This is the area in Air Ronge proposed for a winter park featuring ski trails. (Village of Air Ronge)

By Derek Cornet

development

Air Ronge winter park proposal defeated

Jan 21, 2026 | 12:47 PM

A proposed winter park development in Air Ronge won’t move ahead after significant concerns were raised at a public meeting on Tuesday.

The goal of the meeting was to gather feedback about the creation of a 12-foot-wide trail cleared by a skid steer through swamp and scrub brush near Gordon Denny Community School. Using a medal drag, a snowmobile or quad would have made a trail through the snow for cross-country, skate or classic skiing, as well as snowshoeing around the perimeter.

In addition, an inner trail would have been designated as a walking path, and would allow access for land-based education.

The majority of residents who attended the meeting, as well as those who provided feedback in the form of a letter, were against the project. Concerns were raised about the damage that would be done to the ecosystem, increased safety and security issues (such as mischief and lighting fires) for nearby homeowners, and questions about how often the trails would actually be used.

Air Ronge resident Linda Mikolayenko explained there could be species of concern and sensitive plants in the proposed area, and suggested the village should undertake a biodiversity inventory and implement mitigation strategies based on the results.

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“I have documented species in that area which are rare in Saskatchewan, and which I am not aware appear in any other area in Air Ronge,” she wrote in her letter.

“Do we want to risk losing this without careful investigation and consideration? And if one of the proposed purposes is land-based education, it seems contradictory to the principle of harmonious relationships with the land to be destroying habitat that sensitive species rely on for the sake of convenience [and] proximity to the school.”

A regular village meeting followed the public consultation, and the project was defeated by a vote of three to two. Deputy Mayor Terry DesRoches and Coun. Dave Smallwood voted in favour, while Mayor Julie Baschuk and councillors Tabitha Burr and James Hope Howard were opposed.

Even though the project won’t go ahead, council still decide to move forward with a biodiversity study of the land.

“I think there has been lots of excellent feedback that’s been received,” Baschuk said.

“I think there’s a lot of good feedback, a lot of good questions about accountability, and I think it hit the nail on the head just in how we proceed with priorities and projects.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com