Highlights from Kelowna Nordic AGM - Thursday, October 15, 2026
The Kelowna Nordic Ski & Snowshoe Club AGM was held on Thursday, October 15 at the Kelowna Golf and Country Club. There were thirty-five members in attendance ensuring that the quorum was met.
A transformational season
Last year was transformational for Kelowna Nordic. After a tremendous fundraising effort and remarkable generosity of members, donors, and community partners, the Club purchased the Prinoth Bison groomer. A Ginzu groomer was also added to enable our groomers to efficiently groom ski trails in light snow and early season conditions.
New youth programs introduced snowshoeing and cross-country skiing to young participants and active community outreach increased our Club’s visibility, helping to build a stronger foundation for growth. Even with the Bison acquisition and other investments in capital assets, the Club is debt-free. Further, membership rates have remained at last year’s prices.
The projected budget for the 26/27 season covers: trail grooming, expansion of school and youth programs, advancing accessibility at our facilities, upgrading signage, and growing our membership base.
Annual summer/fall grooming
Significant trail cleanup took place over the last few months. Blowdown and hazard trees were removed, overhanging branches trimmed, sight lines on corners and priority locations maintained, snowshoe routes reflagged, and key areas on many trails were widened to accommodate the width of the new groomer.
Comfort and accessibility
Kelowna Nordic’s four cabins remain a defining part of the Kelowna Nordic experience. The Log Cabin has been refurbished from floor to ceiling, painting and ongoing maintenance is taking place in the Main Cabin, the accessible outhouse project in collaboration with Recreation Sites and Trails BC (RSTBC) is progressing, and signage replacement and improvements to wayfinding maps continue.
Member passes and benefits
Members can look forward to popular Kelowna Nordic events this season: Moonlight Ski & Snowshoe, Cabins and Cookies, and social gatherings at the Main Cabin. The Cabins and Cookies Tour was cancelled last year due to low snow conditions. This season, to ensure we have better conditions for this popular event, the Cabins and Cookies Tour will take place during the Family Day weekend.
Approximately 150 early bird passes have been sold. With the October 31 deadline looming, bigger sales are anticipated near the end of the month. Typically, Kelowna Nordic has 600 active members and between 3,000 and 4,000 daily users annually. For long-term stability, the Club hopes to grow its membership base to 800.
Member benefits include: one free ski lesson, free social events, member insurance coverage through Cross Country BC, 25% day pass discounts with reciprocal ski clubs and savings with an expanded list of business partners: Mountain Warehouse, Mountain Lifestyle, McCulloch Lake Resort, Hillcrest Café, Over The Top Racks and Lakeside Eco Sports.
Volunteers are the pulse of our Club
The heart of Kelowna Nordic is its volunteers. Seven work parties were organized over the summer and fall months and one more is planned for Saturday, October 24. Volunteers have come out in record numbers to maintain trails, cabins, firewood and facilities and spruce up Kelowna Nordic for the 26/27 season!
A survey, sent out in September, was completed by 150 members. Participants were asked which major projects the Board should consider in the future. 40.8% of respondents selected improvements to the Main Cabin as a main focus moving forward. On the question of supporting Kelowna Nordic, 62.7% said they would consider making a financial donation, while 45.1% said they would contribute volunteer labour.
Fundraising for financial stability
Kelowna Nordic is working to ensure its financial stability through diversified fundraising, which includes capital fundraising, corporate sponsorship, grants and donations.
The Club has already garnered financial support, which will help to offset increasing costs: Central Okanagan Foundation donated $15,000/year for three years; the BC Community Gaming Grants Program awarded $2,900 to the Club; and Callahan Property Group has generously stepped up with $10,000 to finance the Club’s signage upgrades over the next two years.
Additionally, Kelowna Nordic is receiving donations through the Return-It Express program, where members can direct their empty beverage container refunds to their Club. The account is up to $800 in just under two months.
Changes on the Board
Five Board members - Lisa Howard, Laurie Cole, Michael Le Feuvre, Gord Fawcett and Tom Ferguson - are leaving as their terms are up. Current President, Marshall Moleschi presented the departing Board members with plaques in appreciation of their dedication and commitment to the Club. We would like to extend a warm welcome to new Board Directors - Ryan Cope, John Davina, Louise Desmarais and Diane Paterson. Marshall Moleschi, who has served one 2-year term as President, will serve a second term on the Board.
