need) but criminals get the five star treatment here. You want to talk about something real, June, talk about that. Streiker is not the worst politician around here. You only need to look at our whole current corrupt government, territorially and municipally. He is a saint compared to some of what we have to deal with..
Up 8 Down 5
Northern view on Feb 2, 2016 at 10:56 pm
Just lower our taxes that's all we ask!
Up 4 Down 8
Sima Original on Feb 2, 2016 at 10:45 pm
YTG and CoW have spent millions and millions of tax dollars building all sorts of facilities for other sports and recreational activities and continue to spend several million tax dollars a year, every year, subsidising the user fees for those using those facilities. The tax payers don't seem to complain but if YTG or CoW happen to have helped out this valuable sport and recreation facility that has been largely built and successfully operated by the community, these same taxpayers seem to have to whine about it..
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June Jackson on Feb 2, 2016 at 3:49 pm
I never objected to the SIMA.. I objected to paying for it when my taxes were already being hiked every single year. Roads weren't plowed in winter, infrastructure, sewers work was cancelled downtown to pour money into SIMA.. enough is enough..
It would be nice if they could make it without government money, as that is still taxpayer money out of another pot..(a really good reason not to vote in John Streiker).
I hope they can continue to make a go of it without begging for handouts from taxpayers.
Up 29 Down 9
Just Say'in on Feb 2, 2016 at 3:30 am
That is great news. Now they can soon start paying YTG and CofW back as well.
Up 37 Down 10
Jordan on Jan 28, 2016 at 3:34 pm
So happy to see this local gem succeed in such a tough business.