Optimist ski hill in 'dire' need of new funding ahead of coming winter season, councillor says

A new ski and toboggan hill in Saskatoon is in dire need of more funding followingits debut in winter 2018.

Coun. Troy Davies raised the issue during Day 3 of Budget 2020 talks at city hall Wednesday.

He has requested $25,000 from the cityfor the hill in both 2020 and 2021.

Davies said the group of volunteers behind the hill were relying on a private donor to provide $25,000 but that funding fell through.

'Struggling' to get doors open

"They [the volunteers] have been struggling to make sure that they could get the doors open. To say that things are a little bit in dire need right now would be a safe response," Davies told fellow councillors Wednesday afternoon.

"Now that we've got some snow, they're hoping that they can generate more snow, get some snow made and maybe get the hill open."

"They just need some help for the next two years and then they'll be fine," Davies added.

The hill opened for 28 days during the winter 2018-19 season.

The Optimist Hill website currently says opening day isexpected to be in late November or early December.

Assistance would be helpful, volunteer says

Rob Letts, one of the volunteers behind the hill, said that because of the hill's short first operating year, the group is faced with some shortfalls in its operating funding.

"So obviously any assistance we can get ... would be helpful," he said.