Ski hill agreement nets benefits for Osoyoos Indian Band

PENTICTON – Next year’s ski season will see Mount Baldy operate under a new partnership agreement with local First Nations.

The Osoyoos Indian Band recently signed an agreement with Baldy Capital Corporation that will provide an annual lease payment by the corporation for land on the hill and allow band members greater access to the Mount Baldy Ski Area facilities.

Baldy Capital Corporation President Fred Johnston says the agreement, announced earlier this month, is part of a process leading to the discharge of bankruptcy proceedings against the resort, which he expects will be completed in August.

“We appreciate the working relationship which we are building with the Osoyoos Indian Band. Moving forward, we believe this new partnership allows both parties to succeed and allows the ski hill to prosper for generations to come,” Johnston says, adding the ski hill would not have been able to open through the past winter season without the band’s cooperation.

The agreement is part of a new partnership between the band and the corporation to create an operating model aimed at renewing the ski area and increasing business opportunities in the future, according to a release posted to Facebook.

“We want to work in partnership with Baldy Capital Corporation to bring back Mount Baldy Ski Area to the success it once had,” Louie says in the post.

Under the terms of the new benefits agreement band members will get season lift passes, access to rental equipment and increased availability of ski and snowboard lessons. Baldy Capital Corporation also has an option to purchase the land or trade for a different land parcel in the future.

The band will take an ownership interest in the ski hill as part of the agreement, with Baldy Capital Corporation facilitating future development of the ski hill in a co-operative and consultative manner with the band.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.