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Urban Snowmaking at Earl Bales Ski Centre

Overview

Earl Bales Ski & Snowboard Centre is the pinnacle of urban skiing in Toronto. Nestled in the heart of North York, Ontario (just 14km from downtown), Earl Bales is home to thousands of skiers and snowboarders every year. What many people may not know is that the pristine, powdery snow covering the slopes they enjoy, is the result of cutting-edge artificial snow-making techniques. The City’s system blends high-pressure water and air through snow cannons to achieve this. This year, Earl Bales boasts a modern upgrade to their artificial snow-making system that exponentially increases output - thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Taurus team. This past season, Taurus Contracting had the privilege of working with the City of Toronto to upgrade the Centre's snow-making operation. This game-changing upgrade has helped enhance the skiing experience of many Torontonians this year. It is a testament to the City's commitment to accessible winter sports and sustainable snow-making practices.

Project Highlights

This project began in October 2023 and was structured in three phases with a tight timeline constraint of two months to guarantee job completion before the 2023/2024 ski season. We installed approximately 2,300 linear feet of air and water lines, culminating in over 150 welds. We utilized trench boxes to ensure safety and compliance for any excavations exceeding 4 feet in depth. The installation strategy for the piping was meticulously planned to incorporate a 2% slope, facilitating optimal gravity drainage while being safeguarded by bedding sand. Additionally, tracer wire was integrated alongside the piping to streamline future location efforts. The system was also equipped with 6 custom nozzles that blend air and water under optimal conditions engineered to project snow up to a distance of 40 feet, enhancing the operational efficiency, reliability and scale of snow production at the Ski Centre.

Biggest Complexities of the project

The project faced many challenges, most notably in its timing and scheduling. Initiating excavation in the late fall presented a formidable challenge as the team raced against impending snowfall and the onset of the upcoming ski season. The installation of 2,300 linear feet of pipe, requiring a precise 2% fall for adequate gravity drainage, further complicated the endeavour. Operational interruptions were inevitable, as work schedules had to be adjusted to accommodate the ski centre's booked events and celebrations. Despite thorough scanning of the excavation area, unforeseen substructures in the ground had to be removed and dealt with. Moreover, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) conducted rigorous inspections of all air and water lines to ensure they withstood pressure tests, underscoring the project's stringent adherence to safety and operational standards. However, despite all these challenges, we were still able to deliver a successful project that was on schedule and within budget.

About Earl Bales Ski & Snowboard Centre

The Earl Bales Ski and Snowboard Centre, located in North York, Ontario, offers a unique and accessible winter sports experience within the city limits. With a modest yet sufficient 1 km of slopes spread between elevations of 140 and 183 metres, the centre caters predominantly to intermediate and beginner skiers. The facility is equipped with 3 lifts, including a 4-person and a 2-person fixed-grip chairlift, alongside a rope tow/baby lift, ensuring a total lift capacity of 3,900 passengers per hour. Open from early January until mid-March, the centre also accommodates night skiing, extending its operating hours till 9:30 PM.

References

1. https://www.blogto.com/sports_play/2022/12/earl-bales-park-ski-snowboard-centre-toronto/
2. https://www.toronto.ca/data/parks/prd/facilities/complex/2766/index.html
3. Tauruscontracting.ca
4. https://www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/earl-bales-north-york-toronto/test-result/size/