Lodge Legacy Project

Sovereign Lake Nordic Club > Lodge Legacy Project

Let the winter adventures begin

DAY LODGE CAMPAIGN – Help Create a LEGACY that enriches our community!

Sovereign Lake Nordic Club, in partnership with BC Parks, is planning to upgrade our 35-year-old day lodge, which is the hub for the amazing trails at Sovereign Lake. The existing lodge was built partly with volunteer labour and is nearing the end of its useful life unless renovations are done. Doing nothing is not an option. The BC government is committing funds to the project, but SLNC is leading the fundraising for a renewed public day lodge that will provide the space and amenities needed to welcome Nordic sports enthusiasts of all ages and abilities! Our design concept calls for an addition coupled with renovation of the existing building.

The Lodge Legacy Project fundraising campaign began last October and has so far raised $1,450,000 through grassroots efforts from the Nordic community, local small businesses, and grants. This is on top of the financial commitment from BC Parks. A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED SO FAR! If you are still thinking about a donation, please help to keep up the momentum by making a contribution. The lodge and trails at Sovereign Lake are assets owned by the people of BC, so SLNC’s volunteers are working with BC Parks to make this project a reality.

Donate to the Day Lodge

We already have world-class trails. What if we had the lodge to match? 

 

Outdoor Fun for Kids

School and community groups get to hit our trails almost daily in the winter and every year we see more children sign up for evening and weekend programs. Right now, all kids groups put on skis and eat lunch in a tiny cabin without washrooms. We can’t wait to welcome them in our warm and spacious new lodge.

Adaptive Adventures

With wheelchair-friendly entrance ramps and washrooms on both levels, an elevator and enough room to easily get around, our new day lodge will be an inclusive space for all.

Fitness & Friendship

Staying active in the outdoors brings tremendous benefits to physical health and mental wellbeing. With more space to have a coffee and catch up after hitting the trails, Sovereign’s day lodge will also be an important place to build social connections.

Welcome the World & Tourism Dollars

With more square footage and greater facilities, Sovereign can continue to meet growing demand from visitors and host Nordic skiing and biathlon races ranging from regional events up to international races and more. We already contribute $5.2 million to the BC economy in total spin-offs every year and with a new day lodge, our impact can only grow! READ THE ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT

Lighten Our Environmental Impact

Modern heating systems and windows, better insulation and green materials means we can be good, energy efficient stewards.

A Place To Belong

As a community hub, Sovereign’s new day lodge will offer:
    • 8,000 sq ft over two levels (compared to current 3,800 sq ft) with more room to gear up, warm up and catch up!
    • Fully accessible amenities, including entrance ramps, bathrooms, hallways and gathering spaces on both levels, and an elevator.
    • Kitchen facilities to prepare hot meals for club gatherings and special events.
    • An improved space for rentals, with much better flow in and out.

As a public facility in a provincial park for all of us to enjoy

    • SLNC is working with BC Parks to advance the design, and BC Parks will manage construction of the day lodge addition, including taking the financial risk.
    • As Park Use Permit holders, we are responsible for building maintenance and improvements, but BC Parks has generously committed funding to the project.
    • Renewal will allow for improved environmental performance – modern heating systems, better insulation and windows, and green materials appropriate for the park setting.
    • This lodge and trails are for everyone and all are welcome to enjoy snowy fun.

GIVE TO THE SOVEREIGN DAY LODGE

Every dollar counts in the development of this community lodge! Join us in creating a legacy of outdoor winter enjoyment for so many children, families, seniors and athletes for years to come.
 

On-line Gifts of $20 and Up

Donate online and get a tax-deductible receipt from Nordiq Canada. There is no limit to what one can give through Nordiq Canada (except your own credit card limit). If you would like your gift acknowledged in a special way (or anonymously), please include a note in the “Comments” box on Nordiq Canada’s donation page. Possible examples include:
  • “The Xyz Family”
  • “Mary and John Smith”
  • “In memory of Abcd Lastname”
  • “Anonymous”
Give Now

Other Ways to Give

Get in touch and we can help you learn more about how to make these types of donations and how we’ll recognize you, including tailored recognition plans for companies and individuals giving $25,000 and up. Tax receipts will be provided for all donations. Some community members have chosen to make a solid pledge to donate when we get closer to breaking ground. If this approach meets your needs, please also reach out to the Lodge Committee via email.
[email protected]
[email protected]
View Recognition Programs

Here’s why we support the Lodge Legacy Project

“So much has changed at SLNC since our family moved here in 1995. We have a world class facility with amazing trails, great programs  and great skiing for 5 months of the year. We have hosted World Cup races, World masters’ championships and have great skiing for around 5 months of the year. No other facility in North America has done all that. We have great staff, excellent grooming but the only thing that hasn’t changed is our lodge. I believe it is long past to change all that so that we have a new lodge that will allow us to continue to grow and allow more people to enjoy what we have to offer. To do this we need support, and we hope you will lend a hand in whatever way you are able.” -Dr. Stan Eaman, Long-time SLNC member and retired physician
“ The first time I skied at what was to become the Sovereign Lake cross country ski area was in 1957. There was no road ….. There were no trails ….. No lodge except an old waterboard cabin where we stayed. No toilets, no maps, just the road to the fire lookout. The next time I was here was when we returned to live in Vernon. There was a parking lot, the original lodge, but no running water and only an outhouse. There were trails but very limited and my memory is that there were no groomed trails, but there was a club, lots of enthusiasm, many volunteers who put in hours of work to make improvements and help create one of the best cross country ski areas in Canada. I believe that those of us who are enjoying the fruits of their dedication owe them our support in contributing what they can to the improvement of the lodge, which has not kept up with the other improvements like the trails, grooming, and race infrastructure.” -Linda Kennedy. Long-time Cross-Country Skier
“We want our children to feel part of a healthy, inclusive community. A sense of belonging and camaraderie develops naturally before, during and after Nordic program activities.” -Sue Cairns, Nordic enthusiast, parent and SLNC board member
“I’ve skied at Sovereign as a disabled athlete since 2006…I’d like to see more accessible washrooms on the main level…It’s often difficult to move around the lodge when crowded…Having a reserved table with wheelchair access would be wonderful”. -Dr. Rex Hawthorne
“ Sovereign Lake is the province’s largest XC ski club, and we are often the first ski club to open and the last ski club to close for the season. We host world class competitions, we hosted the Canadian ski team that competed in the last winter Olympics in Beijing to warm up at, and we welcome visitors from all across Canada and the U.S. It’s about time that our lodge was on par with the level of our terrain. The lodge project aims to add-on to our existing lodge to increase its capacity. Our facility is in a remote area and travelling to the Silver Star resort for food and beverage is not always feasible, given how busy their facilities can be.” -Stephanie Hendy. Masters Coach and Exercise Physiologist
“I joined the North Okanagan Cross County Ski Club in 1975, having been attracted to a healthy, outdoor recreation group. These early participants offered enthusiastic leadership and club growth. As a result, we soon had road access to the skiing area with a network of trails of all proficiencies, at the centre of which there was a day lodge offering services. Out of this beginning came the most active cross country ski club (now SLNC) in Canada. My hope and expectation is that the upgraded lodge will result in widespread community benefit .” – Peter Tassie. Long time supporter of SLNC who skied well into his nineties. Peter kindly provided this statement shortly before his passing in 2023.
“ I love the fitness gains, social engagement, and natural environment that Sovereign Lake Nordic Club provides. I contributed to the Lodge Renewal Project because I hope to enjoy these same benefits for 20 years to come .” -Dave Dennier. Current SLNC Board Member
“SLNC and SSMR are why we moved to Vernon 20 years ago. It is simply the best Nordic skiing in North America, if not the world. We want future generations to experience this, and the Lodge Legacy project will ensure this .” -Bruce and Sherry Sandilands
“Where to begin. Best and largest daily groomed network of amazing, diverse, gorgeous Nordic ski trails in North America. Incredible programs, superb snow conditions, and incredible community, plus a cozy intergenerational gathering space with services to support access to nature, community, learning, fitness, personal and competitive growth. It is time to renew the SLNC lodge to match the quality of skiing and experiences this place offers! ” -Jackie Gijssen
“I am supporting the lodge project by volunteering on the lodge committee and by donating monthly. Our family is supporting the project because our 31-year-old day lodge has reached the end of its useful life and doing nothing is no longer an option, and more space is needed to run programs and welcome the local community as well as visitors from around the world .” -Hugh Hamilton. Volunteer (Lodge Committee member, former Rabbit coach, race secretary, & Board member)
“The skiers who come for XC Supercamps have high expectations, and we can see lots of room for a shift in terms of the lodge design as something that could make the ski experience feel more inclusive, attractive, and relaxed.” –Bryana van Leeuewn, Director, Supercamps

SOVEREIGN’S IMPACT

Every winter

    • 500 skiers age 3-80+ in programs
    • 500 volunteers coaching, running events, maintaining facilities
    • 2,000 children from local schools try skiing and snowshoeing
    • people with different abilities
    • seniors enjoying activity and camaraderie
    • 2,000 passholders
    • 50,000 annual day visits from local residents and visitors from across North America and beyond
    • 4 major ski and biathlon events
    • $5.2 million economic impact to BC economy (direct, indirect and induced)

Our Guiding Documents

FAQs

Why is SLNC planning to upgrade the day lodge now? At 35 years old, the existing day lodge is nearing the end of its useful life. It’s too small for SLNC’s current needs, lacks accessibility for people with mobility challenges, and does not meet current building standards in several ways. Also, renting ski and snowshoe gear was not envisioned when the lodge was built, so the space is cramped and it’s tricky for people with their rental equipment to get in and out.
How did you come up with the schematic design plans? Can I comment on them? The current Lodge Committee reviewed work completed by previous committees over the past 10 years and built on that information by consulting with SLNC members, visitors, program participants, staff, and coaches. From this, the committee was able to determine the space and functionality needs for all users of the lodge. Then, with the help of an SLNC member and retired architect, the functional design was turned into preliminary hand drawings (floor plans) of the renovated/expanded lodge. Those sketches were then provided to the architecture firm that developed the current preliminary schematic drawings. The current drawings are not the final design and we welcome comments and suggestions.
Will SLNC always operate the Nordic ski area at Sovereign Lake? BC Parks has granted SLNC a 20-year extension of our Park Use Permit, up from the usual five years. SLNC will be running the Nordic Centre, including the day lodge, trails, and cabins, until at least 2043.
If the infrastructure at Sovereign Lake is the property of the Crown, then why isn’t BC Parks providing more funding? Our partners at BC Parks have generously committed funding to the project. With this solid start, and as our donations grow, the Lodge Committee continues to apply for other provincial, federal, and local government funding opportunities like gaming money and special grants. In December we were awarded $14,585 in BC Gaming money for early phase work.
Who will manage construction? Are cost overruns a concern? BC Parks will be responsible for hiring the building contractor and managing the project. In doing so, they will assume responsibility for any cost overruns. This significantly reduces SLNC’s risks.
Will the building project be sustainable? One of the main goals of the Lodge Legacy Project is to minimize the environmental footprint of lodge operations, including saving energy and minimizing carbon emissions. Renewable energy sources will be considered where possible.
How will we accommodate children and young families? The additional floor space and washrooms will make it possible for school groups (during the week) and kids’ programs (weekends & evenings) to get ready for their adventures in the main lodge rather than in the old cabin. There will also be room for a small play area for younger children and more washrooms with change tables.
Can you suggest how much should I donate? Sovereign Lake Nordic Club will be grateful for a gift of any amount. As a guideline, our fundraising target from SLNC passholders, visitors and friends is $650,000. With our approximately 2,200 passholders, that works out to an average commitment of about $300. Of course, some people will do more, and some will do less, but we encourage everyone in our Nordic skiing and snowshoeing community to help according to their ability. One can also help by donating their time to support the fundraising initiative (e.g. organizing a raffle, grant writing, etc.).
Will I receive a tax receipt if I donate? Yes. Nordiq Canada is accepting donations on our behalf (as a qualified donee) and will issue a tax receipt to help you save on your income taxes.
How will a donation affect my tax refund? In Canada, charitable donations receive tax credits on donations. For example, if a BC resident makes a $500 donation, one would get $178 of that back as a credit. Your personal out-of-pocket costs would be only $322.
What happens if SLNC doesn’t raise all the money needed for the lodge? The money will be put to work to improve the lodge, regardless of the amount raised. The current lodge needs work to enable it to continue to serve the Nordic community. Doing nothing is not an option. If we don’t achieve our full fundraising target the project will be scaled back, possibly to a smaller addition plus renovation, or just renovation.
Can I get my money back if you don’t build the full project? Once you receive an official tax receipt for the Canadian Revenue Agency, charities and other qualified donees are not allowed to return the donation—but rest assured we are committed to building a day lodge our community can be proud of!
How will accessibility for persons with mobility issues be improved? The plans for the lodge include wider doors, an elevator, and more wheelchair-access washrooms. Also, with the larger floor area, the general flow through the building should be much better.
Why is SLNC planning to expand the current lodge rather than building something new? The Lodge Committee commissioned a study by a structural engineer who concluded that the building could be added onto, subject to first completing some repairs in the crawl space. This has created the opportunity to reduce the overall cost of the project by expanding and renovating (avoiding the cost and environmental impact of demolishing the old building). However, now that the space and functional needs have been defined, the current plan could be changed to a new stand-alone building if there is a good reason to do so and the additional funds can be secured.
The new plan looks a lot like a previous plan from 2017/18. Are we just going back to the old plan?  Although the exterior views of the proposed lodge may not have changed much, the interior configuration is very different, and it addresses the needs of users more effectively.
Will there be lockers for skis? What about showers? There are no plans to include lockers for skis in the lodge. Very few people expressed an interest in having lockers to leave their skis at Sovereign, and space for lockers would add significantly to the project cost. Similarly, there was little interest in showers; they would be expensive to build, put pressure on the groundwater well and septic field, and are expensive to clean and maintain.

HOW ELSE CAN YOU HELP?

Spread the Word

Tell your friends and your boss. The Lodge Committee and Board will be delighted to give a presentation to your club, company, or any group.

Give Time

Interested in volunteering? You don’t need to formally join the committee and attend a bunch of meetings – we also need help on specific tasks supporting communications (including social media), fundraising, event planning, publicity, and later, logistics and project management.

Buy a Raffle Ticket!

Stay tuned — we will be running a raffle this winter with cool prizes.

Contact us at

 

[email protected] 
[email protected]