hemlockThe province has officially announced its approval of a $1.5 billion expansion plan at Hemlock Valley Resort that will see it grow from 350 to over 6,000 hectares.
Ralph Berezan bought the resort for $3 million in 2006, and tells us this day has been a long time coming. He says their master plan sets a development path for the next 55 years.

“Basically, it’s numerous chairlifts, residential, and we also have frontage along Harrison Lake so we’re also going to be doing summer projects as well, so we’ll have a full year recreation facility.”

He says he’s had a wonderful relationship with the Sts’ailes Band, and they all have a common goal of increasing tourism to the area.

 

“I went to the First Nations first, before going to the province, when I first got involved in Hemlock, and I think that was one of my better moves.  The Sts’ailes are just a wonderful group of people….they’re honest and sincere and want to see improvements, especially for tourism in this area.  We were able to come to agreement after just a few years of negotiating.”

He admits a lack of snow the last couple of years was a bit concerning, but there’s snow up there right now, and the key here is to turn it into a year round resort.
The first phase of the build is expected to include improvements to the chairlifts, possibly a new hotel, and it should create over 1,100 new jobs.