INNISFAIL – It was not a good ending to 2018 for the Innisfail Ski Hill.
Innisfail RCMP are still investigating a break-in at the skill hill chalet that is thought to have taken place sometime between 10:30 p.m. on the evening of Dec. 30 and the morning of Dec. 31.
“It’s still under investigation. We hope to release some photographs of the missing items,” said Innisfail RCMP Staff Sgt. Chris Matechuk.
Matechuk could not confirm whether just one individual or several people were involved in the break-in or if any vehicles were used.
“The entry was gained through the window,” he said, noting preliminary numbers indicate about 10 snowboards and pairs of boots were taken.
No skis were believed to have been taken, said ski hill officials.
That number, along with monetary value and damages, will need to be confirmed against inventory lists with the ski hill, Matechuk noted.
“I don’t have the totals yet but the file is still under investigation and hopefully we’ll have that (information) soon.”
Angy Ball, volunteer coordinator with the Innisfail Ski Hill, said the organization is disappointed with the recent break-in.
“It is very disappointing. We’ve had a lot of support from a few other ski hills as well as the community at large,” said Ball, who requested her maiden name be used for the story due to family reasons.
“People are very upset. This is a volunteer-based hill; nobody gets paid here. It’s a community service really, and we pour our hearts and souls into this ski hill so it’s very disappointing that somebody would steal and hurt something that’s of value to not just us, but the kids in the community,” she added.
Ball said they are working with RCMP to confirm the exact amount and dollar value of equipment that was stolen. A small amount of candy was also taken from the concession stand.
The rental equipment taken was larger sizes (size 10 and up).
“When the volunteers came on Monday, they immediately called the RCMP and they came and (conducted) their investigation on site,” said Ball.
She said she believed it wasn’t the first time the chalet was broken into, but was the first in recent years.
Ball confirmed that the break-in occurred through the front window, which has since been repaired.
She said the organization posted on social media for people to keep their eyes open for anything unusual, on Facebook or on local buy and sell websites.
“We’re hoping they would come forward to the police or to one of the directors at the ski hill,” said Ball. “It’d be great to have the equipment back, but we feel at this point it’s unlikely so we’re just looking at what those options are and how we can replace that (equipment).”
