In 2013, Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club received a $18,000 grant from Northern Development through the Community Halls and Recreation Facilities program towards this project. This has been a funding partnership of Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club and Northern Development
Recent trail upgrades at the Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club are proof positive that the people of the North Peace aren’t afraid to get outside and embrace winter. The Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club has been keeping the trails at Beatton Ski Park near Fort St. John maintained for more than 30 years, and recently wanted to begin major upgrades to encourage more residents to enjoy the great outdoors. Northern Development’s Community Halls and Recreation facilities program was perfectly aligned to provide the grant support the club needed to realize its goals. The Trust approved an $18,000 grant that helped clear existing trails, build new trails and upgrade signage. More than 15 kilometres of trails are finished, the signs are up and locals are clipping in to their skis to check them out!
One Fort St. John resident told us, “this is one of the reasons we are staying in this community.”
The Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club is now also providing a free after school kids program to expand awareness of the park with other locals, and promote healthy and active lifestyles.
The president of the Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club Eliza Stanford tells us: “for all outdoor enthusiasts the Beatton Park trail expansion project has been an overwhelming success.”
With the trail improvements, the club now has more memberships than they have ever had. As well, during the upgrading process, numerous local companies were employed, including mulching contractors, fallers, heavy equipment operators, construction companies, sign makers and a culvert company.