Historically, ski areas were designed and built by skiers for skiers. Period. Eventually, they came to embrace snowboarders and, very briefly, snowbladers as well. While many ski areas are now vying to broaden their offerings and attract new visitors year-round, the Town of Georgina followed its own unique path in creating a remarkable feeder hill called the ROC (Recreational Outdoor Campus).
The ROC, Ontario
If You Build It, They Will Gather And Play. Year-round.
Ski Hill:
The ROC (Recreational Outdoor Campus)
Location:
Keswick, Ontario
Vertical:
32 m (105 ft.)
Snowfall:
4.74 m (186.9 in.)
Map:
Find us here
How A First Line Of Defence
Became A Year-round Playground
Named after Lady Georgina Louisa Bathurst, Georgina was established on the scenic shores of Lake Simcoe, Ontario in 1818. The lakeshore properties were open to ‘privileged persons’ (i.e. men of military background), who would defend Toronto from any further American incursions following the War of 1812. The settlement eventually evolved into a commercial and transportation centre serviced by road, rail and steamship. But it wasn’t until 1877 that the area began finding its true calling as a welcome (and very welcoming) retreat for Torontonians eager to escape the Queen City. In 1971, the townships, villages and communities of Georgina, Sutton and North Gwillimbury were amalgamated and later became the new Town of Georgina. By that time, the area had become a go-to playground for cottagers, weekenders and day trippers alike.
With the advent of roads, railways and steamships, the area that is now known as the Town of Georgina became a welcome retreat for eager Torontonians escaping the summer heat.
Former Mayor of Georgina, Robert Grossi (centre), flanked by his former Director of Operations and Engineering, Dan Pisani (left) and former Manager of Parks and Facilities, Dan Murnaghan (right).
Start Small. Dream Big.
In 1991, a local, financial services consultant named Robert Grossi was elected to the Georgina Town Council. An inveterate volunteer, Rob also served as executive director of the Big Brothers of York and as founder and president of Georgina Cares, a local children’s charity. More importantly, he also presided as mayor for seventeen of the twenty-four years that he sat on the Georgina Town Council. While mayor, he and his fellow councillors thought the area could use a nearby, year-round, outdoor recreational facility. Local construction was booming and countless new building sites were being excavated. The town council proposed converting the freshly dug-up earth into a small, local ski hill. Critics and detractors quickly dubbed the project Mount Grossi. Undeterred, the town council worked tirelessly to give families in and around Georgina their own, year-round, outdoor playground.
“The original vision included having something high quality, accessible and diverse in scope so townspeople need not travel far for recreation. There was an emphasis on trails, nature and on preserving and enhancing environmental features.”
– Winter Mitchell, Recreation Services Supervisor for the Town of Georgina
And Now, Something For Everyone!
According to Recreation Services Supervisor for the Town of Georgina, Winter Mitchell, “Georgina was expecting growth, and with growth comes demand for recreation facilities close to home. The idea was to have a recreation space that works year-round. In winter, the ROC would offer activities like skiing, snowboarding, snow-tubing and snowshoeing.” Then when the weather warmed up and people once again ventured outdoors, they could come and enjoy the ROC’s sports fields, trails, splash pads, picnic areas and more. Says Winter, “The plan was to offer people of all ages – children, youth, adults, families and seniors – a broad variety of facilities so that more people could find something at the ROC that meets their recreation needs.”
Who would have ever guessed that you could convert this mound of old, dirty, dug up earth into a sparkling, year-round, recreational facility? Georgina’s Town Council did.
“While few ski hills are municipally owned and operated, the ROC stands out for its wide range of amenities that cater to diverse age groups and interests, all in one spot.”
– Tanya Thompson, Communications Manager, Corporate Services, Georgina
Let The Fun Begin
The ROC officially opened in 2011. The original plan of erecting a modest ski hill had morphed into one hundred and fifty sprawling acres of fun-filled parkland. Thanks to the vision and work of successive town councils, the ROC would also boast high and low ropes challenge courses, a zip line and a rock-climbing wall. As well as a BMX park, a mountain biking park and trails for hiking and biking. Plus a regulation baseball diamond and softball and T-Ball diamonds. Soccer and lacrosse playing fields. Basketball, tennis and pickleball courts. There was even a faithfully reconstructed Georgina Pioneer Village, which has since been renamed the Georgina Village Museum. Locals weren’t the only ones who were delighted, amused and impressed. Many Torontonians absolutely loved it!
“Since its opening, the ROC has become a cornerstone of our community. A place where residents and visitors come together to connect, celebrate and stay active year-round. It’s more than just a recreational space; it’s where memories are made, events are hosted, and community is built.”
– Current Town of Georgina Mayor, Margaret Quirk
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!
When the lift-served hill opened in 2012, children, youth and families immediately began hitting the slopes and discovering the joys of tubing, skiing, snowboarding and, later, tobogganing. These days the hill, alone, averages upwards of one hundred thousand visitors per winter. Which works out to about one thousand people per vertical foot. (And you thought Whister’s numbers were impressive!) Says Winter, “I would say that a majority of our drop-in guests are using our snow-tubing hills. However, we see over one thousand ski and snowboard lesson participants that attend our four or eight-week, one-hour sessions throughout the ski season.”
“We have dubbed it, ‘York Region’s Adventure Headquarters.’
A year‑round recreation hub and a tubing lane paradise.”
– Winter Mitchell
As the current Mayor of Georgina, Margaret Quirk can attest, building a recreational facility is one thing. Constantly maintaining and improving it is something else again.
A Local Treasure
Today, the ROC also hosts between eighty and one hundred school trips. Three years ago, the rental shop began stocking ski and snowboarding equipment and demand for lessons immediately soared. Although the campus has yet to yield a Steve Podborski or a Mark McMorris—who first learned to ski or ride at their respective, small, local, community ski areas—some might argue it’s only a matter of time. Says Mayor Margaret Quirk, “Over the years, successive town councils have continued to invest in the ROC, expanding its offerings and ensuring it remains a vibrant, inclusive destination for all. We’re proud of what the ROC represents and the role it plays in bringing people together.”
Georgina’s Favourite Meeting Place
This year, the ROC celebrated Georgina’s diversity, openness and spirit of kinship by hosting a Cultural Festival. Every year, it’s home to SnoFest, a day-long, outdoor winter carnival that typically draws over ten thousand revellers. Canada Day brings more than twenty thousand visitors to the campus. While well over five thousand merrymakers come out for Family Fright (a colourful, pre-Hallowe’en event). What makes these numbers even more impressive is that this municipally owned and run facility is managed by just four, full-time staff, and upwards of 200 seasonal workers.
More than just a ski hill, the ROC has become the place where people from and around Georgina come to meet and play and enjoy some good, clean, year-round fun.
Long May You Run!
Like many ski areas today, the ROC is feeling the effects of our changing climate. Winters are starting later and ending sooner than ever, while the number of snow and snowmaking days and nights has also declined. Compounding matters, finding qualified personnel willing to a work at such a small ski hill is no small task. Even in Georgina, where the population now tops fifty thousand inhabitants. Yet despite Georgina’s incredible growth and success, it has somehow retained its friendly, small-town grace and charm. Visitors love its picture-perfect streets that are lined with historic properties, nifty boutiques and cozy eateries. As for the Recreational Outdoor Campus… well, thanks to the community’s unflagging support and the town council’s hard work, it’s still Georgina’s crown jewel where everyone can major in good, clean, outdoor fun and recreation all year long.
The ROC Winter season 2018-2019
Writer: Dave Fonda
Web designer & integrator: Dominique Paquette
Photographs and videos courtesy of The ROC (Recreational Outdoor Campus) and used with their permission.
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