City cancels Edmonton Ski Club’s lease

Lack of operation creates problems with legal conditions, councillor says

The City of Edmonton has given notice it is terminating its lease agreement with the Edmonton Ski Club.

A note taped to the door of the clubhouse Monday in Gallagher Park says the agreement will end Dec. 10.

The decision to close the ski club at least for this season was not made by the city, but by the ski club board, Coun. Ben Henderson said Monday.

If the club isn’t going to be operating this year, it created problems with the legal conditions of the lease, he said.

“I don’t think we’d get in the way of helping them operate if they wanted to, so I think this was just a way of making sure that everything is legally clear with the lease,” Henderson said.

He said he is to meet with ski club representatives to get a clearer idea of what the situation is.

“I don’t think in closing it, they ever anticipated a permanent closure,” Henderson said. “I think their choice was just to not operate this season.

“Now, whether or not they are in a position to revisit that, I don’t know. I’d love to see them operate this year if there was a way to do it.”

A destination for children and families on Connors Hill at 9613 96 Ave., the gentle slopes of the 106-year-old club attracted skiers of all ages and levels.

“Having that kind of a facility in the heart of the city is a kind of gift that we shouldn’t be frittering away if we can possibly find a way to hold onto it,” Henderson said.

In September 2016, the ski club asked the city for emergency funding of $388,000 to remain open for the season.

The club also asked for $1.3 million over five years so it could buy time while the LRT construction and the master plan for Gallagher Park were settled.

The club also received emergency funding from the city six years ago and, at the time, the city forced it to do a forensic audit, which found mismanagement and a large debt.

“We’ve cleaned up our act,” executive director Ken Saunders said in September 2016.

No one from the Edmonton Ski Club could be reached for comment Monday.

The letter from the city posted at the ski club, dated Nov. 9, reads: “Notice to terminate lease agreement between the City of Edmonton and the Edmonton Ski Club for lease dated the 16th day of January 1997.”