The news on Monday that a court has cleared the way for the sale of Mount Baldy to a new investor is very welcome after all Osoyoos has been through in recent months.
Although the ski resort operated for a few months early in 2015 under a potential buyer, that sale never materialized. Essentially its future has been up in the air since the end of the 2012-13 ski season.
Gary Powroznik was at first the marketing agent and then the receiver for the operation after its former American owners ran out of funds to keep it going.
He has referred to Baldy as “a diamond in the rough.”
That’s a good description.
Mount Baldy probably won’t become another Whistler or Banff, but as a regional resort it offers many advantages over other mountains in the Southern Interior.
It needs, however, a significant investment in infrastructure in addition to getting the lifts oiled up and running and the vegetation trimmed.
Of course the ski hill makes people want to come to the resort, but it’s the sales of real estate that pays the bills. And those sales weren’t happening after the property market collapsed or when the future of the resort became uncertain.
We’re not privy to the financial ins and outs of the pending purchase, but it’s clear that Joey O’Brien, the new managing director, has experience operating ski hills and Victor Tsao, the principal investor, has the necessary business experience and links to the important Asian markets.
And all that is good news for Osoyoos.
This community is invested heavily in the tourism industry, but it’s been a struggle to extend the tourism season beyond the busy summer months.
That’s a shame, because spring and fall are wonderful seasons here. Winter draws Prairie snowbirds, but many of these are seniors without a lot of disposable income.
Our winters are very mild by Canadian standards anywhere except the B.C. coast, but they tend to be grey for many days in the valley bottom.
The good news is that when Osoyoos sits under an inversion and grey clouds, Baldy is often enjoying an entirely different climate of sunshine and blue sky.
And this makes a well-run resort at Baldy attractive not only for downhill skiers, but for others who want to enjoy such winter activities as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, or just relaxing with good food, wine and entertainment.
The new owners need to show that they have a viable operation, but with the right investment and the right marketing, that is entirely achievable.
It will then be up to others in the community, especially in the hospitality industry, to develop the kinds of partnerships that can turn Osoyoos into a year-round resort.
Roads are another impediment to development, but as the resort’s popularity grows, it will be easier to make the case to provincial and local governments to make the necessary investments to improve access to the resort.
Mount Baldy won’t be the panacea to all the challenges Osoyoos currently faces, but it’s a very important piece in the puzzle of providing economic and lifestyle opportunities to local residents.
If Osoyoos Secondary School can be saved, new moderately priced housing gets off the ground and a few new employers can be enticed to the area, the future of Osoyoos looks very bright.
Let’s celebrate this most recent good news.
