Dreaming of skiing? Not in Montreal, as Sud-Ouest borough nixes city's only urban ski hill

Montrealerswho want to take the Metro to the slopes aren't likely to get that chance next winter, with the borough responsible for the only ski hill accessible by public transit refusing to approve the continued operation of La Pente Neige.

Much to the dismay of the non-profit organization that launched the three-year pilot project, theSud-Ouest borough announced last week the project won't be renewed.

Maxellende Pycke, co-founder of La Pente Neige, said the news took her by surprise. Organizersfelt the pilot project went well, she said, and they had alreadystarted developing plans fornext season.

"We sent [the borough] the documents with the recommendations for next year, what we did in the last three years and we never heard about it after that,"Pycketold CBC Montreal's Daybreak.

La Pente Neigewas set up in the park near Angrignon Metro inVille-mard in December 2017.Itconsisted of severalski hills, as well as areas for tubing and other winter sports.

"Pente Neigeis the only ski station accessible by Metro in North America. Within the last three years, we welcomed about 100,000 visitors," Pycke said.

Skiing, tubing amongoptions but not Pente Neige

The borough is asking residents to fill out an online surveyproviding feedback on the types of activities they'd like to see in Ignace-Bourget Park next winter season.

In its online survey, the borough includes the options of skiing lessons and tubing, as well as an outdoor skating rink at the park. It's just that none of these would be run by LaPente Neige.

In a release, the borough said the project would not be renewed because of safety concerns, complaints aboutparking from residents onnearby streets and issues of social acceptability.

"We are now better equipped to work on a new formula adapted to the needs and demands of our population," borough Mayor Benoit Dorais said in the release.

Pycke said the only safety issues she's ever witnessed at the sitewere in the "free sliding" zones which were owned by the city and not operated by the non-profit.

She said her organizationwas willing to work out any issues the city might have had with the site.

Pycke said the non-profit was launched with the goal of making activities such asskiing and tubing accessible families on lower incomesand for peoplewho do not have a car.

Though lessons were not free, the organization offered discounts to Sud-Ouest residents and offered financial aid to low-income families.

"It's mainly for beginners. We welcome all types of families, and we also welcome a large [number]ofnewcomers to Canada," saidPycke.

"It's really a place for people todiscover winter."

According to the organization, La Pente Neige has received a total of $2.9 million in public and private funding, roughly seven per cent of which was provided by the borough.

La Pente Neigehas started a petition with the goal of giving residents a place to express that they'd like the ski hill to stick around another season.So far, it has garneredmore than 3,000 signatures.