Waskesiu businesses expect slow start to season due to lingering snow and ice

Visitors heading to Waskesiu for the long weekend should be prepared for snow, mud and puddles around the townsite. Jasmine Pelletier reports.

The green is a little less green than usual this year, as there’s still snow on some parts of the Waskesiu golf course.

“Our crew is out there working as hard as they can to prepare what they can for the golf course,” said general manager Tyler Baker. “But again, it sets us back two weeks due to conditions alone.”

The course would usually be ready for the May long weekend.

“We would probably put through a good 700 rounds of golf during the long weekend,” he told reporters. “The revenue is a good bump for the start of the year, which unfortunately we’ll miss out on.”

Baker says he’s never seen so much snow on the course this late in the year, but despite the setback, he’s optimistic the course will have a successful season overall.

With ice still covering the surface of the lake, the Waskesiu Marina says the spring melt is arriving several weeks later than usual.

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Usually, the marina sees more than 100 guests over the long weekend. With only a few days to go, it sits empty. Typically, there would already be dozens of boats parked at the marina, waiting for summer.

Although the ice has stuck around since winter, Parks Canada promotions officer Jacelyn Perret says visitors are asked not to try their hand at ice fishing.

“Thin ice still exists on a lot of the water bodies in Prince Albert National Park,” she said. “While people might think it’s a funny idea to go out ice fishing on the lake for the May long weekend, the ice is very thin and very dangerous.”

She says visitors should be prepared for snow, mud and puddles around the townsite.

The water at Beaver Glen campground is under a temporary boil advisory, and Sandy Lake campground is closed.