Mount Pakenham ski hill gets special permission from province to open: health unit

A ski hill about 60 kilometres west of Ottawa has received special permission from the provinceto reopen, despite being foundwithin a public health unit that's still covered by Ontario's stay-at-home order.

Dr. Paula Stewart, medical officer of healthfor Leeds, Grenville and Lanark,said Mount Pakenham was given the go-ahead by the Ministry of Heritage, Tourism and Sport to reopen Feb. 11.

She said she didn'tknow why the government gave the resort permission, but said Mount Pakenham hasbeen working with public health officials since the fall to limit the risk of COVID-19.

"We know that the precautions that they have in place are good ones," said Stewart."They have a small operation, it's really geared towards families.... I think that they can do it well."

The region covered by the Leeds, Grenville and LanarkDistrict Health Unit is still under the provincial stay-at-home order, which mandates thatski hills muststay closed.

A spokesperson for Mount Pakenhamdeclined an interview with CBC News, saying they were already sold out of tickets forthis weekend and didn't want to be overwhelmed by visitors.

The resortopened with multiple COVID-19 restrictions in place including allowing only pre-booked tickets, closing the lodge and other indoor seatingareas, and limiting chair lifts to groups that arrived together.

It is also currently notoffering lessons.

Matthew Morrison was at the hill Thursday with his son, and said he'd been waiting for local hills to open and jumped at the chance to go snowboarding.

"We're just super excited that the hills are back open and we can get out and enjoy ourselves again," he said.

Calabogie Peaks, a nearby ski hill,also opened Thursdayas part of Ontario's plans to gradually ease pandemic restrictions amid declining COVID-19 case numbers.

It is in the Renfrew County and District Health Unit, which was placed under the green alert level Wednesday.

Leeds, Grenville and Lanarkindicators are green

Stewart said the COVID-19 situation in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark is looking good. Were the health unit not covered by the stay-at-home order it too would be considered one of the province's green zones, where COVID-19 restrictions are lightest, she said.

Barring any spike in cases, that will likely be where it will be placed on Tuesday, Stewart said, adding she hopes to find out for sure today.

The province is expected to reveal more information Friday about the reopening plan.

"We have 11 or 12 active cases now ... so we're in a really good position to open," she said.

CBC News reached out to the office of Lisa MacLeod, Ontario's minister of sport and tourism, to ask why an exception was made for Mount Pakenham, buthas not yet heard back.