It’s been a tough year for Mount Evergreen because of the warm temperatures.

But the ski hill is getting a helping hand from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.

Blair McCallum is the past president and says they have received a grant of $496,500.

“A big section of the grant is going to be for new, on hill lighting for night skiing,” outlines McCallum.

“Our existing system is so ancient we actually can’t get parts for it any more and we lost a number of lights, which we’ve had to hook up to generators.”

McCallum says the rest of the grant will go toward upgrades to their lift stations, a used groomer and improvements at their chalet.

“There’s also money to do much-needed maintenance to our lifts and our lift buildings that we have on site.  Then there is some money for a new, new to us groomer we call it.  A used groomer.”

In the chalet, the money will go towards some renovations, including new flooring.