In honour of its 50th anniversary the Hart Ski Hll organization invited Nancy Greene Raine, 1968 slalom Olympic gold medalist and Canada's Female Athlete of the Century, to help celebrate.
"To think that it's been going for 50 years and to think of the thousands and thousands of people who have learned to ski and snowboard on this hill is just amazing," Greene Raine said. "I was really pleased to come. It's been fun. There are not very many places in Canada where a major city like Prince George has a ski hill inside the city limits."
Greene Raine said she appreciates how accessible the hill is and how affordable it is, too. "They've got a good ski school here," Greene Raine said. "I think this year they'll teach over 2,000 kids how to ski and that's a life long gift to them."
Greene Raine said she feels very fortunate to have grown up in a town where there was a community ski hill run by volunteers, just like the Hart Ski Hill.
"I have been blessed to be associated with such a great sport," Greene Raine said.
Bernadette Kipping, president of the Hart Highlands Winter Club which operates the Hart Ski Hill, wanted to offer a brief history of it before slices of cake were shared with those who attended the celebration.
The ski hill started out in 1968 as a recreation area designated for a ski hill with a rope tow, tobaggan run and little league baseball diamond.
Kipping said the rope toe is in the same spot now as it was then and night skiing was made available by having placed lights in the trees.
In 1971 the Hart Highlands Winter Club society was formed. The facility has been volunteer run for its entire history.
In the same year the Nancy Greene Ski Club was formed and it still part of the society today.
In 1983 the lodge was built allowing for a gathering place for those who attend the Hart Ski Hill.
The most recent development was to bring in equipment to make snow in 2017.
"This has been a huge undertaking but with so many great people we were able to bring in water, build a pump house, install the pump, lay pipe and purchase the snow gun and the work continues as we are not finished yet," Kipping said. "This step was taken to ensure the Hart Ski Hill can run at full capacity day and night. We are very proud of the Hart Ski Hill."
The hill was open for 100 days last season largely in part to the ability to make snow and the society will soon be expanding the capacity to ensure future successful seasons.
Kyle Sampson, acting mayor, MLA Shirley Bond and MLA Mike Morris were on hand to offer congratulations to the Hart Ski Hill for their 50-year service to the community.
"If you look around this is what the Hart Ski Hill is all about - families come out to ski with one another on beautiful days like this and it really is a testament to the community we live in - all of the hard work for 50 years to make sure that this place continues to grow and develop so families like mine can come here and enjoy themselves," Bond said.
