After a somewhat tumultuous start to the season, Ski Pontiac held its Annual General Meeting last Saturday at Astra Estates in Bristol, the new home to its popular ski and snowshoe trails. They reported one of the most successful moonlight skis in Ski Pontiac’s history, with over

a hundred visitors enjoying the trails.

Last year the partnership between Ski Pontiac and Pine Lodge dissolved, shortly after completing development on new trails throughout the property. Ski Pontiac is grateful to Astra Estates for agreeing to host trails this season, although this change has not been without its challenges. The group had invested a substantial amount of labour into the trails, and are hesitant to do the same at the new location.

“Developing the trails was a significant amount of labour,” President Arianne Clouthier explained. “The board needs to seriously consider if we would enter into another joint grant funding application”.

John Edelman, co-owner of Astra Estates, suggested that he hopes a partnership with Ski Pontiac is something that they will be able to develop well into the future, expanding current trails onto the over 100 acres of forested land on their property. “We hope we can build that partnership (with Ski Pontiac) as well,” said Edelman. “We want to be good stewards of the land and good partners in the community”.

Looking towards the future, Ski Pontiac is hoping to partner once again with Ski at School, a non-profit organization that provides skis and lessons to trail users. They would like to add a senior ski club, and will continue with their mandate to groom ski and snowshoe trails for public use. They are hopeful more volunteers will join their ranks, helping to bring the winter sport to the community. “We rely on volunteers,” said Clouthier. “If people approach us with an idea, we are there to support”. Trails remain open to the public so long as weather permits.

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