The groundwork is being laid for the development of an alpine resort near Valemount.
An expression of interest has been submitted to the provincial government for a resort in the area of Mount Arthur Meighen and Mount Pierre Trudeau, just east of the village of 1,100 people 285 kilometres east of Prince George.
"This is probably the third or fourth fairly serious expression of interest looking for building some sort of a ski hill concept and this time around what we decided we would do is try and focus on something that could be marketed internationally as opposed to just another national or regional ski hill," said Valemount Ski Society president Joe Nusse.
"The site will have a picture frame massive view of Mount Robson virtually for the entire project so that's definitely something that's key to this concept."
Given the views and its location on a glacier, Nusse said it could draw visitors year round and not just skiers but also people who simply want to take in the scenery. He likened the idea to Zermatt in Switzerland, which looks out at the Matterhorn.
"You're making a mountain experience," he said.
Nusse said he and others have been working on the idea for almost a year.
A development corporation, headed by resort developer Oberto Oberti, who was behind the successful Kicking Horse Pass Mountain Resort near Golden but also the ill-fated Jumbo Glacier Resort proposal near Invermere, submitted the expression of interest in early December.
Submitted to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, the expression of interest is the first step in a process of winning government approval to establish a resort. The document outlines the proposal and is taken through a 30-day review and referral process.
If no major concerns emerge, the next step is a competitive process, which may take place if competing expressions of interest are received and is based on terms of reference provided by the
ministry.
Once a single proponent is selected, the ministry invites submission of a formal proposal providing significantly more detail, and, if that stage is passed, a master plan is drafted for further review and final approval of the land use decision.
Oberti did not respond to a request for an interview.
