Panorama National Alpine Training Centre Receives $850k Boost From BC Tourism Recovery Program
The Panorama National Alpine Training Centre is set to receive more than $850,000 in funding for snowmaking and safety infrastructure as part of the BC Government’s Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program (CERIP).
The grant, totaling $863,730 to the Panorama Foundation Society, is one of 54 awarded to new tourism projects throughout BC, collectively receiving $20 million in support through the destination development stream. This funding supports shovel-ready tourism infrastructure and amenity projects that will aid in the recovery of tourism in BC communities.
“Our laser focus right now is on helping people and businesses during the pandemic, while making sure we’re ready to welcome visitors and explore BC when it is safe to do so,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “Investing in community-based tourism infrastructure not only creates good-paying jobs, it also helps to rebuild this hard-hit industry and ensures B.C.’s reputation as a world-class travel destination remains strong.”
Panorama is known as one of the world’s premier racing and training venues, attracting athletes from across Canada, USA, and Europe to the Kootenay Rockies region. Panorama Mountain Resort is a year-round destination dramatically nestled in British Columba’s Purcell Mountains along the famed Powder Highway. The resort has a long history with alpine racing dating back to the 1960s and hosts athletes from around the world for early season training in November and early December, and spring training in late April. The Panorama National Alpine Training Centre provides specialist terrain for alpine skiing, freestyle, skier/snowboard cross and cross-country skiing.
“This investment by the BC Government is huge for the resiliency and continued development of tourism in the Columbia Valley,” said Steve Paccagnan, President and CEO of Panorama Mountain Resort. “Enhancing the snowmaking and safety infrastructure of the Panorama National Alpine Training Centre enables us to attract more people to the region during November, early December and late spring, which are traditionally lower volume periods.”
“This funding will also create additional job opportunities and benefit local ski clubs whose young athletes will have world-class training facilities right on their doorstep.”
BC’s tourism sector is also benefiting from other funding streams in the CERIP program, with a total of almost $55 million going towards tourism recovery and development throughout BC. Successful projects were chosen for their demonstrated tourism benefits to communities and British Columbians. More information can be found here.
Work on the Panorama National Alpine Training Centre will begin this spring with many of the infrastructure upgrades complete by the fall. Panorama Mountain Resort and surrounding communities are set to host the FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championships in March 2022, the first time this prestigious event has taken place in Western Canada.
