DRYDEN – The Ontario government is providing $200,000 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to the Dryden Ski Club to upgrade the local ski hill and chalet. This investment is developing community recreational infrastructure, supporting social connections and improving quality of life for northerners.

“Our government is focused on investing in communities and creating vibrant recreational facilities that promote health and improve wellness,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development. “The Dryden Ski Club provides inclusive activities and programming for all ages and abilities, and today’s investment will only enhance the club’s offerings.”

The Dryden Ski Club is a non-profit that operates the local ski hill and chalet, maintaining trails for snowboarding, snowshoeing, skijoring, kick-sledding, cross-country and alpine skiing in the winter, as well as for hiking, biking and dog-walking in the spring, summer and fall.

The club will use NOHFC funding to refurbish the ski hill and chalet. Key upgrades to the chalet include expanding the outdoor patio, installing new windows and LED lighting, updating the washrooms, and purchasing interior furnishings and a speaker system. Key upgrades to the ski hill include installing LED lighting for improved night skiing, and landscaping the runs.

The project will extend the club’s use of the facilities into the off-season, allowing for new venue rental opportunities and increasing the social and recreational opportunities for community members and tourists alike.

“The Dryden Ski Club is incredibly grateful for the funding received through the NOHFC,” said Bev Churchill, President, Dryden Ski Club. “We have seen an unprecedented growth in membership and use over the past three years, particularly in the number of youths who use our facilities. Without this support from the Ontario government, we would not be able to modernize and grow.”

The NOHFC promotes economic prosperity across Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects—big and small, rural and urban—that stimulate growth, job creation and skills development. Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $578 million in 4,935 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $1.87 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 7,870 jobs.

Quick Facts

• In 2021, the Ontario government launched new and improved NOHFC programs that support more projects in rural northern communities and make it easier for more people and businesses to apply. The programs target existing and emerging markets, provide more work opportunities for Indigenous people and address the skilled labour shortage in the north.

Additional Resources

• The NOHFC, Northern Development Offices and Small Business Enterprise Centres are available to support northern communities, businesses and other stakeholders in identifying economic development opportunities and assist in accessing government funding programs.
• The NOHFC’s Community Enhancement Program builds strong and resilient northern communities through investments in important infrastructure projects.

Media Contacts

Erika Robson, Minister’s Office — 416-450-1309 — erika.robson@ontario.ca

Media Desk, Communications Branch — mediadesk.ndm@ontario.ca