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Letter: Making a challenging time a little easier

Some thanks from Hardwood Ski and Bike Inc. following a fire which destroyed the main lodge
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BarrieToday received the following letter to the editor from Michael Badham of Hardwood Ski and Bike Inc. and the Georgian Angel Network:

I want to begin by saying THANK YOU.

Thank you to everyone who has made this tremendously challenging time a little more manageable. The fire which destroyed the main lodge at Hardwood Ski and Bike on Christmas Day has exposed me to a level of support and kindness from our customers, staff, suppliers and even neighbouring ski areas that has been overwhelming. It has made me reflect on the strength of the Barrie and Simcoe community and to be ever more aware and grateful to live and work in this incredible area.

Let me start with the volunteer fire fighters who arrived on the scene early Christmas morning (imagine leaving your children and family on Christmas morning) and performed their duties with utmost professionalism. Friendly and hard working, they accomplished their mission quickly and effectively. Thank you.

It continued with the many Nordic ski areas in Simcoe and Grey providing Hardwood members free skiing, and our customers expressing their support and offering to help. They all say, “We know you will come back strong.” Thank you for your support.

Our management team and staff have worked tirelessly to re-open the trails for skiing while managing the recovery of assets for insurance and assessing damage prior to beginning repairs. When the fire struck, our team mobilized and began planning on Christmas Day. Thank you.

The support extends to all parts of the community – imagine the sales person at Staples offering to photo copy our insurance policy at no charge! Every time I think about that small incident it overwhelms me. Thank you to all of our suppliers.

Finally, the staff at Oro-Medonte Township are working to process permits to enable Hardwood to begin the process of bringing in temporary infrastructure while we rebuild the lodge. Thank you. Your positive attitude will help us recover faster.

Support for local businesses is an important aspect of community building. Barrie and Simcoe County is a supportive community for local businesses and we all play our part in building this community. Thank you to everyone for creating this environment.

Hardwood is well on its way to returning to offer skiing, snowshoeing, biking, trail running, programs, events, and more. We are determined to say thank you to each customer and stakeholder who has supported our efforts in restoring Hardwood to a healthy, fun and safe place for all ages to pursue their outdoor recreation activities.

Thank you.

Michael Badham
Chair of Board of Directors, Hardwood Ski and Bike Inc.
Managing Director, Georgian Angel Network


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