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Staff Feature – Conservation Parks and Lands Staff, Winter Operations

Staff Feature – Conservation Parks and Lands Staff, Winter Operations

April 7, 2021

A significant increase of public interest in Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) parks, trails, and greenspaces has been observed across TRCA parks and facilities since the onset of the pandemic. Staff adapted to working within the government guidelines and continued to adjust operations to provide the public with opportunity to enjoy safe outdoor activities this winter at Albion Hills Conservation Park.

Albion Hills is TRCA’s only conservation park that operates year-round. Efforts are concentrated at Albion Hills to operate winter activities including cross-country skiing, fat biking, snowshoeing, and tobogganing. Staff also complete mandatory winter monitoring and inspections when the other six parks are closed to ensure that buildings and infrastructure are secure, and any identified hazards are corrected during the late fall and winter season.

Staff groom 26 km of double track set classic ski trails daily, ranging from 1.5 km to 9 km loops, for the public to enjoy. Historically, the winter program runs anywhere from one to 10 weeks dependent on the weather and conditions. This season, they opened for day use on December 28, 2020 and were open every day through the winter until the warm weather arrived recently. What a terrific season!

TRCA staff conduct winter ski trail maintenance at Albion Hills Conservation Park
TRCA staff conduct winter ski trail maintenance at Albion Hills Conservation Park

Conservation Parks staff always work to put the health and safety of our visitors and staff at the forefront of our operations. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, safety continues to be more important than ever! In collaboration with our internal partners in ITRM, Marketing, HR Health and Safety, and Risk, staff were able to implement many operational and procedural adjustments this winter season to accommodate for Provincial COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines to ensure safe operations.

As an example: with the implementation of online ski trail passes, visitors were able to pre-book their skiing in advance. Although preparations were made for ski rentals and outdoor fire pits, for example, those services were not able to be taken advantage of this year. Regardless of the limitations that COVID-19 has imposed, over 20,500 skiers and outdoor enthusiasts were on the trails with their own equipment, enjoying Albion Hills and the incredible scenery of the park!

Thank you to all Conservation Parks Staff for your determination and hard work to deliver safe, quality leisure opportunity for the public during the pandemic!