BROOKVALE, P.E.I. — Chloe Gallant was ready to go downhill skiing Thursday morning.
Under a sunny sky, Chloe and classmates Jalena Deagle, Mitchell Perry and Dominick MacDonald were gathered near the Ski Buddies equipment at the Mark Arendz Provincial Ski Park in Brookvale on March 12.
The hills were freshly groomed for the students from Westisle Composite High School.
The Ski Buddies program loans adaptive equipment so skiers of all abilities can enjoy a day on the slopes.
Back on the hill, once geared up, Mitchell was off like a shot with his educational assistant (EA) Michelle Gamble.
Chloe and Jalena had been to the park before and the girls were each loaned a sit-ski, a special seat clipped onto modified downhill skis.
Two volunteers accompany each sit-skier. One guides the skier down the slopes using a handle on the back of the seat. At the lift, the volunteers lift the seat onto the chair lift.
First-time skier Dominick was partnered with volunteers Roddy MacLean and Shelley MacEwen.
MacEwen has been part of Ski Buddies for nearly two decades.
A ski instructor and volunteer, MacEwen also managed to teach her son, Justin, a person with disabilities, to ski unassisted using Ski Buddies equipment.
At 27, Justin has been skiing on his own for over 15 years, because of MacEwen’s dedication.
For five years, the two would come skiing every Saturday.
Justin started in a sit-ski, but MacEwen was confident he could do it on his own.
“We kept doing different things. I kept weaning him off all the adaptations,” said MacEwen.
“It’s a neat accomplishment. I think it resonates more with me than it does with him. He doesn’t comprehend all the work leading up to it, but that’s what my job is, as a mom.”
Outside the rental shop, Erin Curley, assistant superintendent of Mark Arendz Provincial Ski Park at Brookvale, helped to clip Jalena into a sit-ski.
“It’s the best part of my job,” she said. “They can ski just like their friends.”
Curley normally works in the park office. She had just slipped out to make sure the two Westisle skiers were looked after.
But Jalena and Chloe were in good hands.
Mitchel Guindon who usually drives a groomer overnight was guiding Chloe with the help of ski patroller Mark Creamer and Jalena’s team was made up of Frank Watts and Anthony Doucette, two other park staffers.
Doucette, Watts and Guindon were called in one day when the program's founder, Bernard Labelle, was short-handed.
But Curley wasn’t sure the 20-something staffers would be willing to leave their usual tasks.
“It was a favour the first time,” she said.
After the first session, they were keen to help again.
“I couldn’t be prouder of my boys,” said Curley.
“Without the volunteers and Bernard (Labelle), they made it what it is,” said Curley. “We’re happy to help in a small way.”
MacEwen said the P.E.I. program is the envy of the other Maritime ski hills.
“Out program costs nothing,” she said.
The "buddies" are volunteers and the equipment is loaned for free.
Anyone looking for help accessing the hill can call Curley.
“It’s totally inclusive,” said MacEwen.
“Mobility or intellectually, you just adapt to for whatever ability they have.”
