Two volunteers have stepped up to run the annual Moonlight Ski in Mt. Revelstoke National Park, continuing a 29-year-old community tradition.
John Skrypnyk and Paul Tigchelaar have signed an agreement with Parks Canada to do track setting up the Meadows in the Sky Parkway, allowing the annual event to continue, said Parks spokesperson Marnie DiGiandomenico.
"It's wonderful news," she said.
The Moonlight Ski will take place on Saturday, Feb. 23, from 4-8 p.m.
The event was in jeopardy after budget cuts forced Parks Canada to stop offering winter services in Mt. Revelstoke National Park. That has meant no track setting up the parkway this winter.
"It's national direction and we're not supposed to incur costs, and so that makes it tricky," said DiGiandomenico. "For this event to happen, you really need track setting, you need a trail to be broken."
While budget cuts has meant Parks cannot provide the service, volunteers have stepped up to make the Moonlihght Ski happen.
Skrypnyk said he stepped up when he heard Parks had no one to run the event. He has already been for a walk up the parkway in snowshoes to check out the route and make plans for track setting.
"It's a good program," he said. "It gets people out there to socialize and hang out in a cabin. It's a good atmosphere."