Shames Mountain is now better equipped to handle the impacts of warmer and wetter winters currently predicted by long-term climate forecasts for the region.

As a part of its Climate Resiliency Project, the mountain got upgrades to adapt its critical infrastructure, including “regrading the base of the hill to address lower snowpacks, as well as upgrading the lower portion of the mountain to redirect overland waterflow to combat drainage issues,” wrote the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) in a news release.

These upgrades are thanks to a partnership between the PRPA’s Community Investment Fund and Shames My Mountain Co-op. PRPA committed $181,000 to the $431,000 project.

“The Climate Resiliency project is essential to ensuring sustainable future operations at Shames Mountain and enables us to elongate our skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and snowshoeing season without depending on significant early snowfall,” said Christian Theberge, general manager, My Mountain Co-op Shames Mountain.

“We are tremendously grateful for the continued support of the Prince Rupert Port Authority’s Community Investment Fund to enhance our infrastructure and make the mountain safer and more accessible for people from across northwest B.C,” continued Theberge.

PRPA has committed $521,000 to projects on Shames Mountain over the years. This is now the fifth time since 2011 that PRPA and Shames My Mountain Co-op have partnered to improve access and safety on the slopes, including projects to improve facility access and expand parking, replacing the beginner lift, and buying a new snow chat, snow machine and grooming equipment.

“Shames Mountain is one of the region’s most important winter outdoor recreational assets and these strategic investments will give current and future generations of residents the opportunity to enjoy all the activities it has to offer for more weeks in the year,” said Shaun Stevenson, President and CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority.