A6 The Chronicle Herald NEWS Saturday, January 4, 2020 Cape Smokey ski hill open for business

ERIN POTTIE “The response from the com- hill is the sweeping coastal view. CAPE BRETON POST munity is overwhelming,” said “The view that you have when Kejval. “It’s fantastic to be quite you’re coming down the moun- INGONISH — The snow has ar- honest. It seems that everybody tain, you can’t beat it that’s for rived and so too have the skiers. wants and sees the ski hill as sure. And for the first time since their kind of a community As part of its winter season its purchase by a Czech business centre.” launch, Cape Smokey will hold group, Ski Cape Smokey re- Although an aging chair lift a King of the Mountain snow- sumed hill operations Friday as couldn’t be salvaged at Cape mobile drag racing event Jan. 11, Smokey, a poma lift is operating with more than 300 participants plans for redevelopment for the bunny and intermediate already registered. continue. runs. On Jan. 18, the hill will host “We are doing everything The purchase of ski-making a craft-brewery festival and for the community this year equipment will also ensure mountain bike races with gen- because they love skiing,” said operational efficiency. As the eral and children’s start times. Martin Kejval, a director with weather gets colder, additional “It’s basically the same as a Cape Smokey Holding Ltd., who runs will open, depending on mountain bike race, but in this moved to Cape Breton nine snowfall amounts. case, everything is covered in months ago. Kevin Dauphinee, a member snow,” said Kejval. “You finish “What we proposed, and we of the non-profit, caretaker with going downhill all the way did in our presentations, we group Ski Cape Smokey Society, from the top of Cape Smokey start right after this winter and said he practically grew up on down to the parking lot.” we want to be open fully as we the hill. A second island ski operation envision the area in 2021.” “It didn’t matter if it was also opened its season on Friday. A former competitive alpine pouring rain, if it was a blinding In Cape North, cross-country skier for Czech Republic, Kejval On Friday, skiers returned to the slopes of Ski Cape Smokey snowstorm or a sunny day, there sport enthusiasts returned to the said 34 events and 10 races are as it reopened to the public under new ownership. A Czech was still a line of kids — the usu- groomed trails at North High- scheduled in Ingonish over the business group is planning to transform the Ingonish hill into als were always here, no matter lands Nordic. roughly three-and-a-half-month a multi-million-dollar four-season resort. what,” he said. The club operates out of a ski season. “And you could tell the happi- warm-up room in the area’s Prior to a sale agreement last In August, the province an- tion at the 160-hectare property ness that it brought them. It gets community centre. summer, the hill was run for nounced its impending sale to a to be anchored by an accessible everybody out of the house in In the Cape Breton Regional more than a decade by a group wintertime.” Municipality, skiers made their of volunteers. group of European businessmen, sightseeing amenity known as a Dauphinee, who is now em- return to the slopes of Ski Ben The hope of the community including Kejval’s father, at a tree walk. ployed at Ski Cape Smokey, sees Eoin on Dec. 31. The hill con- of skiers was to keep the hill cost of $370,000. Additional plans include cha- the community’s future as look- tinues to operate with limited running until a full-time opera- The partners are now seeking lets, a microbrewery, restaurant ing bright. runs, with the help of snowmak- tor could be found. to create a four-season destina- and shops. For him, the best part of the ers.

Upgrades planned for wilderness cabins

ERIN POTTIE Cabins got their start. all that stuff,” said Rawding. anxiety and winter trips seem to Crimp and Rawding said an- CAPE BRETON POST “I helped clean cabins in a “I find that it gets taken out happen more often.” other boost to their business is pinch for him, and I’d also come rather quickly and that things Although there are three ac- having the entrance to groomed SYDNEY — The new owners a lot and do more work in the are pretty manageable, so that’s commodations on site, only two trails in the Cape Breton High- woods with him, and help clear- of the year-round Wreck Cove The Halifax Herald Limitedsomething - 01/04/2020 I try to makeCopy clear Reduced to cabins to 88%are av fromailable original this winter to fit letterlands page directly across from their Page : A06 Wilderness Cabins are planning ing land and helping make little people and it starts to decrease season. premises. improvements to keep up with trails and burning fires and stuff the growing demand for adven- like that.” ture tourism. Crimp said he wasn’t excep- Gordon Crimp and partner tionally passionate about taking Jay Rawding have taken control over the business as a single of the family business, located in man, but things changed after Wreck Cove, roughly 25 min- meeting Rawding one summer utes from the entrance to the day at her archery range. Halifax Regional Municipality Notices will generally appear each Saturday in this section of the newspaper. Readers are still Cape Breton Highlands National “I was living in British Colum- encouraged to look throughout the paper for information which might appear in a different section or on another day. Park in Ingonish. bia and moved back last summer The pair purchased the busi- in July,” said Crimp. “We met in ness from Crimp’s father, Mike August and it worked out really NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Crimp. The three-cabin venture well.” is situated on 9.3-hectares of The couple are now focused HALIFAX MAINLAND on building their online pres- land with more than 1,000 feet Regional Council intends to consider and, if deemed advisable, approve the following application: of ocean frontage. ence and creating a space that “We’re working on getting can accommodate additional Case 21730 - Application by KWR Approvals Inc., on behalf of Pathos Properties Inc., to amend the Halifax travellers. Municipal Planning Strategy and Halifax Mainland Land Use By-law to enable an 8-storey residential / better hiking trails and snow- commercial development, including 18 affordable housing units, at 205 Bedford Highway, Halifax. shoe trails ready and kind of The current offerings include developing things a little bit three insulated cabins that are The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, January 14th, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. at Halifax City Hall (Council further,” said Rawding, a graphic equipped with a wood stove, Chamber), 1841 , Halifax, NS. All oral and written submissions will be considered at that time. Please designer and the owner of High- kitchen, living room and bath- send any written submissions to the Municipal Clerk: by mail, P. O. Box 1749, Halifax, NS, B3J 3A5; by fax, 902-490- 4208; or by e-mail, [email protected]. The Municipal Clerk must receive written submissions before 3:00 p.m. pm land Bow and Arrow traditional room. “We have a lovely trail that on January 14th, 2020. For written submissions longer than three letter sized pages, the Municipal Clerk’s archery range in Ingonish Beach. office must receive thirty hard copies. “Mike had really great ac- goes to an ocean look off, so commodations and we’re trying along with that we’re looking at The staff report is available by calling the Office of the Municipal Clerk at 902-490-4210. The staff report is also available to get them a little bit more putting in some other accom- on-line at: https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/agendas-meetings-reports. adventurous, and maybe make modation, as well as camp sites, Further details on the application are here: www.halifax.ca/planning (Scroll down to applicable Case #21730) some packages with archery and trying to connect more to the ACC #CPC02310 maybe, potentially, move the snowmobile, ATV people who range here.” already have been using the spot Rawding, who grew up in for many years,” said Rawding. NOTICE OF APPEAL OF SITE PLAN East Preston, said she moved to The couple say excitement is Cape Breton nearly six years ago building for the reopening of APPROVAL to work as a hospitality manager. nearby Cape Smokey ski hill. Her island lifestyle involved “It’s really exciting to see the living in cabins and off-grid ac- adventure tourism come out be- TAKE NOTICE THAT the Design Review Committee of the Halifax Regional Municipality did, on November 14, 2019 commodations where she would cause that’s the Cape Breton that refuse the qualitative design aspects for the following substantive site plan approval application in accordance often practice her archery. I grew up in, not with tourism, with the Design Manual of the Downtown Halifax Land Use By-law for: She began noticing a growing but with myself and my family Case 22511 - Application by Kassner Goodspeed Architects Ltd. requesting substantive site plan approval number of people seeking simi- going hiking, adventuring and for a 5-storey, mixed use building on lands at 1144, 1148, and 1150 , Halifax. lar experiences that afforded the seeing waterfalls and going to It is the opinion of the Design Review Committee that the overall building design is not consistent with the Design ability to unplug and unwind. the places people didn’t generally Manual with respect to prominent civic frontage, namely, more distinct articulation and architectural features to “It didn’t really matter where see,” said Crimp. reinforce visual prominence and the historical nature of the site. The Committee further recommended that further they were — if they were in the “Living in British Columbia consideration be given to sections 3.2.1A, 3.3.1D, 3.3.3A, 3.4.1B, 3.1.1C, 2.3.2 of the Design Manual and requested that middle of nowhere with no cell on Vancouver Island where ad- the Architect attend the Committee meeting to respond to questions should the application return. service,” said Rawding. venture tourism was a massive The applicant has appealed the Design Review Committee’s refusal of their substantive site plan approval “That’s kind of where it began, part of their income for tourism, application. it’s beautiful to see that is a de- and I started making little op- The appeal will be heard by the on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 in the Council Chambers at portunities to teach archery and veloping aspect of Cape Breton 1841 Argyle Street, Halifax. The Council meeting will commence at 1:00 pm. it started becoming so over- Island where there is so much whelmingly received that I just raw beauty and nature that is If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact the Municipal Clerk at 902-490-4208. ran with it.” unexplored. It’s nice to be able to ACC #C310-6912 Crimp’s parents would build tap into that.” the Wreck Cove General Store Rawding said there are a in 1976. After their separation, growing number of North Shore NOTICEOFPUBLICMEETING Crimp’s father ventured off on businesses now staying open his own, roughly 650-metres during the winter months. down the road. “The thing that I think re- The HRM Heritage Advisory Committee will host a public meeting on Wednesday, January 15th, 2020, beginning “Twenty-two years ago, my ally needs to be fixed is kind of at 6:00 p.m. in the Halifax Hall room at City Hall, 1841 Argyle Street, Halifax, NS, to discuss the following application: father bought the cabins and the myth that it’s difficult to get Case H00448 - An application has been submitted by the property owner, Stefan Frent, for the demolition moved them here,” said Crimp around out here in vehicles — of this Municipal Registered Heritage Property known as Victorian Streetscape at 1029 Tower Road, of how Wreck Cove Wilderness the snow removal is difficult and Halifax, NS. The purpose of the meeting is to receive feedback regarding the above-noted application. Members of the Heritage Advisory Committee and Planning Staff will be present to discuss the process and the application. The meeting is open to anyone who wishes to attend to seek information about the proposal and/or express any comments they may have. For further information about the application, please contact Seamus McGreal at 902-490-4663. Purchase one entrée and 2nd person’s entrée is FREE! ACC #CPC02310 2nd entrée must be equal or lesser in value. Payment by Credit or Debit. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Dine in only. Not valid PLEASE SEE SECTION 158 - EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN SATURDAY’S PAPER AND SECTION 258 - TENDERS IN CLASSIFIEDS FOR ALL TENDERS AND for groups of 10 or more. Beverage purchase required. REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS ADVERTISEMENTS IN SATURDAY AND WEDNESDAY’S EDITIONS

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