Crabbe Mountain Triples The Size Of Its Lodge
FREDERICTON — Ski hill Crabbe Mountain has tripled the size of its lodge in anticipation of its role as co-host of the Canada Winter Games, which open on February 18.
Crabbe has consolidated its former 15,000-square -foot facility, spread out over four buildings, to a 22,000-square-foot, single space.
“After being awarded the Alpine, Para Alpine, and Moguls events for the PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games, we advanced the timing for our expansion so that we would be able to provide a fantastic venue for the athletes and volunteers,” says Cindy MacDougall, president of the board for Crabbe Mountain.
The new lodge includes accessible washrooms, new conference and event spaces, increased seating and changing areas, and improved food services.
This comes as the hill prepares to host the alpine ski, para alpine and mogul ski and snowboard events as a part of the two-week event.
MacDougall says the resort has its eye on the future with this expansion.
“This upgrade will allow us to look at year-round opportunities in the future which will benefit the local economy.”
Mountain biking and hiking are some of the year-round offerings the hill will support with its new lodge facilities.
The expansion was funded by a $1 million repayable contribution from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
Sports tournaments have been a big economic draw for the Maritimes in recent years.
In 2019, New Brunswick tourism minister Tammy Scott-Wallace estimated that sports tourism and tournaments contributed $139 million to the economy. While more recently the World Junior Hockey Championship was estimated to have generated $20 million in economic activity for New Brunswick.
The Canada Winter Games will be held in locations across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI. Over 3500 participants are expected for the Games, which feature 150 events in 20 different sports, with the opening ceremonies happening in Charlottetown’s Eastlink Centre. Halifax’s Emera Oval will play host to the speed skating events.