The Valemount Glacier Destination Resort – a potential year-round skiing and alpine resort worth $175 million – has taken another step forward with the B.C. government’s approval of the master plan.

The proposed resort is located in the Cariboo Mountains immediately west of the Village of Valemount and would be a major economic contributor to the region. The project has strong support from the local MLA and the Simpcw First Nation, as well a variety of stakeholders including local residents, community groups, the Village of Valemount and the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, a provincial government press release stated.

Public consultation was completed in March.

With the master plan, the proponent envisions year-round glacier skiing, gondola access for alpine sightseeing, and a 1,997-bed unit base area development.

Now that the master plan has been approved, Valemount Glacier Destination Resort will work with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations on the master development agreement.

The master development agreement is the land use contract between the resort proponent and the province and details how the resort will be constructed and operated. Once a master development agreement is in place, resort construction can proceed.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the the people of Valemount and the Simpcw First Nation. We are especially thankful for the support of the local MLA Shirley Bond and I’m confident that we can build an unparalleled mountain destination that respects the local environment and meets all the necessary requirements of the province,” stated Valemount Glacier Destination Ltd. president and CEO Oberto Oberti, the mastermind behind the Jumbo Glacier Resort proposal that has been hanging around the Columbia Valley the past 25 years.

“The approval of the master plan is a significant step in the review and authorization process,” said Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson.

“In the nearly 16 years that I’ve been representing this area, I have learned how important the tourism sector is and how hard everyone has worked to diversify the economy. This project will create a world-class destination resort, create jobs and grow the economy. A lot of hard work has brought us to the approval reached today and I am committed to continuing the hard work necessary to ensure a successful outcome of the next steps in the process. This project will provide major benefits to the Robson Valley Region and the province,” said Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour, and MLA for Prince George-Valemount Shirley Bond.

Lead image from Valemount Glacier Destination Resort

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