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Economic impact of no snow 'immense'

Ski resort employees "first layer" affected
Mount St Louis Moonstone
Mount St. Louis Moonstone is pictured in this file publicity photo.

A green December may be cause for celebration for some but area ski resorts are hurting.

"A lot of us think this is enjoyable," said Sarah Huter, Director of Marketing and Promotions at Mount St. Louis Moonstone. "We don't have to shovel it. We don't have to drive in it. But unfortunately many of us in the 705 area code make our living off the weather so when it's so drastically unseasonable for such a long period of time it's something we all should be concerned about."

Huter says the "first layer" of those affected are employees, followed by gas stations, restaurants and hotels and the region's bed and breakfast industry. 

"The 905 and 416 area codes just aren't coming to visit," said Huter.

Mount St. Louis Moonstone has 600 employees when it's operating at full force and about 300 people have been affected by this green December.

"Roughly 300 people have now gone two weeks without a pay cheque," explains Huter. "Most of the staff is returning from previous seasons." 

Mount St. Louis Moonstone is 51 years in operation and has seen many green Christmases.

"We're versatile and robust enough as business and an industry that will survive, but will someone who just opened a restaurant in downtown Barrie?  I don't know."

In fact, area resorts were already bracing for mild weather after early fall forecasts warned of a challenging December.

The resort has the technology to make snow but it needs cold weather. 

Over the next 7 to 14 days the forecast is still well above seasonal which around now should be minus 7 to 8 degrees at night and a high of plus 2 during the day.

"It's discouraging," said Huter.  "I think that what's most startling about this is unfortunately at night we're not even meeting temperatures where we can make good quality snow."

Most concerning are the mild nights, not so much the mild days.

The resort prefers to make snow at minus four and below.  

It can make snow as warm as plus four but it doesn't make good quality snow and Huter says it's a very very very expensive undertaking.

"So we don't like to make snow if we're not going to see minus 4 at night over at least three days."

The impact so far has been "immense" according to Huter who says right now the resort is just trying to operate as efficiently as possible.

"It greatly affects Oro-Medonte. The region has a very deep culture of skiiig and snowboarding, so both ourselves and Horseshoe Valley are not open and that affects a lot of people with employment."

The weather is supposed to turn around at the end of December.

Once it does, Huter says Mount St. Louis Moonstone will be ready and will turn on the system at full force.

"When you're in the ski business you're an optimist." 


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Sue Sgambati

About the Author: Sue Sgambati

Sue has had a 30-year career in journalism working for print, radio and TV. She is a proud member of the Barrie community.
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