Edmonton Ski Area lodge rendering courtesy of https://www.edmontonskiclub.com/new-lodge
Construction of a new Edmonton Ski Club multi-use lodge is expected to begin in the Fall of 2023 thanks to more than $6 million in federal funding and additional funding that is pending approval from the province of Alberta and the city of Edmonton. The world-class complex will be a welcoming, inclusive, and environmentally responsible community space that will replace the former facility that was demolished this fall. This ideal gathering space will host skiing, boarding, tubing and other sporting and community events hosted by the ski club’s community partners, including kids’ groups, indigenous organizations, and a folk music festival.
More than $6.6-million in federal funding has paved the way for a new ski lodge for the Edmonton Ski Club in the heart of the city’s river valley. And more cash is likely forthcoming from other levels of government.
This is great news for the city and its residents and visitors. In August, the feds and Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, announced that the $15-million project would receive $6,661,168 from Ottawa’s Green Inclusive Community Building Fund to build a net-zero, carbon neutral ski and community complex on the site of the former lodge, which was recently demolished. Club general manager Zoe Sloan is confident municipal and provincial governments and the private sector will kick in another $9 million to complete the financing.
Shovels are scheduled to break ground in late 2023 with the project taking three to five years, says Sloan. During construction, skiers and other users will have access to temporary facilities when they ski and snowboard on the site’s eight hills.
“Our former space had reached the end of its life cycle. Our new facility will be a welcoming, inclusive, environmentally responsible community space,” said Sloan, noting that the club’s updated quarters will serve as a hub for the increasing number of residents who want to downhill and cross-country ski, snowboard, tube and mountain bike. It will offer ski equipment rentals, lessons, concessions, storage, as well as an interpretive and gathering space for indigenous community events put on by the club’s community partners, including the Edmonton Folk Music Festival and KidSport Edmonton.
“It will be a world-class, environmentally-friendly lodge that outdoor enthusiasts and others can visit and feel good about,” said Sloan. The CSC is excited about what this means for the urban ski area model and will be keeping an eye on the project as it comes to fruition.
