Longer winter ski season paired with gondola rides, sightseeing and kayaking promotes year-round tourism in the region
May 30, 2022 · Ingonish, Nova Scotia · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Atlantic Canada's tourism industry is vital to the region's economy, supporting thousands of local jobs and businesses. Anchor developments like Cape Smokey in the Cape Breton Highlands are clear examples of the sector's impact, as they draw new visitors and investment to surrounding areas. The Government of Canada is helping Ingonish-based Cape Smokey add state-of-the-art snowmaking equipment to extend its season, powering the growth of the ski hill and nearby communities.
New equipment will increase season by two months
Today, Jaime Battiste, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Member of Parliament for Sydney-Victoria, announced a repayable contribution of $950,000 to Cape Smokey Holding Ltd. as it invests in snowmaking equipment. The funding is being provided through the Canada Coal Transition Initiative Infrastructure Fund (CCTI).
The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA.
The contribution supports Cape Smokey as it adds a new groomer and snowmaking equipment half-way up the mountain. The equipment will allow the ski hill to open as early as November this year and remain open until April. The two-month season extension will increase the area's year-round tourism offerings, building on the momentum of the ski hill development and other growing attractions nearby. By drawing in new visitors and enabling them to stay longer, the project will lead to increased traffic at businesses throughout the Highlands and Cape Breton.
Today's announcement further demonstrates the Government of Canada's commitment to tourism growth as a key economic driver in Atlantic Canada.
