Outaouais ski hills optimistic after getting winter go-ahead from province

Despite tough new COVID-19 restrictions, the operators of a pair of western Quebec ski hills are optimistic about the winter season nowthat the province has cleared them to open.

On Friday, the Quebec government confirmed skiers and snowboarderswould be allowed to hit the slopes this year, albeit with measures in place to keep the pandemic at bay.

Provincewide, the rules include handwashing,keeping a two-metredistance and wearing a face covering be it a mask indoors or a balaclava or scarfoutdoors at all times.

In "red zones," the highest level on the province's COVID-19 alert system, the restrictions will be more stringent.

Resorts will not be allowed to rent equipment, offer classes or open their dining areas. Only families living in the same house will be able to ride lifts together, and gondolas will have limited capacity only two people outside of family bubbles are allowed to ride along.

None of those measures will likely deter people from seeking some outdoor winter recreation, said Peter Sudermann, owner of the Camp Fortune ski hill in Chelsea, Que., which was declared a red zone last weekend.

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"The vibe for skiing, I would say, is positive in spite of all the news that we're hearing," said Sudermann, noting he's seen demand for skis shoot upas people cancel travel plans and prepare to stay closer to home.

"It'd be great if we weren't in a red zone, but measures have to be taken to keep everyone safe and try and curb what's going on."

'Sort of nervous'

At the nearbySommet Edelweiss in Wakefield, Que., the "big change" will be thatpeople will haveto bookday passes ahead of time, part of the resort's crowd management strategy, said marketing director Christian Dufour.

While Friday's announcement does create uncertainty around the hill'srestaurants andskischool programs, Dufour said getting confirmation they could in fact open was most important.

"It was something we were sort of nervous [about]," said Dufour. "I think the answers [we got today] were very clear."

Theannouncement isa relief not just to ski hills forced to shut down in March when the pandemic was declared, but also to the province's roughly1.4 million skiers and snowboarders, said Yves Juneau, president of the Association of Quebec Ski Resorts.

"Now we know that we'll be able to operate, even if it's the maximum alert level," Juneau told CBC Radio'sBreakaway.

The new rules come at the same time Quebec is telling people not to travel betweenred, orange or yellow zones except for essential trips.

Travel is not "forbidden," Juneau noted, adding people should head straight the ski hills once they open and not stop to linger.

"Don't go to the restaurant. Don't go to the grocery store," Juneau said. "That's exactly how people need to act."