Community effort pays off as Lively Ski Hill sees surge

Community efforts saved Lively Ski Hill from closure. This season is proving very successful with record crowds, affordable rates and new terrain.

This is the first season since the City of Greater Sudbury decided to keep the Lively Ski Hill open. The community group that helped save the facility say they’ve been seeing higher usage numbers showing their efforts were not in vain.

On Family Day, the place was buzzing with activity as more than 160 skiers and snowboarders took to the hill for a day on the slopes.

“It’s not just Lively that’s here; it’s people from all over Sudbury coming to experience these things,” said David Kurt, one of the volunteers who fought to save the hill.

“It’s been an unbelievable show of support from the community to come out. Sudbury is a beautiful spot in the winter. We want to use the outdoors as best we can.”

Last year the city had been considering closing the Lively Ski Hill due to low numbers, but a volunteer ‘committee’ made up of several families, helped to increase usage and the facility was saved.

Now that group holds various event nights to help draw in visitors.

They’ve added a terrain section with jumps and rails. The committee added that the user fees are very affordable.

But it’s the hill’s size that’s most appealing for many families introducing young children to skiing and snowboarding.

“I think a little bit easier for my little brother cause he’s just starting to ski,” said 9-year-old Norah Lavallee, who was skiing the hill for the first time Monday with her two siblings and their grandmother.

“I thought it was really fun and I want to do it again,” said her six-year-old sister, Audrey.

“I want to do it again, too,” added three-year-old brother Leo, who had only just learned to ski.

The Klein family told CTV News that they have been skiing in Lively since they moved from British Columbia seven years ago.

“It’s super affordable and the city has done an awesome job along with all the volunteers -- just turning this place around,” said Rob Klein.

“It’s awesome. We ski here more than we ski anywhere else, just cause it’s our favourite place to ski.”

His son Andy Klein is learning to snowboard after skiing for many years. Both he and his brother Henry said they like the jumps and rails that are part of the new terrain section.

“It’s got that perfect blend of small yet still challenging; whether you’re hitting our jumps and our rails because we’ve got a really good beginner jumps and rails program here this year or just really getting in a few runs under your belt before you get on to some of those bigger hills,” Kurt said.

According to Kurt, the community has really leaned into embracing the Lively Ski Hill.

Next year the committee said they hope to fundraise to upgrade the chalet building, which Kurt said is in need of improvements.

Each time it’s open, the Lively Ski Hill sees and average of 150 users.

The hill is open 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays and noon to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, weather permitting, and is expected to be open until the end of March break.