Industry News
The Drayton Valley Brazeau Snow Club (DVBSC) in Alberta, Canada, has operated as a non-profit community ski hill since 1965. It is located approximately 10 minutes northeast of Drayton Valley, Alberta, in the North Saskatchewan River Valley. The ski hill includes a t-bar, two rope tows, and a handle tow. It is a great place for beginner, intermediate, and advanced skiers or snowboarders to get together to hit the mountain in a family-oriented ski resort. Running and operating a ski resort in the industry is difficult, especially if it is a local non-profit ski hill. Many smaller ski resorts have chosen to close their doors permanently over the last two decades.
After nearly 60 years of operations, the decision to permanently close DVBCS was made due to insurance issues, a warmer climate, and finding volunteers to help run the non-profit. “It is with great sadness that I must announce that the Drayton Valley Brazeau Snow Club is ceasing operations, in its entirety, effectively immediately,” Randy Beckett, President of Drayton Valley Brazeau Snow Club, said in a statement on the snow club’s Facebook Page. Beckett says the lack of snowfall and warmer weather is also to blame. The hill was only open for three ski seasons in the last seven winters.
In the announcement, the club said it was closing because it could no longer obtain and sustain insurance. In 2022, the club lost a favorable insurance policy with Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA), which offers an insurance program that negotiates more affordable rates for community organizations. That policy cost $14,000, making it manageable to keep operating the ski hill. Beckett did reach out to find other insurance for the ski hill and got another insurance policy for $24,000. In 2023, the club did not open due to poor weather conditions and lack of snow, but it still had to pay $30,000 for equipment inspections. After having that cost, the lack of snow and warmer temperatures, and trying to find volunteers, Beckett decided to cancel the insurance policy and close the mountain.
All the equipment, facilities, and land will be sold, and the proceeds will be donated to other non-profit organizations in the Drayton Valley area. People can bid for snow tubes, skis, helmets, furniture pieces, and other belongings of the organization during an online auction that ends on Wednesday, December 11. The 42 acres of land will also be auctioned off in March, and 50% of the commission will go towards a charity of Beckett’s choosing. “We at DVBSC, wish to thank all the individuals, companies, organizations, and community for their tremendous support over the last 60 years,” Beckett said.
It’s always a bit sad to see a ski hill close as there are so many memories for a lot of people who skied or worked there. Growing up in Alberta, I remember Pidgeon Mountain (never skied, only drove by) and Lyon Mountain, which became Winter Green, and the ski hill of my youth and as a volunteer ski patroller, Fortress Mountain, all closed for many years now.