Ski Jasper Alberta News

Le Massif Plans for Improvements

The President and new owner of Le Massif, Daniel Gauthier, took advantage of a press briefing to report on the progress of work on the resort’s Master Plan designed to transform the existing ski resort into a year-round tourist destination. He confirmed that a development plan scheduled for April 30, 2004, would have to be postponed to a later date. “After several months of work and in view of the scope of the project, it became obvious to us that the Le Massif development plan had to be part of a more inclusive process that would implicate the Charlevoix area.”

With the addition of the tourist train and Ferme Filbaie projects that piggybacked onto the initial project along the way, Gauthier believes that this entire project will make an outstanding contribution to creating a distinctive regional tourist development and therefore, one must take the necessary time to make it all happen. He waxes philosophical by adding, “We have devoted a lot of time to strategic deliberations and it’s clear that the initial timetable had to be revised. The project has increased in added value, but given where we are today, I would prefer completing all the necessary market research and feasibility studies, as well as the financing package and the identification of serious partners, before making any firm announcements”.

Gauthier points out that all these projects must be submitted to a significant process of authorizations from both the government and certain agencies, with respect to the use of the territory on which Le Massif, the Ferme and the train operate. “We have taken the time to determine the mission of the project, overall, as well as to define the values that we wish to convey through it. We are still thinking in terms of a sustainable development and we want our actions to reflect this concern” adds Gauthier. “I therefore want to take the time to do things properly. It’s imperative.”

Gauthier lastly used the press briefing to announce some good news for skiers. Indeed, Gauthier will be investing $5 million to expand the skiable area and this as of next season. Amongst the principal changes will be the addition of a detachable quadruple chair lift in the big bowl sector (to replace the existing fixed-grip double chair lift) that will multiply the lift capacity in this sector by a factor of four. Le Massif will also be opening six new trails, including a new access to the Maillard sector, and widening some existing glade ski runs.

Finally, an air-water technology to increase snowmaking capacity at the bottom of the mountain will be deployed. In addition to providing better snow conditions at the bottom of the mountain earlier on in the season, these changes will notably increase the skiable area by 15%, more effectively spread out skiers over the mountain, and improve access at the bottom of the mountain by reducing the traffic there. This is only the first of many prominent initiatives that are part of the development plan of the mountain.