Sunshine Village plans new day lodge

The operators of Sunshine Village Ski Resort near Banff want to build a permanent day lodge on Goat's Eye Mountain to replace some construction trailers that have been serving that purpose for 10 years.

Crosbie Cotton from the National Parks Ski Areas Association spokesperson says an environmental assessment shows no negative impact from the proposal.

"Exceeding federal standards for sewage treatment, to the type of building materials, to the design, all of which will reduce energy use and make it very fitting for a national park," said Cotton. "We're also having an open house because we're proud of what is going to be built at Sunshine and we want to show people, the world, skiers that it's something they can really get excited about."

However, the spokesperson for Bow Valley Naturalists, Mike McIvor, said the whole Goat's Eye ski development should never have been allowed.

"What this does is just make this whole development more permanent than it was and in a way I think that's unfortunate because I don't think downhill ski areas are approrpiate in national parks.

The Advisory DevelopmentBoard will meetlater this month to hear from the public on the proposal.

"We have to go through all these steps but definitely no decision has been made. We need for this process to play out," said Michelle Macullo of Parks Canada.

The meeting will be held on Sept. 26.