| There's no business like snow business |
| By Allison Kennedy |
| Enterprise-Bulletin Special (Tue, January 9, 2000) |
| GEORGIAN TRIANGLE - They say Canadians talk about the
weather a lot. |
| But when the snow is something you are depending on, it's
hard not to talk about it. This winter's large and early snowfall
has affected every level of business in the area. |
| Whether it be accommodation, retail sales, outdoor
recreation or where you buy your trusty snow shovel, things are booming in
the Collingwood area. Those who arrived in Collingwood unprepared
for the New Year's weekend would have had a tough enough time finding a
place to stay, says Shiela Metras, executive director of the Georgian
Triangle Tourist Association. |
| The association operates a central reservations system for
accommodation in Collingwood, Wasaga Beach and outlying areas. |
| As of 4:45 pm on Thursday afternoon, all the rooms in
Collingwood, Wasaga Beach and Clearview were booked for the weekend, said
Metras. |
| "For the first time ever in the winter season, we've
had to refer our American Visitors to Owen Sound for accommodation,"
said Metras. "We are always full at New Year's but when the
weather isn't good it takes a lot longer to happen. |
| "We knew this was different when we were booked on
Thursday." |
| Metras also said there has been an increase in the number
of people asking about outdoor activities other than skiing.
"People are asking about sleigh rides and snowmobile rentals,"
said Metras. |
| "We haven't had a winter that started this early and
stayed for several years," she said. "The entire Georgian
Triangle is going to benefit from this and we're expecting it to
continue." |
| For the Blue Mountain Snowdrifters Snowmobile Club, this
weather is a dream come true. |
| "The last time we had a winter of this magnitude this
early was in the late seventies," said Ken Ferguson, a member and
volunteer with the club for the last 20 years. |
| Ferguson said the club's membership is up about 25 per cent
from last season. |
| Record snowfall won't likely translate to higher water
levels, says expert. |
| "The industry is really up. We already have 400
members and it is still growing," said Ferguson. "Money
doesn't seem to be an issue when you've got the snow." |
| Ferguson, who also operates a snowmobile sales and repair
business, K. Ferguson Enterprises, says visitors to the area have become
more and more interested in trying the sport. |
| "I've been out to Whistler and gone on a snowmobile
tour there. I think that with the way things are growing here, that
type of operation could be a possibility," said Ferguson. |
| "Sled sales are up - the last to years have been
pretty bad, if you're not selling new sleds then the repairs aren't'
coming in. This year I've got four mechanics and I can hardly keep
up with the demand," said Ferguson. |
| Recent changes in the trail system have made the Town of
Collingwood more accessible and Ferguson stressed the importance of
getting people off the roads and on to the trails. |
| "Snowmobiling really has evolved in the last 20 years
in terms of safety and the trail system," said Ferguson. |
| In terms of skiing, Blue Mountain Resort had 34 trails, 12
lifts, three terrain parks and three half-pipes open this weekend as well
as Tube Town. Night skiing offerings included 18 trails. |
| "As of last week, we had more natural snow than we
have had in the last 20 years on overage," said Rich.
"Local historians are saying this may be the most pre-New Year's snow
Blue Mountain has ever had. |
| Combine this with consistently cold temperatures and the
capacity to keep making snow, and conditions are great, said Rich. |
| The addition of several new high-speed lifts at Blue has
made lineups a thing of the past. |
| "Blue has changed. Lineups are just an urban legend
now," said Rich. |
| Rich couldn't give exact figures for the number of skier
visits but he did say the mountain is setting records. |
| "We are forecasting a record season into the real new
millennium," said Rich. |
| Four-year-old Lucas Osmond sipped his hot chocolate while
he waited for his season's pass to print out. |
| It is Osmond's second year having a season's pass and his
excitement is obvious. With new ski equipment for Christmas, he is
ready. The family was encouraged to make the drive from Mississauga
after hearing about the amount of snow on the slopes. |
| If you are shopping around for a snow blower, you may have
a tough time tracking one down, says Canadian Tire general manager Don
Draper. |
| "We're sold out of our snow blowers for the
season. Our snow shovels are gone too, but we are getting
more," he said. "Winter related products are basically
walking out of the store. |
| "We haven't had the winters. We usually have
some snow blowers left over." |
| The store is busy and while Draper doesn't overlook his
regular customers, out-of-town visitors do help sales. |
| "Our regular customers help but he visitors just add
that extra little bonu8s," said Draper. |
| At Skis Please, things have been getting busier and busier
since Boxing Day. |
| "Every day since then has been packed from morning to
mid-afternoon. It gets a little quiet and then picks up again for
night rentals," said employee Jason Ruttan. |
| The heavy snowfall will not likely affect water levels in
the Great Lakes however, according to Ralph Moulton, manager of the Water
Level Information Office. |
| "We don't expect much of an impact (on Great Lakes
water levels), and if so, it will likely only be marginal," said
Moulton, known to his colleagues as Mr. Water Level. |
| "This spring, Lake Huron and Georgian Bay will be
lower and the levels have continued to go down through the fall," he
said. |
| Even with more heavy snowfall this year, Moulton said the
levels will still be below the norm because most of the precipitation
comes out to the Great Lakes in the first place and then goes back in. |
| Great Lakes levels are 15 cm lower than at this time late
year, he added. |
| with files from Raymond Bowe |
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